Lothersdale 'C', seeking to establish themselves in Division One of the Keighley & District Table Tennis League following promotion, ultimately enjoyed a profitable match at the expense of Nemesis following an evening of high drama during which none of the games required less than four rubbers to be decided, with six needing the full five. Richard Crookes and Tom Sampson set the standard from the off with Lothersdale's Crookes just edging it 9-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7. If that was close then the result of the clash between Martin Mulligan and Dave Manogue may potentially, in some quarters, bring about a call for there to be the third outcome of a 'draw' between players so evenly matched. The Nemesis player edged the first two 12-10, 11-9, only for Mulligan to return the favour 11-9, 11-8 to set up a decider in which the Lothersdale player just edged out his rival 15-13 following 3 deuce points, with the heightened tension of this titanic struggle leaving the assembled spectators as exhausted as the players involved. Les Packer hit back for Nemesis with a good victory against Crookes 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9 as did Tom Sampson, getting the better of Mulligan 12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7 in another thriller. However, the only further success for Nemesis came with a win for Manogue against Lambe - once again in five - as the home side earned victory following efforts of a Herculean proportion. Crookes completed a brace with a win against Manogue 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8. Lambe got the better of Sampson 11-5, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7 to add to his earlier point and Mulligan also doubled his tally by beating Packer 11-13, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 before teaming up with Lambe and inflicting defeat on Sampson and Packer in the doubles to give a final score of 7-3 in favour of the home team.

In Division Two, Cononley Sports retain top spot despite a confidence-sapping defeat at home to Crossflatts 'A' Mark Webster returned to form with a max for the visitors that included a win against Michael Mitchell 11-5, 3-11, 8-11, 14-12, 11-8. Team-mate Danny McHugh also remained undefeated, along the way getting the better of Paul Lister 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7 with a blistering performance. The two on song players then teamed up to inflict further disappointment on the home team with a win in the doubles against Mitchell and Lister to give a final score of 7-3 in favour of Crossflatts.

Crossflatts 'B', meanwhile, pulled themselves away from fellow strugglers Denholme at the bottom with a good 8-2 victory at home to their close rivals. Ryan Foulds lead the way with three points, including the defeat of Dave Ellis 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6. John Patrick and James Marshall with a pair each against Ady Powis and Ellis added further to the home team's total and then Foulds and Marshall inflicted further damage on Denholme with a win in the doubles 13-11, 12-10, 11-7 against Paul Whittaker and Ellis. Points for Denholme came from the bat of Whittaker who got the better of Patrick 13-11, 13-11, 11-7 and Marshall 11-8, 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9.

Skipton put themselves in contention at the top with a resounding win at home to Ilkley Road 'B'. For the losers, Steve Ives took his tally for the season to 9 from 12 with wins against Graeme Davies and Harry Davies, but that was as good as it got for the Riddlesden team. Skipton's Calum Davies remains undefeated so far this season following wins against Paul Stead 11-3, 11-1, 11-6; Ken Feather 11-6, 11-7, 116 and Ives 11-6, 11-8, 11-2 and with Harry and Graeme chipping in with a couple each, plus a doubles win for Graeme and Calum against Stead and Ives giving a score of 8-2 to Skipton, it leaves last season's Third Division Champions only 5 points off top spot with a match in hand.

In Division Three another stunning performance - the third on the trot - sees South Craven leaving everyone else in their wake as they powered to a six point lead with the 10-0 demolition of visitors Embsay. With only one dropped point so far this season, the youngsters were simply too hot for Embsay to handle as Eddy Jagger, Matthew Wiggan and Chris Farnworth all rattled up trebles. Cast your mind back to season 2002/2003 and Jagger and Wiggan, playing in their first season in the League, could only manage 8 wins out of 52 between them. For many players, particularly ones so young, such a return would have precipitated an abrupt halt to their competitive table tennis careers. Not so for these talented youngsters who under the shrewd guidance of David Birks, have progressed to the point where after three full seasons their determination and no little ability is beginning to bear fruit. Still only in their teens, the road to success beckons.

Elsewhere in Division Three, Oakbank went to St. Wilf's and stunned their hosts with some terrific table tennis. Only 2 points separated the sides before the match, but the visitors played beyond themselves to register a noteworthy 8-2 victory that leaves St. Wilf's viewing the rest of the table from below. Skipper Alan Pearson led by example with a win against John Jennison 11-9, 11-3, 5-11, 3-11, 11-9 being followed by defeats of Andrew Clarke 11-4, 15-13, 11-5 and John Mitchell 11-3, 10-12, 11-4, 6-11, 11-6. Steve Flockton and Gary Storton both grabbed a couple each for Oakbank before Flockton teamed up with the outstanding Pearson to win the doubles 12-10, 11-6, 11-8 against Clarke and Jennison.

RESULTS:-Division One-Lothersdale 'C' 7, Nemesis 3. Division Two-Cononley Sports 3, Crossflatts 'A' 7; Crossflatts 'A' 1, Embassy 'D' 9; Crossflatts 'A' 5, Skipton 5; Crossflatts 'B' 8, Denholme 2; Denholme 0, Cononley Sports 10; Ilkley Road 'A' 7, Embassy 'D' 3' Skipton 8, Ilkley Road 'B' 2. Division Three-Haworth Hawks 'B' 2, Ilkley Fastbats 'C' 8; St Wilf's 2, Oakbank 8; South Craven 10, Embsay 0.