Yes, it may be only October. Yes, there is still a long way to go in the league, but Champions Nemesis 'A' have already opened a sizeable gap at the top of Division One.

Three matches in and not a single point dropped by the maestros gives them a healthy 19 point advantage over second placed Ukrainians - a team they have already defeated 10-0.

This week it was the turn of Nelson Nomads to be on the wrong end of a 10-0 score line, although it has to be said that chinks sufficient to give other teams heart did appear in the Nemesis armour. Steve Taylor, John Lister and John Stones were all mightily relieved to see the back of Peter Wood who took all three to five with his defeat to Stones 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7 being an absolute classic. David Ayrton also took Taylor to five, but, similarly, couldn't quite find the killer touch, going down 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 10-12, 11-6.

Elsewhere in Division One, Red Rose pulled off a good 8-2 win away to Airedale Terriers. Andrea Harrison lead the way with a stunning treble that included the defeat of Paul Beck 12-10, 11-6, 11-3. Her feat was equalled by skipper Keith Lee whose victories included wins against Stuart Myers 11-7, 13-11, 11-8. Mat Harrison chipped in with a defeat of Tom Lacey 11-1, 11-8, 11-4 and of Myers 11-4, 11-5, 11-3, but Beck did manage to grab some cheer for Terriers with a hard fought 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8 defeat of the same player before teaming up with Lacey to inflict the second defeat of the match on the visitors 11-4, 12-10, 10-12, 4-11, 11-8 in the doubles against Lee and Andrea.

Embassy 'A' proved to be more than a match for their 'B' team, although Neil Foley can consider himself unlucky not to register. A defeat to Gareth Wiles 8-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2 was followed by a near miss against Tony Boyd 7-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6 and another against Carl White 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7. A win for Boyd and White 4-11, 11-4, 6-11, 12-10, 11-3 in the doubles against Palminder Sandhu and Foley wrapped up a 10-0 win for the 'A' team.

Ukrainian's Peter Holbrook was the only undefeated player on the night in their away encounter with Lothersdale 'B'. Firstly getting the better of Martin Connolly 11-6, 11-6, 11-5, he went on to pip David Galley 8-11, 6-11, 11-3, 14-12, 11-7 before defeating Peter Midgley 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3. Excellent support from Stef Szczur with a couple that included a win against Connolly 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 and a win for the resurgent Jerry Harkawy, who after only three matches has already doubled his tally for last season,11-7, 11-7, 11-7 against Midgley, made sure of a comfortable 7-3 away win for the Ukies.

In Division Two Nemesis 'B' are almost matching stride for stride their illustrious stable mates. A 10-0 win at home to Ilkley Road 'B' now means they have only dropped two points out of a possible thirty so far. Dave Manogue was made to work hard by Robert McLean for a 14-12, 11-4, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7 victory, but otherwise it was plain sailing for the leaders.

Only a solitary Michael Mitchell consolation 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 against Clive Sherratt prevented Cononley Sports being whitewashed at home to Embassy 'C'. Derek Briggs was also stretched by Mitchell before getting the better of the resilient Sportsman 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10 on his way to a full house. However, nothing could stop a rampant Nick Kaye who firstly dispatched Eric Hudson 11-7, 12-10, 11-9, then Stuart Maude 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 before finally finishing off Mitchell 11-7, 12-10, 11-9.

Richard Crookes was the star man for Lothersdale 'C' at home to Crossflatts 'A' with a comfortable max that included the defeat of Mark Webster 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6. Webster, in fact, played very well in earning his team a couple of points with wins against both Andrew Lambe and Martin Mulligan, the latter by the narrowest 11-9 margin in the fifth. However, Danny McHugh and Anthony Mann found the going tough against the promotion hopefuls and with both failing to register the cricketers stumbled to an 8-2 defeat.

In Division Three Denholme and visitors Crossflatts 'B' played out an enthralling encounter with the result being in the balance right to the death. Paul Whittaker lead the way for the home team with his excellent treble accounting for John Patrick 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 along the way. Dave Ellis also picked up a brace for Denholme, including the defeat of Tony Marshall 11-5, 11-4, 11-5. However, Crossflatts came storming back with a couple for Ryan Foulds, 11-6, 11-1, 11-5 against Ady Powis and 13-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6 against Ellis and with wins for Patrick and Marshall against Powis, the visitors needed a win in the doubles to secure a draw. This was duly delivered by Foulds and Patrick 10-12, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9, 11-5 against Whittaker and Ellis.

Nine from nine and top of the averages is the proud record of Ilkley Road 'C's Paul Stead following his side's splendid win at Haworth Hawks. A typically durable display against Nathan Hogg gave the Riddlesden player an 11-6, 11-13, 10-12, 11-4, 11-2 victory, sandwiched between defeats of both Steve Cole and Max Davidson. Strong support for the Roaders cause came in the shape of Mat Nutting, in for the injured Ken Feather, fighting determinedly for his couple against Hogg 11-5, 4-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9 and also Davidson 11-6, 4-11, 14-12, 7-11, 11-9. Steve Ives picked up a pair before teaming up with Nutting to clinch the doubles against Hogg and Cole and with it the match 8-2

RESULTS

Division One: Airedale Terriers 2, Red Rose 8; Embassy 'A' 10, Embassy 'B' 0; Lothersdale 'B' 3, Ukrainians 7; Nelson Nomads 0, Nemesis 'A' 10; Ukrainians 4, Nelson Nomads 6.

Division Two: Cononley Sports 1, Embassy 'C' 9; Crossflatts 'A' 2, Lothersdale 'C' 8; Ilkley Road 'A' 6, Wilsden 4; Nemesis 'B' 10, Ilkley Road 'B' 0. Division Three: Denholme 5, Crossflatts 'B' 5; Embsay 0, Skipton LTC 10; Fast Bats 5, Haworth Hawks 5; Haworth Hawks 2, Ilkley Road 'C' 8.