With a full house at home against Embassy B, Peter Wood took his tally to 17 wins from a possible 23 for Nelson Nomads in the Keighley & District Table Tennis League First Division.

He was made to work hard by both Neil Foley 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 16-14 and Nick Kaye 11-4, 11-3, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, so Wood was thankful to have a comparatively easy ride 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 in his last set against Tom Lacey. David Ayrton provided good support with his max, also needing five games against Foley 7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 and Kaye 9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-3. A success for Frank Gray against Lacey and a win for Wood and Ayrton in the doubles against Foley and Lacey topped off a fine 8-2 victory for the Nomads. For the visitors, Foley and Kaye both defeated Gray 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 and 11-13, 13-11, 12-10, 11-8 respectively.

Richard Crookes, promoted from the B squad to Lothersdale A, was the only player from his team to win a single in their away clash with Ukrainian A. His defeat of Andrea Harrison 11-5, 11-7, 11-9 and a win in the doubles for Crookes and Martin Connolly against Keith Lee and Harrison were the only bright spots on a bleak night for the visitors.

Lee was on song for Ukrainians with his three wins including the defeat of Bob Davis 13-11, 11-4, 11-8. Steve Rutherford also played well to notch a max, along the way getting the better of Connolly 9-11, 13-11, 11-4, 14-12. A couple for Harrison against Connolly 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 and Davis 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 14-12 completed the victory for the hosts.

Embassy A must strike terror into their opponents every week with their fearsome record of 57 points from a possible 60 at the top of the League. This week it was the turn of hosts Ukrainian B to be bludgeoned into submission by the Champions-elect. Even without Gareth Wiles the Bingley team posed too many questions for their opponents as Carl White, Peter Kirby and Ziggy Cwiklinski roared to a 10-0 success.

The pick of their victories was White's defeat of Peter Holbrook 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 and Cwiklinski's win against Alan Balmforth 11-3, 11-4, 11-2.

In Division Two, leaders Nemesis proved they are well worth their position at the top with a 10-0 away win at bottom team Embassy D. Stand-out wins included Dave Manogue's defeat of Hughie Chambers 11-6, 11-9, 11-8; Les Packer's victory over Peter Cowling 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 and Tim Moran's victory against Tim Sharp 13-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9.

Elsewhere, Lothersdale B keep in contention with a good home win against Cononley Sports. Frazer Krischke maintained his position at the top of the averages with a treble for Lothersdale that included the defeat of Paul Lister 11-8, 11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 11-5. Martin Connolly grabbed another two with defeats of Michael Mitchell 11-5, 6-11, 11-13, 11-9, 12-10 and Stuart Maude. Top gun for the visitors was Lister who got the better of Peter Midgley 11-6, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8 and Connolly 11-5, 5-11, 11-3, 11-8 in his team's 7-3 defeat.

In Division Three, Crossflatts enjoyed the best of it at home to Johnson & Johnson. Danny McHugh's treble included a win against John Pullen 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9. Ryan Foulds chipped in with a couple against Derek Stanforth 11-7, 12-10, 11-4 and Tony Bugeja 11-4, 11-8, 11-9. Anthony Mann added further to the Crossflatts score with a win against Bugeja 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 8-11, 11-6 and then teamed up with McHugh to snatch the doubles from Bugeja and Pullen 13-11, 7-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7 and with it a 7-3 victory.

Points for the Gargrave team came from Stanforth and Pullen against Mann and another Pullen win, this time against Foulds.

Wilsden kept up the pressure on second placed Skipton with an enthralling home draw. Luke Broadbent was quite magnificent for Wilsden, his treble including the defeat of Calum Davies 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9. Skipton hit back with a couple each for Calum and Graeme Davies, but a win in the doubles for Luke and Dave Broadbent 11-6, 10-12, 5-10, 11-7, 11-9 secured a share of the spoils for Wilsden.

Match of the week in Division Four saw Lothersdale Juniors play host to fellow title contenders Haworth Hawks A. The Hawks went two up with good wins for Andy Bray and Nathan Carr against Tom Morgan and John Lindle, but Lothersdale levelled things as firstly Emma Lindle toppled Michael Simpson 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9 and John Lindle got the better of Bray 11-6, 15-13, 5-11, 11-6. Morgan put Lothersdale into the driving seat with the defeat of Simpson, but Carr hit back with a win for the visitors 6-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-4, 11-3 against Emma Lindle.

Going into the doubles the Hawks enjoyed a one point advantage, but the cool heads of John and Emma Lindle pulled off a superb win 9-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 13-11 to make it all square at the end.

In Division Five, Ilkley Fastbats A had Patrick McIntosh to thank for a magnificent display that earned his team a 7-3 win at Embsay. An 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 success against Jim Pope was followed up by wins against Trevor Wilkinson 11-8, 14-12, 11-8 and Norman Hunt 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 to see his team home.

Results

Division One: Embassy B 7, Lothersdale A 3; Nelson Nomads 8, Embassy B 2; Ukrainian A 8, Lothersdale A 2; Ukrainian B 0, Embassy A 10.

Division Two: Embassy D 0, Nemesis 10; Lothersdale B 7, Cononley Sports.

Division Three: Crossflatts A 7, Johnson & Johnson 3; Ilkley Road B 0, Ilkley Road A 10; Wilsden 5, Skipton 5.

Division Four: Denholme 3, Crossflatts B 7; Denholme 2, Haworth Hawks A 8; Lothersdale Juniors 5, Haworth Hawks A 5; South Craven 2, Lothersdale Juniors 8.

Division Five: Embsay 3, Ilkley Fastbats 7; Haworth Hawks B 1, St Wilfs 9.