Oakbank dismissed any lingering relegation fears with two unbeaten performances this week.

Firstly, a visit to second placed Nelson Nomads saw Katie Lightowler, Andrew Woodhead and Gareth Wiles all succumb to Keith Lee, 21-16, 21-12; 21-19, 17-21, 21-16 and 20-22, 21-14, 21-10 respectively, but they still had enough in reserve to pull five wins from the remaining seven rubbers to secure a draw. Top player Wiles defeated Michael Wrigley 20-22, 21-8, 21-13 and David Ayrton 21-17, 21-8; Woodhead got the better of the same players and then teamed up with Wiles to beat Lee and Wrigley 17-21, 21-18, 21-14 in the doubles.

Following this, the 'bankers entertained bottom team Lothersdale 'B' with Nick Clegg in for Woodhead. Two good wins for the youngster, 21-11, 21-19 against Peter Midgley and 21-17, 21-19 against Martin Connolly, suggests that this was an inspired selection by Manager Fuller and a full house from Wiles, plus a 21-10, 20-22, 21-12 defeat of Connolly by Lightowler earned a 6-4 win for the home team. Highlight of the match for the losers was a 20-22, 21-16, 21-19 doubles win for David Galley and Midgley against Clegg and Wiles.

In Division Two, Johnson & Johnson sealed their relegation with a 7-3 reversal at Terriers 'C' with John Morris enjoying his best performance of the season. A 21-13, 21-13 defeat of Derek Stanforth was followed by a 21-13, 21-12 success against Alan Ripley and a superb 21-17, 21-18 win against John Pullen.

Good support from dependable Steve Wands with a couple against Ripley and 20-22, 22-20, 21-19 against Stanforth, plus a Paul Lister defeat of Ripley and the doubles for Morris and Wands against Ripley and Pullen confirmed a mid-table finish for the hospital team.

Who will win the Division Three title?

Although Oakworth 'B' and Haworth 'B' are almost certain to be promoted, it is anyone's guess as to which team will finish above the other. An 8-2 home win for Oakworth against St Wilfs kept them at the top, but the three matches Haworth have in hand over the leaders could prove crucial in the final shake up, although with two of their remaining fixtures being against third placed St Peter's perhaps the scales of fortune are tilting in favour of the Oaks who only have to play Crossflatts 'B' at home to finish the season.

Steve Smith took his tally to 41 from 45 with a full house that included an 18-21, 21-13, 21-10 triumph over William Lister. This was equalled by another fine treble from Jason Procter. Defeats of Aaron Hollindrake, 21-7, 19-21, 21-16 by Andrew Clarke and 21-11, 21-10 by Lister completed the scoring for the visitors.

RESULTS

Yorkshire League: York 7, Keighley 3.

Yorkshire Veterans Division Three: Keighley 2nds 9, Hull 2nds 1.

Juniors Division Two: Keighley 4, Scarborough 5; Keighley 8, Hull 2nds 1; Keighley 8, Dewsbury 1.

Division One: Nelson Nomads 5, Oakbank 5; Oakbank 6, Lothersdale 'B' 4.

Division Two: Terriers 'C' 7, Johnson & Johnson 3; Terriers 'C' 4, Stockbridge Spartans 6.

Division Three: Crossflatts 'B' 0, Haworth 'B' 10; Ilkley Road 'C' 8, Craven LTC 2; Oakworth 'B' 8, St Wilfs 2; South Craven 10, Haworth 'A' 0.