Tyke Petroleum York Men's Tennis League - 2019 season

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Matches from Sunday 22 September

Wigginton 2 celebrate their division 2 victory (L-R: Ian Grasby, Andy Withers, James Walker, Ben Storey, Scott Farquhar, Jason Whiting)

The few remaining issues in this season’s Tyke Men’s Tennis league were all resolved at the weekend. In division one, Harrogate Racquets 1, already aware of their relegation fate, entertained York 1. The visitors prevailed 63-45, thanks in the main to a majestic 29 from first pair Steve Smith/Graeme Campbell. York end the season in third place, Racquets will be playing their tennis in division two next season.

Wigginton 2 (pictured) are confirmed as champions of division two, following their 63-45 win over David Lloyd York 2. Returns of 22 from Andy Withers/Ian Grasby and Ben Storey/James Walker, backed up by 19 from Jason Whiting/Scott Farquhar, secured the victory. David Lloyd York 2 finish the season in fourth place.

The division five promotion race went down to the wire, with Selby going down 44-64 to the visiting Rufforth. Key to the Rufforth triumph was a fine 27 from first pair Rob Berry/Phil Sinton. The 3 points that Selby accrued from the match leaves them one point off promotion, with the honour going to Heworth by the narrowest possible margin. Rufforth finish fifth.

Boston Spa 2 had a superb 83-25 win at Sutton-upon-Derwent 2 and consequently finish as division six champions. All three Boston pairs - Pete Smith/Marc Mottershead, Neil Little/Barry Johnson and Trevor Hughes/Peter McCreesh - scored in the high twenties. Sutton-upon-Derwent end the season third from bottom.

The remaining promotion place goes to Pocklington, who saw off Wilberfoss 2 72-36. In a consistent team display, all three home pairs scored north of twenty - Ross Gleig/David Moores, Stewart Berry/Richie Norris and Matt Ralphs/Ben Smith.

The end of the season roll of honour:
Division one - champions David Lloyd York 1, runners-up Wigginton 1.
Division two - champions Wigginton 2, runners-up Boston Spa 1.
Division three - champions York 2, runners-up Sutton-Upon-Derwent 1.
Division four - champions Wigginton 3, runners-up Harrogate Spa 1.
Division five - champions York 3, runners-up Heworth 1.
Division six - champions Boston Spa 2, runners-up Pocklington.
Division seven - champions Cawood, runners-up Harlow.
Division eight - champions Dunnington, runners-up Knaresborough 2.


Matches from Sunday 15 September

Although David Lloyd York 1 had already been crowned 2019 champions of the Tyke Men’s Tennis League, many vital promotion and relegation issues remained open at the weekend. In division two, second played third as Wigginton 2 travelled to Fulford 1. Fulford emerged victorious, 61-47. An excellent 30 from the Fulford first pair of Govind Baker/Richard Parker was backed up by a 20 from Joe Mortimer/Tom Craddock, and this proved enough to overcome the stern resistance from Ben Storey/James Walker (19) and Andy Withers/Ian Grasby (18).

However, Wigginton 2 garner 4.5 points from their defeat, and this suffices to clinch their promotion to the premier division for next season. Their final match sees them host David Lloyd York 2, who started the weekend still with a chance of joining their illustrious colleagues in the top tier, but who must now settle for division two next season. Any return of more than 5 points from the fixture will give Wigginton the division two crown.

The season’s finale in division four saw Wigginton 3 round off their title-winning season in style, with a fine 71-37 home win over Rowntree Park 2, who end the season in third place. All the champion’s three pairs - Scott Farquhar/Sam Thorp, Ben King/Adam Houghton and Nick O’Keefe/Nick Craggs - returned scores north of 20.

Division five champions York 3 still do not know who will be joining them in their promotion to the fourth echelon for next season. Heworth 1 kept their hopes alive with a comprehensive 72-36 win at bottom side Appleton Roebuck 2. A fine team performance saw all three Heworth pairs score in the twenties - Andy Cutill/Al Spall, David Hicks/Philippe Leopold and Will Ellis/Scott Mannion. Selby host Rufforth next week, in a match that will decide whether Selby or Heworth play their tennis in division four next year.

Division six saw a match which finally settled the relegation issue. Poppleton 3 entertained York 4 and gained an excellent 64-44 victory, centred on an imperious 31 from first pair Ben Crick/Tony Howard. The margin of victory was not enough, however, to prevent Pop from joining Bishopthorpe 1 in the relegation zone.

The only remaining issue in division eight was who would finish bottom. Wigginton 5 have the distinction, following their 26-82 reverse at Strensall 2. Ross Welsh/Rich Scott (31) and Dan Simmonite/Jake Yates (29) were in majestic form for Strensall. The Wigginton club, however, can celebrate a fine season in which they have finished second in the first division, may win the second division, have already won the fourth division and came third in division six. Further, by fielding a record 5 teams, they exemplify the participation-based ethos of the league.


Matches from Sunday 8 September

2019 Tyke division one champions David Lloyd York 1 (L-R: Freddie Booth, Jack Batchelor, Ed Barker-Wyatt (captain), Dale Fawcett, Adam Harvey, Jan Dyl)

David Lloyd York 1 have retained their Tyke men’s tennis title, following their 70-38 triumph over the visiting Harrogate Racquets 1. A 26 game haul from Ed Barker-Wyatt/Jan Dyl, backed up 25 from Dale Fawcett/Jack Bachelor sealed the victory and rounded off a season in which the club has been victorious in each of its 14 games.

Wigginton 1 finish second,having maintained a relentless pursuit of the champions throughout the season. Their final match saw a surprising reverse at the hands of Copmanthorpe 1. An excellent 33 from David Atkinson/Jonny Kay was the centerpiece of the Cop win, a result which finally put an end to their lingering relegation fears, condemning Racquets to the second tier for next season.

Boston Spa 1 assured themselves of promotion from division two with a comprehensive 72-36 win over Wetherby 1. Highlight for Spa was a huge 28 from first pair Matt and Steven Lewis. In a crunch promotion battle, Wigginton 2 triumphed 65-43 over their visitors Fulford 1, thanks to a fine team effort in which all three pairs Ben Storey/James Walker, Andy Withers/Ian Grasby and Matt Waudby/Jason Whiting scored in the twenties. Who will join Boston Spa in promotion, and indeed who will lift the division two trophy, remain open questions.

A near flawless 31 from Paul Adams and Ed Martin piloted Rowntree Park 1 to a 76-32 defeat of Poppleton 2. The outcome is of no consolation to either side, however, as both are confirmed as relegated. York 2 hosted Sutton-upon-Derwent 1 in a division three title decider. York’s emphatic 74-34 win gives them the title, but their visitors secured the second promotion slot. The York triumph was a model of consistency, with all three pairs - Jez Catchpole/John Logan, Jake Lonsdale/Neil Johnson and Richard Cranidge/Jamie Winspear returning scores north of twenty.

Harrogate Racquets 2 and Bubwith 1, both with relegation fears at the start of play, fought out a tense 54-all draw. The result turned out to be enough for each club to preserve their division three status, since Appleton Roebuck 1 beat David Lloyd Harrogate 2, consigning the latter, along with the already doomed Alne and Tollerton, to division four tennis next season.

Wigginton 3 are champions of division four, despite having the day off at the weekend. They will be joined in division three next season by Harrogate Spa 1, who were unable, however, to celebrate their promotion in style, going down 32-76 to Knaresborough 1. Knaresborough’s shock victory, the highlight of which was a splendid 30 from David Hewson/Matt Walton, was not quite enough to preserve their division four status, however. For Starbeck 2 overcame Wetherby 2 to pip Knaresborough by a margin of one point. A fine all round performance from Starbeck was capped by a massive 32 from first pair Chris White/Sam Taster-Grindley.

The division five title has gone to York 3, who travelled to Riccall and came away with a resounding 78-30 victory. All three York pairs, Bradley Austin/Jack Lewis, Dean Brazenhall/Finley Richardson and Andy Graham/Dave Duffy, achieved twenty-plus scores. The result means that Riccall join the already doomed Appleton Roebuck 2 in the relegation slots. Both Selby and Heworth 1 won at the weekend, and both are therefore left to fight for the remaining promotion slot, in matches due to take place over the next two weeks.

Boston Spa 2 and Pocklington have secured the division six promotion honours, although both have a game still to play and both retain a chance of clinching the title. Spa crushed Wilberfoss 2 71-37 whilst Pock overcame their promotion rivals Wigginton 4 74-34, with the highlight a fine 31 from Matt Ralphs/Dave Gamble.

The division seven race has been a four-way thriller for most of the season. Cawood’s 54-all draw at Sheriff Hutton was enough to deliver them the title but not enough for Sheriff Hutton to gain promotion, leaving them one point adrift of Harlow, who had the week off but retain second place in the table. Harrogate Spa 2 trounced Heworth 2, who were able to field only two pairs, 98-10, but miss out on promotion by a mere two points. Bubwith 2 and Heworth 2 must look forward to division eight tennis next season.

Knaresborough 2 travelled to Wigginton 5 and came away with a huge 90-18 victory and a division eight promotion slot. Mike and Brad Triffit dropped only one game to become the week’s and the season’s top scorers. Gary Young/Nick Jackson and John Burnham/Andrew Little also scored admirably, with 27 and 28 respectively. The result was not enough, however, to give Knaresborough the title. This honour goes to Dunnington, following their 87-21 win at Bishopthorpe 2.


Matches from Sunday 1 September

The two sides still with a chance of winning the Tyke Men’s Tennis League championship both recorded victories in their penultimate matches of the season. The results mean that David Lloyd York need only 3 points from their final fixture against Racquets to be certain of retaining their title.

Leaders and defending champions David Lloyd York 1 travelled to their Harrogate equivalents, David Lloyd Harrogate 1, in third at start of play. The visitors triumphed 77-31, with 20-plus contributions from all three pairs, Dale Fawcett/Ben Crichton, Ed Barker-Wyatt/Jan Dyl and Freddie Booth/Matt Collins.

The encounter between second placed Wigginton 1 and Poppleton 1 was a much tighter affair, with the former edging home 56-52, thanks to returns in the twenties from Ben Walker/James Shaw and Nils Morozs/Ollie Hicks.

At the other end of the table, Sherburn 1, already certain to be relegated, were unable to raise a team to travel to Racquets 1. The latter were second from the foot of the table but their chance of avoiding the drop was hindered by the cancellation of the fixture. They are still in with a chance of retaining their top tier status, however, since Copmanthorpe 1, the only team they can catch, were heavily beaten 32-76 by York 1. A splendid 29 from Pete Goodall/Adam Devries was the centrepiece of the York victory.

Division two leaders Boston Spa 1 had a week off and third placed Fulford 1 took full advantage in their home fixture with Rowntree Park 1, winning 65-43, a victory centred on a fine 28 from Govind Baker and Richard Parker. The Rowntree Park reverse means that they will be playing their tennis in division three next season.

The third and fourth clubs, David Lloyd York 2 and Wigginton 2 fought out a 54-all draw at the former’s Hull Road venue.

Wetherby 1 ended their relegation fears by defeating Starbeck 1 61-47. Contributions of 25 from Adam Turner/Rich Whaley and 22 from Roger Fawcus/James Landau were key to the Wetherby triumph.

Top were due to play bottom in division three. Alne and Tollerton, however, were unable to fulfil their fixture against Sutton-upon-Derwent 1, as a result of which Sutton’s promotion to the second tier is now assured.

Second placed York 2 trounced David Lloyd Harrogate 2 63-45, with all three York pairs - Jez Catchpole/John Logan, Richard Cranidge/Howard Pallister and Jake Lonsdale/Ian Tooms - achieving scores in the twenties. The result leaves York requiring one point from their remaining fixture to secure the second promotion spot.

Wigginton 3 became champions of division four without having to lift a racquet on Sunday, thanks to results elsewhere. Harrogate Spa 1 secured the remaining promotion berth by defeating Wetherby 2 70-38.

The bottom two clubs, Starbeck 2 and Copmanthorpe 2 met at the former’s Knaresborough stadium. Starbeck emerged triumphant 77-31, courtesy of a 30 from Jasper Jacob/Sean Holme and a 28 from Chris White/Paul Evison. The result seals Cop’s relegation fate. Knaresborough 1, meanwhile, held third-placed Rowntree Park 2 to a 54-all draw, thus keeping alive their survival hopes.

York 3 cemented their place at the top of the division five table with a consistent team performance against Fulford 2, a result which leaves Fulford still mired in relegation worries.

Heworth 1, placed second prior to the weekend, had the week off, and Selby took full advantage with a 75-33 victory at Rufforth, thus swapping places with Heworth. The reverse for Rufforth leaves their division 5 status still in doubt. Riccall, second from bottom, travelled to mid-table David Lloyd York 3, only to go down 40-68, leaving themselves in a relegation dogfight with Fulford 2 and Rufforth

In division six, Boston Spa 2 entertained mid-table Sutton-upon-Derwent 2 and achieved a comprehensive 79-29 victory. Highlight of the consistent team performance was a 30 from second pair Jordan Gregory/Peter McCreesh. The result rockets Boston Spa to the top of the table.

Wigginton 4 kept their promotion hopes alive by beating York 4 67-41, courtesy of a 28 from Nick Craggs/Phil Anderson and 24 from Conor Firth/Stuart Langley.

The division seven promotion race has been a thriller and still remains open. Harlow beat Bubwith 2 85-23 to climb above Sheriff Hutton, who had the day off. Chris Milnes/Cassius Petrovan (31 games) and John Shackleton/Stuart Parkes (30) starred for Harlow. The Bubwith reverse leaves them certain to be relegated to the bottom tier for next season. Cawood also took advantage of Sheriff Hutton’s rest day, beating Harrogate Spa 2 61-47.

Heworth 2, already doomed to relegation, had a fine 65-43 win over their visitors Wheldrake. Centrepiece of the victory was a storming 27 from first pair Andy Clegg/Paul Curzon. Wheldrake will have enjoyed their trip home, their defeat notwithstanding, since the points they garnered suffice to preserve their division seven status.

Dunnington all but assured themselves of the division eight crown, with a barnstorming 85-23 win over David Lloyd York 4. A superb 34, the week’s top score, was achieved by Gareth Wigdahl/Paul Birch, with the rest of the team, Rob Rhodes/Dave Carver and James Todd/Howard Widdall returning high twenties.

Knaresborough 2 crushed the visiting Bishopthorpe 2 82-26, with a 32 from Mike and Brad Triffit and 30 from Andrew Little/Alain Le Bourdon. They now need only 5 points from their remaining fixture to guarantee promotion, although Strensall 2 kept their own promotion hopes alive with a comprehensive 80-28 victory over New Earswick.


Matches from Sunday 18 August

David Lloyd York 1 took a huge step towards retaining their division one Tyke tennis title, with a narrow 62-46 victory over the visiting second placed Wigginton 1. The result leaves David Lloyd 7 points clear at the top, but with 3 games each left, both clubs are still in with a great chance of the championship title. Centrepiece of the David Lloyd victory was a 26 game return from first pair Dale Fawcett and Ben Crichton, playing his first game of the season.

Third placed David Lloyd Harrogate 1 beat second bottom club Racquets 1 in a Harrogate local derby, thanks in the main to two hauls of 24 games from Rich Bancroft/Tom Collyer and Ed Appleyard/Oli White. This reverse for Racquets leaves them in relegation peril, especially since third bottom club Copmanthorpe 1 had a win, albeit in a tight close 57-51 affair, over bottom club Sherburn 1.

The top two sides also clashed in division two. Boston Spa 1 convincingly came out on top 64-44 over Fulford 1, giving them a 16 point cushion at the top of the table. Matt and Steven Lewis starred for Boston with a solid 24 game total.

Wigginton 2 are still in with a chance of promotion, despite a 52-56 reverse away at Starbeck. David Lloyd York 2, however, increased the pressure at the top with a narrow 55-53 victory at Rowntree Park 1, despite a sparkling 23 from the home side’s first pair of Paul Adams/Ian Macauley.

In a clash of the bottom two, Wetherby 1 inflicted a bruising 95-13 win over their visitors Poppleton 2. In a display of exemplary consistency, all three home pairs - Harry Full/Ollie Bowles-Park, Nigel Williams/Rich Whaley and Oli Newscombe/Mike Butterworth - scored in the thirties, to keep Wetherby’s division two survival hopes alive and condemn Poppleton to division three.

Third placed Wilberfoss 1 had an excellent 58-50 win over top of the table Sutton-upon-Derwent 1 in division three. A consistent 22 from first pair James and Tim Hunt keeps Wilberfoss firmly in the promotion picture. York 2 close the gap on the leaders following their 63-45 victory at Harrogate Racquets 2, an outcome which keeps their hosts in the thick of the relegation tussle.

Bubwith 1 triumphed 66-42 in their relegation clash with David Lloyd Harrogate 2. All three pairs - Doug Smith/Liam Moore, Rob Jackson/Mark Harris and Alastair Southworth/Shaun Pinchbeck - scored in the twenties, as a result of which the two sides swap places in the table.

Appleton Roebuck 1 inflicted a crushing 81-27 defeat on their visitors Alne and Tollerton, who were able to travel with only two pairs. The result confirms Alne’s relegation into the fourth echelon for next season.

A shock result in division four saw top side Wigginton 3 defeated 51-57 by bottom club Starbeck 2. Wigginton remain in pole position but the result keeps Starbeck’s survival hopes very much alive.

Second placed Harrogate Spa 1 travelled to Strensall 1 and came away with the spoils 59-49. The result cements the former’s second place and may have effectively put an end to Strensall’s promotion charge. Ben Drummond/Neil Hawkins were a model of consistency for Rowntree Park 2, achieving 9 games in each of their three rubbers. This helped defeat Copmanthorpe 2 64-44, heightening Cop’s relegation worries.

Division five saw top placed York 3 host bottom club Appleton Roebuck 2. York emerged victorious 75-33, with 20-plus contributions from all three pairs - Bradley Austin/Jack Lewis, Chris Hughes/Andy Graham and Dean Brazenhall/James Hirst. The result strengthens York’s hold on the top spot and makes Roebuck’s relegation a mathematical certainty.

Promotion seeking Heworth 1 came away from their trip to Riccall with a 65-43 victory, founded on a splendid 25 from first pair Nick Latcham/David Hicks. The result leaves their hosts embroiled in a tense relegation dogfight.

Fulford 2 entertained Rufforth in a relegation scrap but succumbed to a 38-70 defeat and fall 5 points behind their visitors. Selby kept their promotion hopes alive with an excellent 67-41 away win at David Lloyd York 3, thanks in large measure to an imperious 28 from first pair Jack Wood/Daryl Young.

Sutton-upon-Derwent 2 had a fine 71-37 over the visiting Bishopthorpe 1 in division six. The result eases Sutton’s relegation worries but condemns Bish to tier seven for next season.

The form book was turned upside down in division seven, as Harrogate Spa 2 beat top of the table Harlow in a thrilling Harrogate derby. Spa’s first two pairs - Martin Yates/Ian Charters and Mark Upton/Tom Barker each accumulated 23 games, whilst a solid 20 from Paul and Ben Toulman completed the comfortable victory.

In division eight, New Earswick could field only two pairs against the visiting Knaresborough 2. Their 81-28 win keeps Knaresborough’s promotion hopes alive.


Matches from Sunday 11 August

Wigginton 1 kept the Tyke Men’s tennis title race alive by crushing Racquets 1 81-27. Heavy scoring from all three pairs - Ben Walker/James Shaw, James Denmark/Phil Langley and Ollie Hicks/Nils Morozs - move Wigginton to within 4 points of leaders David Lloyd York 1. Three matches remain, and next week’s clash between the top two could be crucial in deciding this year’s champions.

In division two, Boston Spa 1 go top, having inflicted a bruising 83-25 defeat on their hosts Poppleton 2. An imperious 31, the week’s top score in the league, from first pair Matt and Steven Lewis was the centrepiece of the match, although Spa’s other pairs of Simon Hughes/Paul Kaye and Andrew Milne/Pete Smith also returned high twenties. Poppleton have only two games left this season and a mathematical miracle will be needed if they are to retain their division two status.

In division three, Bubwith 1, second from bottom of the table hosted second placed Sutton-upon-Derwent 1. The latter took the spoils 70-38 and leapfrog York 2 into top spot. Bottom club Alne and Tollerton could raise only two pairs for their home match with Appleton Roebuck 1 and went down 26-82.

Wigginton 3 top cemented their place at the apex of division four, by defeating Strensall 1 62-46, thanks in large measure to a scintillating 26 from first pair Adam Houghton/Kev Fairclough.

The bottom two sides clashed in division five. Fulford 2’s fine 65-43 triumph over Appleton Roebuck 2 moves them up to fifth in the table, albeit only 2 points clear of the relegation spaces. With only three games left, Appleton Roebuck look certain to be joining division six next season. Looking likely to replace them are Pocklington, whose 74-34 demolition of the visiting Poppleton 3 puts them in pole position in division six. Displaying exemplary consistency, all three home pairs - Matt Ralphs/James Eaglesfield, Ross Gleig/David Moores and Jim Holding/Stewart Berry - returned twenty-plus scores.

Division seven saw a coming together of the bottom two clubs, Heworth 2 and Bubwith 2. Heworth’s 66-42 victory leaves them at the foot of the table and may well have sealed Bubwith’s relegation fate.


Matches from Sunday 4 August

A late surge from Wilberfoss 1 means they are still in the running in division 3 (L-R: Charlie Dodds, James Hunt, Alex Gurnell, Tony Downing, Chris Bowles, Tim Hunt)

Leaders and defending champions David Lloyd York 1 took a big step towards retaining their Tyke Men’s Tennis title by defeating fourth placed Poppleton 1 at the weekend. The visiting champions did not have it all their own way, however. Indeed top scorers on the day were the Poppleton pair of Nick Turnbull/Robbie Greenall with a battling 23 games. Greater team consistency saw David Lloyd edge home 56-52. They go 13 points clear of nearest rivals Wigginton 1, but the latter have a game in hand and the eagerly awaited clash between the two, scheduled for August 18, is looking increasingly likely to be pivotal in determining the outcome of this year’s title race.

In division three, David Lloyd Harrogate 2, a precarious 3 points above relegation at start of play, took on third-placed Wilberfoss 1. Wilberfoss inflicted a bruising 72-36 defeat on their hosts, thanks in large part to a 26 game haul from Tim and James Hunt and 25 from Tony Downing/Chris Bowles.

Division four leaders Wigginton 3 demolished the visiting Knaresborough 1 82-26. The 32 game return from Scott Farquhar/Kev Fairclough was the highest across the league for the weekend and helped their team go 20 points clear at the top of the table. Fifth placed Rowntree Park 2 took on Strensall 1, one place above them. Following Rowntree Park’s narrow 56- 52 triumph, the two sides swap places, but both seem likely to remain in the fourth echelon next season.

In division five, Rufforth, second from bottom hosted Fulford 2, just one place and one point above them before the weekend. Rufforth achieved a convincing 61-47 victory to leapfrog their visitors. Appleton Roebuck 2 were comprehensively beaten 30-78 by the visiting Selby, and are now bottom of the table, 32 points off safety. Selby, by contrast, move up to third place, only 2 points behind Heworth 1, with a game in hand.

In a vital promotion match in division six, Boston Spa 2 saw off Wigginton 4 62-46 to go top of the table. Twenty-plus contributions from Jordan Gregory/Marc Mottershead and Peter McCreesh/Pete Smith were the foundation of Boston Spa’s triumph. Wigginton remain third but have played an extra game over their promotion rivals Boston Spa and Pocklington.


Matches from Sunday 28 July

In the Tyke tennis equivalent of a golf hole in one or a darts nine dart finish, two pairs achieved the maximum 36 game haul at the weekend. In division two, representing Wigginton 2, Ian Grasby/Andy Withers were flawless against Poppleton 2. Their colleagues Jason Whiting/Matt Waudby and Ben Storey/Dom Wright also scored impressively, 30 and 33 respectively, to inflict a bruising 99-9 defeat on their visitors. The result is a huge boost to Wigginton’s promotion prospects - they are third but only 8 points behind third placed Boston Spa 1, with two games in hand. Poppleton, by contrast, look almost certain to be joining the third tier next season.

The other maximum return came from the Strensall 2 pairing of Ross Welsh/Rich Scott in the division eight encounter with Bishopthorpe 2. The resultant 85-23 victory puts the newly formed Strensall second team marginally ahead of Knaresborough 2 in the race for the second promotion spot.

The division seven clash between Wheldrake and Heworth 2 was a much tighter affair, with the former eventually edging home 56-52. The result helps secure Wheldrake’s division seven status following their promotion last season. Heworth, however, look set to drop to the basement tier for next term.

Tim and James Hunt scored an impressive 25 for Wilberfoss 1 in their division three match at home to Bubwith 1. The home side’s 68-40 win keeps their promotion hopes alive but leaves Bubwith embroiled in a tense four-way relegation tussle.

Three Cooks - Pip, Mark and Graham - turned out for Fulford 2 in a division five meeting with Appleton Roebuck 2. They helped to serve up a 72-36 victory, with all three pairs - Patrick Herriot/Pip Cook, Alex Herriot/Mark Cook and Alan Wilkinson/Graham Cook - returning scores north of 20. The outcome leaves Appleton Roebuck adrift at the foot of the table but gives Fulford a fighting chance of preserving their fifth tier status.

The only remaining match was a battle of the bottom two in division six. Bishopthorpe 1 made the short trip to Poppleton only to go down 48-60 to Poppleton’s third team. A majestic 29 from first pair Tony Howard/Pete Moss was the centrepiece of the Poppleton triumph, with a determined 20 from Roger Mackle/Lee Mainprize the highlight for the visitors. The result leaves Poppleton only 7 points off safety but seems certain to seal Bishopthorpe’s relegation fate.


Matches from Sunday 21 July

Title tusslers - Boston Spa (Left) and Pocklington, top two in division six, who met at the weekend

David Lloyd York 1, leaders and defending champions of the local York Tyke men’s tennis league, took a huge step towards the retention of their title by beating York 1 65-43. Centrepiece of the victory was a 29 game haul from first pair Dale Fawcett/Jack Batchelor. David Lloyd Harrogate 1 were unable to help their York David Lloyd equivalents, going down 32-76 on their visit to second in the table Wigginton 1. Wigginton’s win keeps them just six points behind in what is now a two horse championship race. Each of the home pairs, Ben Walker/James Shaw, Phil Langley/Ollie Hicks and James Denmark/Ben Storey returned plus twenty scores.

Poppleton 1 banished any lingering relegation fears by inflicting a crushing 76-32 defeat on the visiting Sherburn, thanks in large measure to a majestic 30 from first pair Nick Turnbull/Robbie Greenall. Racquets 1, one off the foot of the table at start of play,entertained Copmanthorpe 1, who were just one place above them. Racquets emerged victorious, 63-45. A solid 24 from first pair Andy Calder/Richard Shannon was the foundation of the triumph, which leaves Racquets eight points behind Cop but with two games in hand.

Fulford 1, leading division two, were due to entertain relegation threatened Wetherby 1, but the latter were unable to field a team, as a result of which Fulford remain in pole position and Wetherby fall three points below safety.

David Lloyd York 2, in third place at the start of proceedings, hosted bottom club Poppleton 2 and inflicted a bruising 73-35 defeat on the visitors, despite a determined 24 from Pop’s first pair Steven Jones/Jamie Jarman. David Lloyd remain in third place, Pop find themselves thirty points off safety.

Boston Spa 1 helped their promotion aspirations by beating Starbeck 1 76-32, a victory centred on a majestic 30 from first pair Matt and Steven Lewis. Boston Spa are second in the table, nine points ahead of David Lloyd, but having played one game more.

The bottom two clubs in division three clashed swords at the weekend. Bubwith 1, whose second pair Robert Jackson/Mark Harris returned an excellent 25, overcame the challenge of Alne and Tollerton 62-46. Both clubs, however, remain in the relegation places.

The top two clubs both enjoyed home victories. Sutton-upon-Derwent 1 had a hard fought 58-50 win over Harrogate Racquets 2. York 2 edged home 55-53 against Appleton Roebuck 1, thanks to a dominant 23 from first pair Jake Lonsdale/NeilJohnson. Only half a point separates leaders York 2 from Sutton-upon-Derwent 1, but both clubs look odds on to ascend into the second tier next term.

In division four, Harrogate Spa 1 had a tense 56-52 away day triumph at Rowntree Park 2. The Harrogate side are now sixteen points clear of third placed Wetherby 2, who, like their first team colleagues, were unable to field a team for their scheduled clash with Wigginton 3.

The remaining matches in the fourth echelon involved the four clubs who are engaged in a close relegation tussle. Starbeck 2 hosted Strensall 1, but were able to field only two pairs, and succumbed 27-81. Knaresborough 1 started the day one point behind their hosts Copmanthorpe 2. An excellent 31 from the visiting first pair of David Hewson/Matt Walton was the feature of a comprehensive 76-32 victory for Knaresborough, as a result of which the two clubs switch places in the table.

Selby, with games in hand and hoping to reignite their division five promotion push, entertained top side York 3. They were, however, unable to match the fire power of the visitors, and went down 49-59, leaving York in pole position and clear favourites to clinch the title. Second from top played second from bottom as Heworth 1 took on Fulford 2. A combative 26 from Fulford’s first pair Pip Cook/Patrick Herriott was not enough to prevent a 60-48 win for Heworth. Appleton Roebuck 2 went down 45-63 at home to Riccall and are now twenty four points adrift of safety.

Match of the day in division six was the eagerly awaited clash between the top two sides, Boston Spa 2 and Pocklington (pictured). Top score on the day was 25 from Boston Spa’s Pete Smith/Jordan Gregory, but Pockington triumphed 64-44 and go six points clear at the top. Wigginton 4 closed the gap on the leaders with their 72-36 win over Sutton-upon-Derwent 2, the key to which was a fine 27 from first pair Sam Thorp/Phil Anderson.

A battling 27 from Bishopthorpe 1’s first pair of Sam Watson/Tim Mandle proved not quite enough to overcome the visiting York 4, who eventually prevailed 56-52, leaving Bish anchored to the foot of the table. Second from bottom Poppleton 3 travelled to Wilberfoss 2 but found their hosts in fine form and were defeated 40-68, leaving them fourteen points off safety.

In division seven, Cawood made the long journey to Harlow, only to lose by the narrowest possible margin, 53-55. Harlow’s first pair of Andrew Carrick/Lewis Kettlewell were on fire, returning an unbeaten 27. A 27 game haul from first pair Andrew and Stephen Murtagh helped Wheldrake overcame Sheriff Hutton 65-43, keeping Wheldrake in a promotion race from which any two of five clubs could go up.

Top played bottom in division eight as Dunnington hosted Wigginton 5. Dunnington’s resounding victory, in which all three pairs - Rob Rhodes/Dave Carver, Gareth Wigdahl/Andy Ganga and Matthew Machin/Dave Scott - scored north of twenty games, puts them twenty points clear at the top of the table.


Matches from Sunday 14 July

In division one of the local York Tyke Men’s Tennis league, David Lloyd York 1, second in the table at the start of proceedings, took full advantage of Wigginton 1’s blank week to storm to the top of the table. Visiting bottom club Sherburn, all three pairs outgunned their hosts, Dale Fawcett/Jack Batchelor top scoring with 32, backed up by Ed Barker-Wyatt/Matt Collins (25) and Jan Dyl/Ben Orten (26). Sherburn, division two champions last term, now have a mountain to climb to avoid an immediate return to the second echelon.

Division one also saw third play fourth, as York 1 visited David Lloyd Harrogate 1. A spectacular 31 from York’s Pete Hall/Ryan Carrick provided the platform for an impressive away victory. Harrogate Racquets 1 had a rest day, and this enabled both Copmanthorpe 1 and their visitors Poppleton 1 to ease away from the relegation area. Poppleton emerged victorious, 67-41, featuring a splendid 29 from first pair Nick Turnbull/Josh Hunt. Cop’s first pair of David Atkinson/Jonny Kay put up a belligerent display to earn 21 games, and the points move Cop 14 points clear of relegation.

Top also played bottom in division two, as leaders Fulford 1 made the short trip to Poppleton 2. All three visiting pairs of Govind Baker/Richard Parker, Joe Mortimer/Nigel Skelton and Arran Tate/Leo Knighton scored in the twenties, thus maintaining Fulford’s promotion charge.

The crunch match in division two was David Lloyd York 2 at home to Boston Spa 1. The sides were placed third and second respectively at the start of play and there was little to divide them on the day, with Boston Spa eventually edging home 57-51.

Relegation threatened Rowntree Park 1 were hosted by Starbeck 1 and triumphed by the narrowest possible margin, 55-53. Wetherby 1 entertained Wigginton 2 but did little to ease their relegation worries, succumbing 43-65.

York 2, who headed the division three table prior to the weekend’s action, visited relegation threatened Bubwith 1. York helped their title aspirations with a 64-44 victory, the centrepiece of which was a fine 27 from Jez Catchpole/John Logan.

Sutton-upon-Derwent 1, relegated from division two last term, helped their hopes of an immediate return to the higher tier, by beating the visiting David Lloyd Harrogate 2, who travelled with only two pairs.

Bottom club Alne and Tollerton visited Harrogate Racquets 2, who are themselves in a relegation battle. Racquets’ 73-35 triumph lifts them 12 points clear of the relegation quagmire but leaves their hosts 33 points adrift of safety.

Wigginton 3, run-away leaders of division four, took a large stride towards achieving their title ambitions when they hosted Copmanthorpe 2 and won comfortably, 64-44. The result does little to ease Cop’s relegation worries. A vital foot of the table clash saw Strensall 1 entertain Knaresborough 1. A tense match resulted in a narrow 56-52 win for Strensall but leaves both clubs in a five-way relegation dogfight.

Wetherby 2 and Harrogate Spa 1 are locked in a tight battle to clinch the second promotion spot, with just two points separating them after Sunday’s proceedings. The former visited mid-table Rowntree Park 2 and triumphed 59-49. The Harrogate side entertained nearby Starbeck 2 and took the spoils 72-36, thanks in the main to a strong 27 from first pair Chris Dight/Andrew Davis.

Division five leaders York 3 took on third placed David Lloyd York 3 and move 13 points clear of their visitors with a 67-41 victory. All three home pairs, Bradley Austin/Jack Lewis, Dave Duffy/Chris Hughes and Dean Brazenhall/Neil Giltrap recorded 20-plus returns.

Heworth 1, in second place at start of play, entertained Rufforth. A tight affair saw Heworth edge over the line 57-51, giving them a 9 point cushion over David Lloyd York 3, who remain third. Selby, hoping to reignite their promotion hopes, had a local derby at home to mid-table Riccall. Selby’s 61-47 win leaves them 10 points off the promotion places, but with 2 games in hand.

The promotion race in division six is the most hotly contested of all the divisions. Boston Spa 2, half a point clear at the top on Saturday hosted relegation threatened Poppleton 3; Pop were able to field only two pairs and Boston Spa showed no mercy to record an 83-25 victory.

Pocklington, hoping to consolidate their second place, travelled to York 4 and inflicted a bruising 74-34 defeat on their hosts, an outcome which leaves Pock just half a point off top spot and leaves York looking uncomfortably over their shoulders at the relegation zone.

Wigginton 4’s trip to Bishopthorpe 1 enabled the former to keep up the pressure on the top two, with a comprehensive 66-42 win, spearheaded by a fine 26 from first pair Sam Thorp/Phil Anderson.

Cawood’s comprehensive 88-20 victory at home to Bubwith 2 takes them to the pinnacle of division seven. Harrogate Spa 2’s 67-41 triumph, featuring a masterly 26 from Tom Barker/Mark Upton, over Wheldrake keeps them firmly in the promotion picture, whilst the points won by Wheldrake, albeit in defeat, eases their relegation worries.

The battle for the division eight title is proving to be a thriller. The top two sides clashed at the weekend, with only one point between them at kick off. Dunnington emerged victorious with a fine performance from all three pairs - Grahame Hodson/Kevin Todd (20), Rob Rhodes/James Todd (23), Paul Birch/Oscar Hubble (29). Knaresborough, despite the reverse, remain comfortably in the promotion places.

The only other match in the basement division saw a local derby between bottom club Wigginton 5 and New Earswick. The latter had a huge 87-21 triumph, with excellent returns all round - Antony Georgiou/Colin Foster (33) - the top score in the league this week, John Newland/Lee Goodwin (23), Alistair Domville/Brian Hudson (31).


Matches from Sunday 7 July

York 3, loving life in division 5 (L-R: Chris Hughes, Dean Brazenhall, Neil Giltrap, Bradley Austin, Dave Duffy, Jack Lewis)

With Wimbledon having its traditional Sunday off, all eyes in the tennis world were focussed on proceedings in the Sunday morning Tyke Men’s Tennis League. The Sutton-upon-Derwent tennis club is the only one in the league to use the same surface as the hallowed turf of the All England Club. Their men’s second team were unable to use this to their advantage against leaders Pocklington in their division six clash, with the visitors taking the spoils and retaining top berth.

In the first division, David Lloyd York 1 had a huge 77-31 triumph over the visiting Copmanthorpe 1. The home side’s first pair of Dale Fawcett/Jack Batchelor were in imperious form, dropping only 1 of their 36 games. Wigginton 1 continue to top the table following their visit to York 1, emerging with a 68-40 victory.

Sherburn’s first pair of Stephen Pearce/Stephen Duree were a model of consistency in their match with David Lloyd Harrogate 1, achieving a 6-all draw in each of their three rubbers. Sherburn, however, were able to field only two pairs, and went down 27-81. Division 2 champions last term, Sherburn are now 19 points shy of avoiding an immediate return to the second tier. Harrogate Racquets 1 are in danger of joining them, following their 44-64 reverse at home to Poppleton 1.

Boston Spa 1, top of division two prior to this week’s fixtures, have dropped to second following a 48-60 defeat at the hands of Wigginton 2. Top spot now belongs to Fulford 1 who overcame their promotion rivals David Lloyd York 2 59-49, thanks in the main to a 23 from first pair Govind Baker/Richard Parker and a 24 from second pair Arran Tate/Leo Knighton.

Rowntree Park 1, three from the foot of the table before proceedings commenced, entertained Wetherby 1 in a relegation tussle. The Rowntree Park outfit seem in danger of two consecutive relegations following their 40-68 defeat. All three visiting pairs of Roger Fawcus/Jeremy Reddish, James Landau/Marcus Kaiser and Nigel Williams/Rich Whaley returned scores in the twenties.

Sutton-upon-Derwent 1, hoping for an immediate return to division two, travelled to Appleton Roebuck 1 for a division three encounter. The visitors triumphed 62-46, thanks in large part to a 25 from first pair George Hobson/John Kay, a victory which takes them to the top of the table.

A Harrogate local derby saw David Lloyd Harrogate 2 host Harrogate Racquets 2. The home side were in blistering form, registering a 74-34 win, with all three pairs of Sam Earley/Sam Couchman, Mike Sokol/Dave Whitelaw and Nick Boid/Jonny Kay scoring north of 20.

Alne and Tollerton were promoted last season but are in danger of only a short stay in the third level. League leaders York 2 visited at the weekend and took the spoils 83-25, cementing their place at the table peak.

Division four leaders Wigginton 3 had the week off but remain in pole position. Wetherby 2 took advantage of Wigginton’s rest day to narrow the gap at the top, with a 56-52 win over Strensall 1. Strensall are hoping to avoid an immediate return to division five, and their 52 games sufficed to lift them out of the bottom two. Harrogate Spa 1 were convincing 68-40 winners of their mid-table clash with Copmanthorpe 2. Bottom club Starbeck 2, hoping to avoid a second relegation in a row entertained Rowntree Park 2. The 54-all draw was just enough to lift Starbeck off the foot of the table.

In division five, second placed Heworth 1, hoping for an immediate return to the higher echelons, travelled to promotion rivals Selby and came away victorious, 57-51. Leaders York 3 made the short trip to Rufforth and had a comfortable win, cementing their place at the division’s summit but causing their hosts to slide towards the relegation quagmire. Each of the visiting pairs scored heavily: Dave Duffy/Chris Hughes - 26, Bradley Austin/Jack Lewis - 31, Dean Brazenhall/James Hirst - 27.

David Lloyd York 3, placed third in the table at start of play, entertained bottom club Appleton Roebuck 2 and triumphed 62-46, despite a defiant 21 from the visiting first pair of Mark Baxter/Steve Temple. Riccall prevailed 59-49 over Fulford 2, with a 23 from first pair Andrew Dunning/Scott Anderson. A battling 22 from Fulford’s Graham Cook/Alan Wilkinson was not enough to prevent their side slipping into the relegation places.

The promotion race in division six is wide open, with only 8 points separating the top four clubs at the start of the weekend. Two of the top four, Wigginton 4 and Wilberfoss 2 met at the Strensall ground used by the Wigginton club. Wiggy, seeking back to back promotions, came out on top 61-47, with first pair Ali Clothier/Stuart Langley leading the scoring with 23. Boston Spa 2, second in the table at start of play, had a convincing home win over the bottom team Bishopthorpe 1, an outcome that leaves the latter 20 points short of preserving their division six status.

Relegation threatened York 4 met fellow strugglers Poppleton 3 and went down 50-58, despite a splendid 23 from first pair Ciaran Sullivan/Finley Richardson.

Leaders of division seven, Sheriff Hutton made the long trip to Harrogate Spa 2, but only two pairs travelled and the Harrogate club won 80-28. Bottom of the table Heworth 2 entertained promotion seeking Harlow and turned the form book upside down with a 59-49 triumph. Cawood and Wheldrake started the day level on points. The former have now forged ahead following their 68-40 win, featuring a fine 25 from second pair Adam Raistrick/Eddie Burton.

Second played third in division eight, as Strensall 2 journeyed to Knaresborough 2. Knaresborough emerged victorious 83-25. First pair Mike and Brad Triffit kept up their fine form with a 30, but were eclipsed by Andrew Little/Matt Walton who returned a near flawless 35. Dunnington continue to top the division following the visit of New Earswick, who were able to field only two pairs. There is now a 20 point gap between the top two and the chasing pack.


Matches from Sunday 30 June

Harlow heroes (L-R: Cassius Petrovan, Paul Kettlewell, Andrew Carrick, Graham Mather, Andy King, Gabriel Bortes)

The two bottom sides in the local York Tyke men’s tennis league met at the weekend in a division eight encounter. Hosts Bishopthorpe 2 beat Wigginton 5 65-43 to leave the latter 7 points adrift at the foot of the table. A 25 game haul from John Coop/Alan Reynolds was enough to prevail.

The Wigginton club, which fields more teams than any other club, now top and tail the league. Wigginton 1 have gone 11 points clear at the league summit, following a conceded match by their intended opponents Sherburn and a week off for second placed David Lloyd York 1. The latter remain second, with their Harrogate equivalent 7 points behind in third, following a 65-43 win at Copmanthorpe 1.

Division two leaders Boston Spa 1 were unexpectedly held to a 54-all draw at home to Rowntree Park 1, but retain top spot. David Lloyd York 2 have gone second following a emphatic 74-34 triumph at home to Wetherby 1. A barnstorming 32 games from the home side’s first pair of Paul Harrison/Brad Swainston was the cornerstone of the victory.

In division three the form book was turned upside down as leaders York 2 succumbed 72-36 to the visiting Wilberfoss 1, for whom James and Tim Hunt were in fine form, returning 28 games. Sutton-upon-Derwent’s first team are now only half a point behind York, following their 70-38 home conquest of Bubwith 1. All Sutton’s pairs, Max Los/Matt Ward, Chris Hobson/Damien Galloway and George Hobson/John Kay achieved scores north of 20. David Lloyd Harrogate 2 eased their relegation fears by beating Alne and Tollerton 80-28. The visitors were able to field only two pairs and are now 25 points away from an immediate return to division four.

Division four itself saw a clash of the top two teams. Hosts Harrogate Spa 1 went down by the smallest possible margin, 55-53 against title rivals Wigginton 3. A 21 game haul from the latter’s third pair, Zoltan Siba/Sam Thorp was just enough to see them over the line. The Wigginton club now lead the table, with their hosts falling to third, thanks to Wetherby 2’s 66-42 triumph over the visiting Copmanthorpe 2. Division four also witnessed a meeting of the bottom two clubs. The local derby spoils went to Knaresborough 1, with a 77-31 conquest of Starbeck 2, a result which lifts the Knaresborough outfit out of the relegation slots.

In division five, leaders Heworth 1 and third placed York 3 fought out a tense 55-53 encounter, a 21 game total from the latter’s third pair of Jack Lewis/James Hirst just enough to see York over the line. The victory takes York 3 to the top of the table, but only seven points separate the top four in a very competitive division. Rufforth moved away from the relegation places with a comprehensive 75-33 win over the visiting Appleton Roebuck 2. A devastating 31 from Rufforth’s Phil Sinton/Will Edmond was the highlight of the victory, and leaves Appleton Roebuck at the foot of the table, 22 points from safety.

Neither of the top two sides in division six, Boston Spa 2 and Wigginton 4, were in action at the weekend. Pocklington took advantage to storm to the top of the table with a resounding 77-31 conquest of the visiting Bishopthorpe 1. Bish drop to the foot of the table, 16 points adrift of third from bottom York 4, who had a narrow 55-53 reverse following their trip to Wilberfoss 2. Second from bottom Poppleton 3 came close to an upset at home to Sutton-upon-Derwent 2, but the visitors eventually prevailed 56-52, despite a storming 26 from Popp’s first pair of Ben and Alex Crick.

Leaders of division seven, Sheriff Hutton entertained bottom club Heworth 2. A thumping 88-26 victory for the home side rockets them to the top of the table, and leaves Heworth with a 30 point gap to close if they are to stay in the division. Second placed Harlow travelled to Wheldrake only to go down 57-51, despite a belligerent 21 from Andrew Carrick/Paul Kettlewell. The result moves Wheldrake into third, seven points behind Harlow. Harrogate Spa 2 made the long trip to Bubwith 2 for a relegation clash. The Harrogate side will have enjoyed the journey home following their commanding 69-39 victory, in which all their pairs, Paul Tolman/Martin Yates, Mark Upton/Ian Charters and Craig Chew/Jamie Sigsworth accumulated 20-plus score.

In division eight both the top teams managed convincing victories. Dunnington overcame Strensall 2 73-35 and remain top, with an excellent 30 game bonanza from first pair Rob Rhodes/Oscar Hubble. For the third week in a row the top scorers across the entire league were Knaresborough 2’s Mike and Brad Triffit, this time chalking up 11 games in each rubber to help their team to a 71-37 win at David Lloyd York 4.


Matches from Sunday 23 June

Wigginton men’s first team are currently locked in a tight battle at the top of the Tyke Men’s Tennis League (L-R: Ollie Hicks, Phil Langley, James Denmark, Ben Walker, James Shaw, Nils Morosz)

The midsummer solstice saw a full programme of matches in the local York Men’s Tyke tennis league. There were no summertime blues for the two leading teams in division one, with both recording convincing victories. Wigginton 1 (pictured) demolished Copmanthorpe 1 85-23. The highlight was an excellent 32 from Ben Walker/James Shaw, but Phil Langley/James Denmark and Ollie Hicks/Nils Morosz also scored heavily (24 and 29 respectively). A defiant 18 from David Atkinson/Jonny Kay provided some consolation for the visitors. David Lloyd York 1 kept up the pressure at the top by crushing Racquets 1 86-22, thanks to two scores of 28 from Dale Fawcett/Jack Bachelor and Ed Barker-Wyatt/Freddie Booth, and a 30 from Ben Orton/Jan Dyl.

York 1 edged home 58-50 at bottom club Sherburn to go fourth in the table. A magnificent 32 game haul from top pair Pete Hall/Graeme Campbell, the top scorers in the first division and third top in the league as a whole, was key to the visitors’ victory.

David Lloyd York’s second team also had a fine win, at home against Starbeck 1, Paul Adamson/Adam Harvey top scoring in the 73-35 victory. The result leaves them third in division two, behind Fulford 1 who had a blank week and leaders Boston Spa 1 who had a 61-47 away day victory at Wetherby 1.

Division three saw a clash of the top two, with second place Sutton-upon- Derwent triumphing 57-51 over leaders York 1. The home club, which is unique in the league in its use of grass courts, remains in second, although York’s lead has narrowed from 13 to 10 points. Appleton Roebuck climb to fourth following a huge 78-30 home win over David Lloyd Harrogate 2, featuring a 28 from Dave Bradley/Geoff Bullock and 29 from Ed Ziegler/James Edmond. It was anguish for Alne & Tollerton as they succumbed 91-17 at Wilberfoss 1 and fall 24 points adrift of safety. All three home pairs were on fire - 33 from Chris Bowles/Kieran Screeton, making them the weekend’s second top scorers, 31 from James and Tim Hunt and 27 from Alex Gurnell/Charlie Dodds. A 54-all draw between Bubwith 1 and Racquets 2 goes some way towards easing the relegation worries of each club.

Wigginton 3 have opened up a 16 point gap at the apex of division four, following their top of the table clash at Rowntree Park 2. The visitors had a fine 70-38 win, with all three pairs of Scott Farquhar/Kev Fairclough, Dom Wright/Ben King and Nick O'Keeffe/Adam Houghton achieving 20- plus tallies. The reverse drops the Rowntree Park to third, with the second berth now occupied by Harrogate Spa 1. The latter triumphed 74-34 in their local derby encounter with Knaresborough 1. The highlight was a magnificent 29 from first pair Chris Dight/Andrew Davis. Strensall 1 climb three places in the table thanks to a 73-35 triumph over Copmanthorpe 2. The visiting Strensall players were a hallmark of consistency, with scores of 26 from Mark Howarth/James Whitwell, 25 from Ben Brown/Ryan Gale and 23 from Andrew Smith/Matthew Stephenson.

Division five continues to be extremely tight, with only 4 points between the first and fourth placed teams. Last week’s top two fought out a nail- biting encounter, with Heworth 1 just coming out on top 55-53 against David Lloyd York 3. A battling 24 from first pair David Hicks/Nick Latcham was just enough to see the visitors over the line. Selby are level at the top with Heworth, but have a game in hand. A breathtaking 29 from Selby’s second pair of Dave Stewart/Paul Reddish saw them on their way to a 67-41 home conquest of Fulford 2. Just half a point behind in third are York 3, who saw off Riccall 59-49. All three York pairs - Neil Giltrap/Dean Brzenhall, Bradley Austin/Jack Lewis and Dave Duffy/James Hirst returned scores above the crucial halfway mark of 18. Rufforth helped their survival hopes with a comprehensive 75-33 triumph at home to Appleton Roebuck 2. A near flawless 31 from Rufforth’s Phil Sinton/Will Edmond was centrepiece of the victory, which leaves Appleton Roebuck 11 points adrift at the foot of the table.

Boston Spa 2 furthered their division six title aspirations with a convincing 64-44 conquest of third-placed Wilberfoss 2. A 24 game haul from first pair Pete Smith/Ralph Grote saw the leaders on their way. Wigginton 4 climb to second following a 71-37 demolition of Pocklington. The division’s basement pair, Bishopthorpe 1 and Poppleton 3 fought out a gruelling 54- all draw. The top pairs for each side excelled, with 23 from Sam Watson/Tim Mandle for Bish and 24 for Tony Howard/Josh Andrews for Popp. The stalemate leaves both clubs 13 points off safety.

In division seven Harlow had a day off but remain in the top two. Equal with them on points are Sheriff Hutton. Heworth 2 are now 21 points off safety following their heavy defeat at home to Harrogate Spa 2, a result which helps the visitors’ fight against relegation. Bubwith 2 enhanced their survival chances with an excellent 67-41 win at Wheldrake, thanks primarily to a steady 25 from top pair Andy Corfield/Luke Edwards. For the second week in a row the top scorers were Brad Triffit and Mike Triffit of Knaresborough 2. They lost only 1 of the 36 games to become top scorers over the entire league for the season so far and to help their club to an 84-24 home win over Wigginton 5. Despite this, the top spot in division eight continues to elude them, given the blistering form of Dunnington, who inflicted a crushing away day defeat on Bishopthorpe 2.


Matches from Sunday 16 June

Battling Bish - Bishopthorpe men’s first team are finding the going tough in Tyke division 6, but continue to enjoy their Sunday morning tennis (L-R: Will Rice, Charlie Rice, James Hopkinson, Lee Mainprize, David Moore, Sam Watson)

Two David Lloyd clubs, from different zones covered by the York Tyke Men’s Tennis League, locked horns at the weekend in a second versus third encounter in division one. David Lloyd York first team came out on top 79-29 against their visiting Harrogate rivals. The match was marred by the fact that the visiting third pair of Chris James and Carlos Homer were unable to take part in their final two rubbers, thus having to concede 24 games. The hosts’ second pair of Dale Fawcett and Jack Bachelor were in sparkling form, beating Mark Coombs and Tommi Smith 10-2 and Sam Couchman and Tom Knapp 12-0.

The win for the home team was not, however, enough to overtake Wigginton 1 at the league pinnacle. The latter had an away day win, 61- 47 against 2017 champions Poppleton 1, thus retaining top spot, albeit by the slenderest of margins. Steady scoring from the visitors - 22 from Ben Walker/James Shaw, 21 from Phil Langley/Ollie Hicks and 18 from Andy Withers/James Walker was enough to overcome a 22 from the home side’s Nick Turnbull/Jack Hannah and 20 from Robbie Greenall/Josh Kent.

The bottom two sides in the top division, Sherburn and Racquets 1, fought out a 54-all draw, a result which may not do much to help either side in their battle with relegation. It was a match of three thirds, with two of each team - Sherburn’s Imran Jehangiri/Plamen Yordanov and Racquets’ Jim Haddleton/Andy Calder - winning half their 36 games, two scoring a narrow victory (Phil Bremner/Stephen Pearce for the hosts and Jonathan Smail/John Hargreaves for Racquets) and two just failing to make the 18 game mark.

York 1 had a convincing 77-31 over the visiting Copmanthorpe 1. A barnstorming 29 from York’s Steve Smith and Graeme Campbell was backed up by a solid 27 from Pete Hall/Ryan Carrick.

In division two Boston Spa had a resounding 82-26 home win over Poppleton 2. All three home pairs of Matt Lewis/Paul Kaye, Simon Hughes/Dave Aspland and Glenn Williams/Danny Gannon registered scores in the high twenties. The result gives Boston Spa a slender lead at the apex of the table, but leaves Poppleton 12 points adrift at the bottom.

Sutton-upon-Derwent 1 had a spectacular 74-34 victory in their match at bottom club Alne & Tollerton in division three. Two scores of 26, from Max Los/Zak Los and George Hobson/John Kay, helped the visitors on their way. The Sutton club goes second in the division, 13 points behind York 2, but with a game in hand. York 2 were themselves in fine form, their long journey to David Lloyd Harrogate 2 being rewarded with a 64-44 victory. Consistency was the order of the day, with all three visiting pairs of Jake Lonsdale/Neil Johnson, Jez Catchpole/Johnny Scott and Richard Cranidge/Granville Mark achieving scores of par (18) or above.

Division four leaders Wigginton 3 had the day off at the weekend, and their closest rivals Rowntree Park 2 took advantage to narrow the gap, albeit marginally, with a tense 55-53 win at Knaresborough 1. Steady scoring from all the visiting pairs proved enough to overcome the excellent 25 from Knaresborough’s top pair of David Hewson and Tony Graham. Harrogate Spa 1 and Copmanthorpe 2 also secured wins in what is a very competitive division.

Heworth 1 took advantage of a blank day for Selby to record a fine 80-28 win at home to Appleton Roebuck 2 and go top of the division five table. Excellent scoring from all home pairs - Andy Cuttill/Al Spall (29), Nick Latcham/David Hicks (31) and Phillippe Leopold/Scott Marmion (20) - overwhelmed the visitors. York 3’s fine 65-43 win at Fulford 2 means the top of the table remains extremely tight. A superb 28 from the York pair of Dean Brazenhall and Finley Richardson was key to the York challenge.

Division six witnessed a clash of two clubs’ fourth teams. Wiggington 4 prevailed 62-46 at York 4, thanks in the main to a belligerent 26 from their first pair of Mal Pringle/Ali Clothier. A stylish 21 from first pair Pete Finlay/Barry Helstrip was the highlight for the home side. Boston Spa 2 continue to lead a very tight top four, whilst Bishopthorpe 1 (pictured) and Poppleton 3 look to be in a relegation dogfight, although the latter have several games in hand. Boston Spa 2 retain top spot despite their match at Sutton-upon-Derwent being postponed because the grass courts were too wet to be playable.

Harlow have stormed to the top of division seven following a convincing 69-39 away win at Bubwith 2. Harrogate Spa 2 beat Cawood by the narrowest possible margin of 55-53. Cawood are third, despite the defeat, but the gap between the chasing pack and second-placed Sheriff Hutton, who were not in action at the weekend, is a potentially insurmountable 11 points.

A majestic 34 games from Brad Triffit and Mike Triffit was the weekend’s top score and helped Knaresborough 2 to a titanic 83-25 win at Bishopthorpe 2, in division eight. Heavy scoring from Nick Jackson/Gary Young (28) and John Forster/Alain Le Bourdon (21) completed the victory. The win puts Knaresborough just one point behind second-placed Dunnington, who were themselves on fire with a 67-41 triumph at David Lloyd 4. A spectacular 29 from Paul Birch and Rhys Harrison was the highlight for the visitors. The newly formed Strensall 2 continue to lead the promotion charge. Their latest conquest, of the visiting New Earswick, gives them a 9 point cushion at the top. Steady scoring from all home pairs was enough to secure a 63-54 win, despite a splendid 26 from the visiting first pair of David Latimer and Antony Georgiou.


Matches from Sunday 2 June

Selby are sitting pretty at the top of division 5

York Men’s third team entertained Selby (pictured) at their Clifton Park fortress in a division 5 encounter. In a match of high quality attacking tennis the visitors prevailed 64-44 and go top of the table. A fine 25 game haul from Jack Wood and Paul Reddish was key to the victory. David Lloyd 3 are a very close second in the table, following their 68-40 home win over Rufforth. Appleton Roebuck 2 currently foot the table, and were beaten 72-36 at Riccall, for whom all three pairs of George Lintott/Nick Clemshaw, Ian Cohen/Steve Capewell and Andrew Dunning/Scott Anderson registered scores in the twenties. Heworth first team had a close win at Fulford 2 to claim third spot in the table.

Defending division one champions David Lloyd York returned to the top of the table with a 60-48 home win over York 1, primarily as a result of a sparkling 27 games from number one pair Dale Fawcett and Jan Dyl. Pete Hall and Ryan Carrick top-scored for the visitors with a solid 20. Copmanthorpe 1 entertained Racquets 1 (Harrogate) and the sides fought out a 54-all draw. Poppleton 1 had a resounding 66-42 win at bottom club Sherburn, despite a 23 game haul from the home side’s first pair of Phil Bremner and Stephen Pearce. A splendid 29 from the visiting first pair of James Silson and Andre Earnshaw was the highlight for the visitors. Division 2 is proving extremely tight, with a single point separating leaders Wigginton 2 from Fulford 1. Each had convincing wins at the weekend. The former took the spoils from their visit to Rowntree Park 1, the centrepiece being a consistent 27 from their top pair of Matt Waudby and Andy Withers, recording 9 games in each of their three rubbers. Fulford 1 won 65-43 at Wetherby 1; all three visiting pairs scored well, top pair of Richard Parker and Govind Baker leading the way with an excellent 29.

York 2 continue to top division 3, despite having the week off. Wilberfoss 1 took advantage of the York furlough to close the gap to 1.5 points. They recorded a spectacular 69-39 home win over David Lloyd Harrogate 2, with all three home pairs of Matt Poole/Kieran Screeton, Tim Hunt/Chris Bowles and Charlie Dodds/Alex Gurnell scoring north of 20 games. Bubwith 1 entertained Alne and Tollerton in the battle of the bottom 2, and came out on top 78-30, with Bubwith’s pairs of Jon Longthorp/Doug Smith, Shaun Pinchbeck/Alastair Southwarth and Guy Littlejohn/Liam Moore returning 29, 27 and 22 respectively. Sutton-upon-Derwent 1 had a fine 64-44 win at Racquets 2, and are only 4.5 points off second spot, with a game in hand.

Wigginton 3 have a commanding lead in division 4. Their latest triumph was a 60-48 home win over third placed Wetherby 2. Scott Farquhar and Kev Fairclough led the way for the home side, with an impressive 25, whilst a 19 game haul from Marc Bickers and Paul Godden was the highlight for the visitors. Starbeck 2’s visit to Strensall 1 ended in a 54-all draw, whilst Copmanthorpe 2 had an away day win at Knaresborough 1, a victory that sees the two sides swap places at the foot of the table. Places were also swapped in division 6, this time at the top. Boston Spa 2 beat Pocklington 59-49 and consequently take over from them at the division summit. York 4 had a resounding 82-26 triumph over Bishopthorpe 1. A superb 30 from top pair Ciaran Sullivan and teenager Finley Ricardson made them the second top scorers of the week across the league. York’s other pairs, Steve Bastable and Pete Finlay (27 games) and Rob Hodge and Robin Karfoot (23) were also on fire, whilst a battling 17 from Lee Mainprize and Sam Watson provided some consolation for the visitors.

Division 8 also saw new leaders, with Dunnington edging ahead of Strensall 2, who did not have a game. Dunnington had a comfortable 85-23 win at Wigginton 5, with excellent contributions from all three pairs of Grahame Hodson and Dave Scott (27), Oscar Hubble and Howard Widdall (28) and Alfie Hubble and Andy Ganga (30). The basement division’s only other fixture saw New Earswick travel to Bishopthorpe 2 and inflict a 69-39 defeat on their hosts. The visiting team’s first pair of David Latimer and Antony Georgiou carried all before them with a magnificent 32 game haul, making them the top scorers of the week in the league.


Matches from Sunday 26 May

Wigginton Tennis Club Men’s third team took advantage of a reduced set of Bank Holiday fixtures in the Tyke Men’s Tennis League to cement their place at the top of division four. They recorded a fine 62-46 victory over the visiting Strensall first team. Key to their success was a sparkling 25 games from their second pair of Dom Wright/Ben King. Ryan Gale/Ben Brown scored a solid 20 for the visitors.

In contrast to their first team, Strensall 2, playing in division eight, recorded a 64-44 win home over the fourth team of the David Lloyd (York) club. A fine team effort, with winning scores from all three pairs of Clark Howard/Richard Harrison, Ross Welsh/Joe Vaughan and Tom Warrington/Tom Roe saw the hosts over the line.

There was a very different outcome for the David Lloyd club in their other Bank Holiday fixture, in which their second team secured a convincing 75-33 win away against Poppleton 2, in division two. David Lloyd’s second and third pairs, Jack Hoare/Dave Thomson and Trevor Watson/Paul Harrison both recorded above par scores, of 23 and 21 respectively, but star billing went to the first pair of Freddie Booth/Jack Batchelor, with a superb 31 game haul.


Matches from Sunday 19 May

In an excellent show of strength in depth, Wigginton Tennis Club have been able to field a record number of five teams in this year’s Tyke Men’s Tennis League and are in top position in three of the eight divisions. Their first team have gone top of division one following an excellent 83-25 away day victory at Racquets in Harrogate. Each of the Wigginton pairs of Ben Walker and James Shaw, James Denmark and Phil Langley, and Ollie Hicks and Nils Morozs scored in the high twenties. David Lloyd York are a close second, after Sherburn had tok concede their scheduled match with the defending champions. Meanwhile, David Lloyd Harrogate beat York Tennis Club 62-46, thanks in large measure to a 24 game haul from Rich Bancroft and Tom Collyer.

The Wigginton club also head up division two, with their second team having a 69-39 win at home to Wetherby. An excellent 27 from Andy Withers and Ian Grasby helped secure the Wigginton victory. Fulford 1 are just one point behind, following their 82-26 victory over Poppleton 2, including a near flawless 31 games from Richard Parker and Govind Baker. Boston Spa 1 and David Lloyd York 2 fought out a thrilling 54-all draw.

Wigginton also lead the way in division four, thanks to a 64-44 away win for their third team at Copmanthorpe 2. This division promises to be very tightly contested, with close results all round this week, including a 54-all draw between Knaresborough 1 and Strensall 1 and the narrowest possible victory, 55-53, by Rowntree Park 2 over Wetherby 2. York 2 are in a commanding position in division three, having beaten Bubwith 67-41, Howard Pallister and Neil Johnson leading the way with 25 games. Bubwith 1 and the Alne and Tollerton club look to be in a battle against relegation, having yet to find a winning formula this season. The top of division five is a very tight affair, with Selby and David Lloyd York 3 on 24 points, closely followed by York 3 with 20 points. The latter two fought out a close match, with David Lloyd finally getting across the line 56-52. The 20 games from David Lloyd’s third pair, Richard Doughty and Mick Douglas, turned out to be decisive. Selby, meanwhile, had a more comfortable morning, prevailing 67-41 at Riccall, following consistent scoring of 24, 23 and 20 from Jack Wood and Arron Clarke, Marc Hodge and Daryl Young and Richard Dawes and Paul Reddish respectively.

Pocklington top division six, following a thrilling 71-37 victory at home to York 4. Boston Spa 2 are in hot pursuit, having comprehensively beaten their hosts Poppleton 3 by 77-31, including a magnificent 29 from Jordan Gregory and Marc Mottershead. Harrogate Spa 2 were hampered by an enforced exit of their third pair after the first round, leaving Wheldrake to run out 75-33 victors over their hosts. Wheldrake are 4 points behind division seven leaders Sheriff Hutton, following the latter’s 63-45 home win over Harlow.

The newly formed Strensall 2 hold a narrow lead in division eight, having beaten Bishopthorpe 2 62-46. Superb team consistency proved decisive, with the Strensall team of Rich Scott and Joe Vaughan, Clark Howard and Richard Harrison and Craig Allison and Tom Warrington all north of the 20 game mark. Dunnington are a mere half point behind the leaders, despite a narrow 58-50 defeat by visiting Knaresborough 2, for whom a superb 32 from Mike and Brad Triffitt proved to be the key to victory.


Matches from Sunday 12 May

From being threatened with promotion last season to early leaders of division 6 - can Pocklington maintain their winning form? (L-R: Richie Norris, Graeme Taylor, Ross Gleig, Matt Ralphs, David Moores, James Eaglesfield)

Second-place Wigginton narrowed the gap at the top of division one with a convincing win over York. Ben Walker and James Shaw maintained their 100% winning record by scoring 30 games, a total matched by David Lloyd York's Dale Fawcett and Will Hart in their visit to Copmanthorpe. Racquets got their season underway with a trip to Poppleton but the hosts were too strong and secured a 10-2 win despite only 10 games separating the teams. David Lloyd Harrogate won comfortably against Sherburn and remain third but with a match in hand. Boston Spa 1 and Wigginton 2 couldn't be separated on rubber wins but a final round 9-3 victory from Ben Storey and James Walker secured Wigginton the bonus points and ensured they remain top of division 2. Fulford go second after a similarly close win against a strong David Lloyd York second team. After a tough season in division one, Starbeck beat Poppleton to record their first victory of the year.

Some close matches in division 3 saw David Lloyd Harrogate 2 beat Racquets 2 by the finest of margins, with just a single game separating the teams. Appleton Roebuck fell narrowly short at Sutton Upon Derwent, despite Geoff Bullock and Dave Bradley efficiently winning their three rubbers 7-5. Wigginton's success continued in division 4, with a comprehensive defeat of Knaresborough by their third team, with all three pairs scoring highly. Rowntree Park and Wetherby second teams also continued their winning starts to the season with victories against Starbeck and Strensall. Harrogate Spa recorded their first win in division 4 by just a single game against Copmanthorpe.

Division 5 remains extremely close, with early leaders Selby reined in by a strong Heworth team. Fulford 2 saw off Riccall by a narrow margin, thanks to a consistent trio of 8-4 victories from Patrick Herriott and Ben Taylor. York 3 edged out Rufforth in a match that saw heavy victories and defeats across the rubbers for both teams. Appleton Roebuck 2 and David Lloyd 3 could not be separated on games but Lloyd won slightly more of the rubbers, resulting in a 7-5 victory for them. Pocklington continued their reversal of fortune with a defeat of Sutton Upon Derwent 2 at home and remain at the top of division 6. Boston Spa 2 are not far behind after defeating Bishopthorpe, with Marc Mottershead and Gordon Milne scoring 31 games.

Sheriff Hutton had another big victory in division 7, this time at home against Harrogate Spa 2, while Wheldrake also continue to impress following promotion into the division. Division 8 saw David Lloyd 4 win by a large margin, with Ben Isley and Clive Christiansen dropping just a single game and becoming the top scorers of the week. Injury put paid to New Earswick's chances against Dunnington, in an otherwise close match that saw the home team leading narrowly after the first rubber.


Matches from Sunday 5 May

Just two matches were played on the bank holiday weekend, both in division 1. A clash of the titans saw last year's runners up Wigginton take on reigning champions David Lloyd York. Lloyd came out on top but Ben Walker and James Shaw were unbeatable for Wigginton and were top scorers, claiming all three points and 24 games. Poppleton returned to winning ways against Copmanthorpe, who nevertheless came away with a creditable three points in an up-and-down match that saw Cop leading on games after the first rubber.


Matches from Sunday 28 April

2018's division one champions David Lloyd York started 2019 as they mean to go on (L-R: Ben Orten, Jan Dyl, Freddie Booth, Sean Evans, Dale Fawcett and Ed Barker-Wyatt)

The 2019 season kicked off in earnest on 28 April with 27 matches across eight divisions. Last year's top two David Lloyd York and Wigginton made a storming start, with both picking up all 12 points against Poppleton and newly promoted Sherburn respectively. Dale Fawcett of David Lloyd York, last season's joint top ranked player, picked up where he left off and narrowly missed out on a full house, scoring 35 games with Jan Dyl. Sherburn's fellow promotees Copmanthorpe fared slightly better at David Lloyd Harrogate, drawing two rubbers and taking away a point and 32 games.

The teams promoted into division 2 both began the season strongly. Last year's division 3 champions Wigginton 2 copied their first team by taking a clean sweep in their opening match, with all three pairs scoring more than 25 games. Boston Spa had a closer match away at Rowntree Park but came out the victors, while Fulford set out to avenge narrowly missing out on promotion by taking 10 points from Starbeck. Not much separated Wetherby and David Lloyd York 2, but an 11-1 victory for Asa Stanley and Brad Swainston in the second rubber secured the points for Lloyd.

Despite the loss of some key players, Alne & Tollerton put in a decent performance in division 3 at home against David Lloyd Harrogate 2, scoring three points and 44 games. Appleton Roebuck split the rubber points down the middle with Racquets 2 but scored a convincing majority of the games to secure the bonus points. A series of very close matches in division 4 saw success for Wetherby 2, who justified their reprieve from relegation last season by sealing a narrow victory against Copmanthorpe 2. The two promoted teams Strensall and Harrogate Spa put in strong performances but fell just short against Rowntree Park 2 and Wigginton 3 respectively.

Division 5's newest members made an immediate impression, with Selby taking all but one of the points against Appleton Roebuck. Selby's top two pairs, including new signing Jack Wood, dropped just eight games between them making them the second and third best scoring partnerships in the entire league this week. Having just avoided relegation from division 6 last season, Pocklington started with a bang and took all but half a point away with them from Bishopthorpe, allbeit with four of the rubbers being won by just a single game. A strong Boston Spa second team saw off newly promoted Wigginton 4, while York 4 narrowly defeated Wilberfoss 2, with Finley Richardson and Ciaran Sullivan's 11-1 victory in the second round proving decisive.

In division 7, long journeys for Bubwith 2 and Wheldrake were rewarded with the tightest of victories at Harrogate Spa and Harlow. Harlow won the majority of the rubbers but fell just short of Wheldrake's game total in a match where six of the rubbers ended in a 7-5 scoreline, which was also the final match score. New teams Knaresborough 2 and Wigginton 5 were both involved in extremely close matches in division 8, with Knaresborough narrowly edging out David Lloyd York 4 and Wigginton drawing against Bishopthorpe 2. Dunnington, reduced to just a single team this season, nevertheless opened strongly against Strensall 2, with last year's division 2 regular Paul Birch showing his quality by partnering Andy Ganga to 27 games.


Matches from Sunday 21 April

Ranging from 14 to 83 years old, Knaresborough's three pairs in their debut match were all father/son partnerships! (L-R: Andy & Nathan Little, Mike & John Forster, Mike & Bradley Triffitt)

The Tyke Petroleum Men's Tennis League opened on a glorious Easter Sunday with just a single rearranged match in division eight between Strensall 2 and Knaresborough 2. The new Knaresborough team made their debut by remarkably fielding three father/son pairings: Andrew & Nathan Little, Mike & Brad Triffitt and John & Mike Forster. A close match saw the teams equal on points after two rounds but Strensall took all the rubbers in the final round and secured the win 9-3. First pair James Whitwell and Ross Welsh were the top scorers, winning 26 games and all three points.


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Last updated: 5 February 2020 16:48