IN Division One of the Whatley Recordon sponsored Malvern Table Tennis League Manor Park Cavaliers have gone to the top of the table following recent victories over Manor Park Express and Manor Park Oak.

Against Express, Trevor Simmons played well and won his three singles while for Express Dave Woodyatt (two) beat Joe Higgs in the final game of the evening to secure a point for the away side.

In the match against the Oak, Joe Higgs and Mike Keeley were unbeaten, including the doubles, while the consolation win came from Harry Jutle who beat Trevor Simmons.

However, Grosvenor Eagles still remain favourites for the title as they have two games in hand.

The match of the week was between Ledbury Lions and YMCA Magpies who fought out a 5-5 draw. The match consisted of 805 points with five of the sets requiring a fifth game.

Mark Jones was the lynch pin for Magpies winning his three singles and teaming up with Steve Humphrys to win the doubles.

For Lions, Dave Sear and Richard Smith both won twice.

At the bottom of the table, with two teams facing the drop, the real battle looks between Manor Park Oak and Manor Park Pumas. Pumas are currently second bottom, a point behind the Oak, but with a game in hand.

In their last two games, Pumas have gained four points with a win over Manor Park Amateurs and a 3-7 defeat against CSSC Ramblers.

Against Amateurs Jon Dyke and Tom Palmer won two apiece but neither of them could beat Dave De Souza who won his three singles.

In the match against Ramblers, Jon Dyke won twice, including a very creditable win against Chris Hewitt, while Graham Thompson was unbeaten for CSSC Ramblers.

RESULTS: Manor Park Pumas 6, Manor Park Amateurs 4; Ledbury Merlins 8, Manor Park Amateurs 2; Manor Park Cavaliers 8, Manor Park Express 2; Manor Park Pumas 3, CSSC Ramblers 7; Manor Park Oak 1, Manor Park Cavaliers 9; Ledbury Lions 5, YMCA Magpies 5.

WINS for the top two teams over the fourth and fifth place teams have turned the battle for promotion from Division Two into a three horse race.

With the top two set to play each other this week things could get even tighter.

Two wins inside a week have put YMCA Vulcans in a very strong position in top spot. Nick Price and Ray Holroyd were both in outstanding form each winning all six of their singles. Against Trojans Beryl Shammon also won two and Alan Croad came in to partner Nick to doubles success. Dave Hayes was the only player to taste victory for Trojans although this match was much closer than the scoreline suggests. Three games went to a fifth set and a further three were decided in the fourth.

Vulcans' match at Broadheath Belters was even tighter with the visitors winning each of the last two matches in the fifth set to snatch a narrow victory. David Elliott, Peter Roberts and Brett Brining won one apiece for Broadheath and David and Peter overcame Nick and Ray 17-15 in the fourth set of a tight doubles contest. Match of the night saw Nick beat David 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6 in the final game of the evening.

Manor Park Travellers are in second place following their win over fourth placed Ledbury Exhaust. Bob Atyeo made it 15 consecutive singles victories for himself as he again won all three, as did Martin Snee. They were well supported by Ken Hipwell (one). Bob and Martin also preserved their unbeaten doubles record with victory against Stewart Moss and Ray Cooke who each won one singles match.

Crackpots B were without their number one player, Ted Cates, for their visit to CSSC Trojans and came up against the three Daves in good form. Messrs Hayes, Huntley and Backhurst proved too strong for their opponents and ran out comfortable winners.

Upton Ripples are fighting hard to avoid relegation. They gained a hard fought draw against Crackpots E. Colin Dolding was yet again in fine form winning all three singles and the doubles with James Palmer (one). For the home team Roger Davies and Peter Nash each won two and Matt Jones one.

RESULTS: YMCA Vulcans 9, CSSC Trojans 1; Broadheath Belters 4, YMCA Vulcans 6; CSSC Trojans 10, Crackpots B 0; Manor Park Travellers 8, Ledbury Exhaust 2; Upton Ripples 5, Crackpots E 5.

WITH the top two teams in Division Three split by only two points and with two and one matches respectively to play, the match between Malvern B and third placed Manor Park Juniors will be all important.

Although it is fairly certain that the B team and Bromyard Logics will be promoted the Manor Park Juniors could still catch them both if they take maximum points from their last two matches.

The Manor Park Junior team won very convincingly against the Malvern Junior C team with Jack Higgs and Mark Griffiths winning all their singles and the doubles and Ben Salisbury winning the other three singles.

Cyrus Wong and Henry Chan each took three singles and the doubles for Abbey College and Henry Hunt won two to give the College four points against Police. Alan Holmes was the player to save the whitewash.

Bill Lucas won two and Roy Holland one for Abbeydowne when they met Logics. For Logics John Hunt took his average ever higher with three wins and was partnered in the doubles by Derek Craddock. Derek won one and Chris Daniels two singles for Logics.

Half the sets needed extra games when Crackpots met Nomads. Richard Cullis won two and Stan Ginn one for the home team. Kevin Howard won three and the doubles with Geoff Davies, who won two singles for Nomads.

RESULTS: Manor Park Juniors 10, Malvern Juniors C 0; Abbeydowne 3, Bromyard Logics 7; Abbey College 9, Police 1; Crackpots C 3, CSSC Nomads 7.