Oakbank put 14 points between themselves and a relegation spot with an excellent away win at Embassy 'B'. Once again Gareth Wiles enjoyed a max to bring his personal tally for the season to 35 from 36, but Mick Czuba, playing up from Division Two for Embassy, made him work hard to win 21-3, 18-21, 21-18.

The effervescent Katie Lightowler gave good support with a couple that included an 8-21, 21-12, 23-21 defeat of Derek Briggs. Best player for the home team was Jack Webber finalist Peter Kitching who earned his team two points with a 21-19, 21-17 win against Lightowler and a 21-13, 21-13 defeat of Sam Fuller, but it was not enough to stop Lightowler and Fuller clinching a 6-4 win for the visitors with a 23-21, 22-20 triumph over Czuba and Briggs in the doubles.

Nelson Nomads, with just a couple to play and one eye on a Naylor Cup semi-final encounter with Ilkley Road 'A', will finish in mid-table despite a 9-1 hammering at home to the team immediately below them, Terriers 'A'.

Only a David Ayrton success, 21-15, 16-21, 21-13 against Tim Boothman, could raise a smile for Nelson as Tony Boyd and John Lister plundered points at will for the Terriers with their best performances being Boyd's 21-19, 21-16 defeat of Michael Wrigley and Lister's 21-12, 21-19 score against the same player.

With the Division Two leaders Embassy 'C' being idle this week, it was the chance of the chasing pack to make an impact on the top positions. Fourth placed Lothersdale 'C' effectively dropped out of the promotion race with their 6-4 win at Cononley Sports leaving them 18 points adrift of second place with only two to play.

However, both Terriers 'B', who now occupy second spot following a good 8-2 away win against Stockbridge Spartans, and Ilkley Road 'A', 17 points adrift of the Terriers but with two matches in hand after a 9-1 success at Terriers 'C', are both still in with a shout.

Terriers 'B's Mark Emmott was made to work hard for the first of his treble by resilient Spartan, Ryan Foulds before notching a 21-6, 19-21, 21-10 win, but Tom Lacey swept all before him for the visitors, defeating Foulds, Abid Hussain and Ray Wallace in straight sets. Hussain grabbed one for Spartans with a 21-17, 17-21, 22-20 nail biter against Stuart Myers and the partnership of Foulds and Wallace edged out Lacey and Myers in the doubles 21-19, 17-21, 21-15.

Doomed basement team Ilkley Road 'B' deserve a mention this week after earning their first victory with a 6-4 home win against Johnson & Johnson. Visitor John Pullen was too hot to handle for the Riddlesden team, but they kept plugging away and a couple from Karl McIntyre, most notably a 26-24, 19-21, 21-13 win against Derek Stanforth, plus another brace from Steve Fuller and a 21-9, 21-16 Chris Dunn success against Alan Ripley set it up nicely for Dunn and McIntyre to clinch victory with a 21-18, 14-21, 21-17 doubles defeat of Ripley and Pullen.

Who will win the title in Division Three, Oakworth 'B' or Haworth 'B'? With the Haworth boys 29 points behind the Oaks but with 4 matches in hand and averaging over 8 points a match it's anyone's guess.

Both teams matched each other this week with 8-2 victories. Oakworth did it at Crossflatts 'A' with faultless displays by both Jason Procter and Steve Smith. Ben Hinchcliffe and John Patrick picked up the couple for the home team with defeats of Paul Hollindrake.

Meanwhile, Haworth 'B' were only stopped from gaining a full house against visitors Ilkley Road 'C' by a towering performance from the rapidly improving Paul Stead who defeated both Shaid Iqbal 19-21, 22-20, 21-9 and 83% Kamran Ramzan 21-15, 21-17. However, Azeem Khan didn't let his focus slip for the title chasers with his max including a 21-14, 26-24 defeat of Steve Ives.

RESULTS

Division One: Embassy 'B' 4, Oakbank 6; Nelson Nomads 1, Terriers 'A' 9.

Division Two: Cononley Sports 4, Lothersdale 'C' 6; Ilkley Road 'B' 6, Johnson & Johnson 4; Stockbridge Spartans 2, Terriers 'B' 8; Terriers 'C' 1, Ilkley Road 9 'A'.

Division Three: Crossflatts 'A' 2, Oakworth 'B' 8; Haworth 'B' 8, Ilkley Road 'C' 2.