MANOR Park Pumas are now the only unbeaten team in Division Two of the Brewin Dolphin Securities-sponsored Malvern Table Tennis League, following their 6-4 win over Ledbury Lions.

Very little separated the two teams over the 42 sets which were required, with the result always in doubt right up to the final two games.

With his team trailing 5-3, Neville Meredith beat Nick Price in the game of the night 12-10, 10-12, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8 to take the match to the final deciding game. Richard Smith (Ledbury) twice came from a set down to level against Dave Hallam and actually led 9-8 in the final set before Dave launched his own fight back to win 12-10 and clinch the match for Pumas. Dave was unbeaten on the night including doubles success with Jon Dyke (one). Nick Price also won once for Pumas whilst Gordon Stables won twice and Richard and Neville once apiece for Ledbury.

Broadheath Belters are still top of the table following 8-2 victories against Crackpots E and Manor Park Travellers. Brett Brining and John Stalker suffered their first defeats of the season to Colin Dolding and Bob Atyeo respectively. Both they and David Elliott won five out of six in the two matches.

The match with Crackpots was closer than the scoreline suggests, with three games requiring a fifth set including the final game of the night in which Colin had to retire hurt in his match with David following a collision with a fire extinguisher in the middle of an intense rally.

Paul Coleman came in to replace Colin when Crackpots E entertained Manor Park Travellers and was man-of-the-match with three wins plus the doubles with Dave Steen (2). Bob Atyeo won two and Ken Hipwell and Martin Snee one each for Travellers.

Travellers fared much better when they played YMCA Vulcans. Stewart Moss replaced Bob Atyeo and won all his singles plus the doubles with Martin Snee. Ken Hipwell and Martin each won two. Chris Hughes and Beryl Shammon earned a point for Vulcans. Five of the games required a fifth set and Travellers won four of these.

Bromyard Logics failed to win a point from their first four matches of the season but recovered from this setback with back to back victories over their nearest rivals at the foot of the table. Good all round team efforts earned them 6-4 wins against Uckinghall and Manor Park Crackpots. Derek Craddock and Tony Williams each won two and Chris Daniels one in the match with Uckinghall and Derek and Chris gained their first double victory of the season. For the home team Roger Davies won all his games and Peter Quy one. In their match with Crackpots, Derek, Chris and Tony all won twice, each losing to Richard Cullis who teamed up with Ed Palmer to beat Chris and Tony in the doubles.

The only game to go to five sets was between Tony and Richard with Richard scraping home 11-9 in the decider but the game of the night saw Derek's resilient defensive play push Richard all the way before the latter came out on top 11-7, 13-11, 14-6, 13-11.

RESULTS: Manor Park Pumas 10, Uckinghall 0; Manor Park Travellers 8, YMCA Vulcans 2; Broadheath Belters 8, Crackpots E 2; Uckinghall 4, Bromyard Logics 6; Manor Park Pumas 9, Manor Park Crackpots 1; Crackpots E 6, Manor Park Travellers 4; Ledbury Lions 4, Manor Park Pumas 6; Manor Park Travellers 2, Broadheath Belters 8; Bromyard Logics 6, Manor Park Crackpots 4; Uckinghall 0, Ledbury Lions 10.

FOUR of the sets played between X-Police and Allsorts in division three went to five games and another three to four games and 14 games were won by just two points.

The longest set of the evening was between Ralph Cook for Police and Alex Lindner for Allsorts. The score ended at 15-13, 11-9, 10-12, 9-11 and 11-3 and when they were both probably exhausted they were joined by Steve Mulka for Police and his son James Mulka for Allsorts in the doubles which finished at 12-10, 7-11, 11-9 and 14-12. Steve was the best player of the night with three singles wins as well as the doubles and was supported by Alan Holmes with two and Ralph Cook with one singles. James won one and Bill Nelson two for Allsorts.

The top-of-the-table clash between Crackpots B and Manor Park Maulers was one that swung first one way then the other. After three sets the Maulers were 2-1 in front and by the time they had played six they were four two up but Crackpots' Ted Cates and Alan Forsdike regular consistency in doubles took them to 4-3 and even though Bill Smith then beat Alan to ensure at least two points for his team, Ted Cates and Stan Ginn both won their last sets to make it a draw. Bill Smith and Ray Davies each got two and Don James one for Maulers and Ted Cates won three for Crackpots. As neither team have lost a match in the first half of the season the draw seemed the fairest result.

The second draw of the week was between two teams at the other end of the division and with only three points difference between the bottom five teams there are likely to be some more close finishes.

At the end of the first six singles the score was three all and each of the Dynamo team had a win, while Craig Preece had two for Lieutenants and Tom James one. The always important doubles went to the home team but Charlie Burford won the next singles taking the score to four all. Craig then put his team in front again ad nit was left to Tom James and Vivien to decide where the last point went and the score of 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, 4-11 shows how close it was fought.

Nomads and Abbeydowne started their match with a score of 17-15 in the very first game between Tony Hughes and Peter Dennis and the third game of the doubles went to 16-14 whilst another ten went to 9-11 or beyond but only four sets needed an extra game and none went to five. Tony Hughes was in good form for Nomads winning three singles and the doubles and Rob Redden won two and Adrian Fray, one. Bill Lucas won two and Roy Holland one for Abbeydowne.

RESULTS: Manor Park Maulers 5, Crackpots B 5; X-Police 7, Manor Park Allsorts 3; CSSC Nomads 7, Abbeydowne 3; Poolbrook Lieutenants 5, Dukes Way Dynamos 5.