HERMITS have been given a real boost for the second half of the season after capturing the services of Friday Ng'andu.

The Zambian was looking for a club in the Bradford area, discovered Hermits on the internet and, following a Friday (of course it was a Friday) night practice session, they snapped him up.

Having played for Zambia, he has a good pedigree and showed his talent on his debut for Hermits A in their Division One fixture against Embassy Police B.

Hermits A are next to bottom in a very strong top division, so the acquisition of Ng'andu gives them a chance of avoiding the drop.

He opened his Hermits account with wins over Ian Marshall and Tony Boyd – and with Richard Aitken beating Paul Stephenson, the teams were level at 3-3.

Boyd and Marshall put the visitors 5-3 up but Ng'andu had the final say as he beat Stephenson 3-0 in the last singles and, along with Aitken, took the doubles 3-1 for a share of the points from a 5-5 draw.

At the top of Division Two, promotion rivals Hermits C and Highdale B had a see-saw battle, with Hermits looking to topple the leaders for the second time this season.

Tony McGowan led Hermits' charge with three singles and, with Paul McKrieth and Zarnab Jamal taking one each, they looked on course for a repeat victory at 5-2 up.

But Phil Mann and Mike Kosmowsky took the last two singles for Highdale, with Kosmowsky edging McKrieth 11-9 in the fifth in the last singles.

Mann and James Foster then ensured 5-5 parity as they overcame Mcgowan and Jamal during three tight games in the doubles.

Division One: Embassy Police A 10 Yeadon A 0, Hermits A 5 Embassy Police B 5. Division Two: Pudsey B 3 Hermits C 7, Unity A 8 Pudsey B 2, Hermits C 5 Highdale B 5, Hermits B 9 Hermits D 1. Division Three: Hermits E 9 Hermits F 1, Baildon C 3 Rastrick 7, Unity B 2 Hermits G 8. Division Four: Hermits I 9 Hermits J 1, Hermits K 3 Baildon E 7, Thornbury A 10 Baildon D 0. Tony Theobould Trophy: Hermits I 541 Hermits D 455, Hermits G 314 Baildon D 344.