Trio in race for crown

12:09pm Wednesday 23rd January 2008

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The race for the Bradford Table Tennis League Division Five Championship is a three-way contest between Drummonds, Hermits G and Laisterdyke B, with only six points separating the three.

Drummonds lead Hermits by two points and these two sides possess years of experience.

Stuart Varley, Geoff Coupe, Geoff Parkes and Malcom Fowler make up the Drummonds squad, with Varley and Coupe having been league regulars since the 1960s.

The Hermits trio of John Rawsley, Peter Worger and Peter Eastaugh have a combined age of almost 200 years and over 100 years of league experience.

Laisterdyke, in contrast, are relative newcomers and stayed in promotion contention after holding Drummonds to a draw.

Peter Chan and Mohammed Murtaza both won two, with Mukhtar Khan adding one as Laisterdyke led 5-3. But Malcolm Fowler was unbeaten for Drummonds, Stuart Varley took one and these two added a crucial doubles victory to keep their side in top spot.

Hermits edged closer to their rivals with a hard-fought victory over Baildon B, for whom Peter Russell won all his singles.

Worger and Rawnsley won two each for Hermits, Eastaugh added one and joined Rawnsley in the doubles to secure victory.

• Results - Division One: Unity A 3, Dewsbury TTC 7; Police 4, Highdale A 6; Dewsbury Sedbergh 4, Thornbury A 6; Highdale B 7, Highdale A 3. Division Two: Unity B 7, Yeadon Flyers 3; Hermits B 9, Laisterdyke A 1; Highdale C 8, Fastbats A 2. Division Three: Thornbury B 6, Fastbats E 4; Hermits C 2, Fastbats B 8; Unity C 4, Fastbats C 6; Fastbats E 5, Fastbats D 5; Fastbats D 4, Unity C 6. Division Four: Baildon A 7, Hermits D 3; Hermits F 4, Unity D 6, Division Five: Fastbats G 3, Hermits H 7; Hermits G 6, Baildon B 4; Drummonds 5, Laisterdyke B 5. Division Six: Salem Meths 2, Hermits J 8; Hermits L 5, Hermits K 5.