IN division one of the Malvern Table Tennis League, sponsored by Brewin Dolphin Securities, last year's champions Manor Park Cavaliers have gone to the top of the table.

Second-placed Magpies, however, who are just a point behind, have a game in hand.

Cavaliers have gone top courtesy of gaining seven points for their last two matches, the first of which being an 8-2 victory over CSSC Ramblers.

Three of the sets went to five, with a further four going to four with Joe Higgs winning his three fairly comfortably and he was ably supported by Mike Keeley and Trevor Simmons, who won twice with both beating Chris Hewitt in five games.

Graham Thompson won the two games for Ramblers.

In Cavaliers' other match, they gained the maximum four points with a 9-1 victory over Poolbrook Pioneers, with Joe Higgs beating his younger brother Jack in the final set of the evening to secure the points.

Earlier Jack had gained the consolation win by beating Trevor Simmons 11-9 in the fifth. He then teamed up with Graham Collier in the doubles and they were very unlucky not to gain a point from the match as they went down to Joe and Mike Keeley 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 10-12, 8-11.

With Pioneers defeat against Cavaliers, Grosvenor have replaced them in third spot following victories over Broadheath Wombats and Manor Park Express.

Dave White was unbeaten in both matches but was taken to the wire by Steve Baker of Wombats before winning 9-11, 11-7, 11-0, 3-11, 11-8. Wombats' points came courtesy of wins over Ian Bell by both Tony Birch and Steve Glazzard.

In their other match against Express, White teamed up with Norman Merchant to win the all- important doubles while for Express, Dave Woodyatt won twice including victory over Merchant by the scoreline 3-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-8.

Magpies gained their fifth victory in five games with a 7-3 win over Express. Mark Jones again won his three singles and is now the only unbeaten player in the division.

He had to work hard in coming from two games down to beat Dave Woodyatt in five and his team- mates Alan Salisbury and Steve Humphrys won twice.

Woodyatt won two for Express and he partnered Pete Griffiths for a straight sets doubles victory.

Poolbrook Pioneers gained their third draw of the season against Bromyard Merlins. Jack Higgs was unbeaten with a win each for Ann Barnes and Mark Griffiths.

Nigel Foreshew won twice for Merlins with Simon and Mike Morgan winning one each and Nigel and Mike the doubles.

RESULTS: Manor Park Cavaliers 8, CSSC Ramblers 2; Grosvenor 8, Broadheath Wombats 2; Bromyard Merlins 5, Poolbrook Pioneers 5; Magpies 7, Manor Park Express 3; Manor Park Express 4, Grosvenor 6; Poolbrook Pioneers 1, Manor Park Cavaliers 9.

HOP Pickers and Maulers had a long evening when they played each other in division three.

Seven sets needed more than three games and five of them went to five games. Nick Haggar was the most successful player of the night with three wins for the Hop Pickers and Adrian Haggar picked up another one.

Don James and Paul Lythgoe both won two singles and the doubles for Maulers and Ray Davies got the essential sixth win to ensure they got three points from the match.

Bill Lucas was the only Abbeydowne player to win a set against Maulers but he earned a point for the team with two wins. Ray Davies was the best player on this occasion with three wins and Bill Smith and Don James got two each and the doubles.

Lizzy Gorton won two sets for Allsorts and was supported by Alex Lindner and James Mulka, who each won one and the doubles to share the points with Lieutenants. Craig Preece was the best player of the match with three wins for Lieutenants and Alasdair Maxwell-Stewart won two.

RESULTS: Hop Pickers TT Club 4, Manor Park Maulers 6; Manor Park Allsorts 5, Poolbrook Lieutenants 5; Manor Park Maulers 8, Abbeydowne 2.