YOUNGER members of the Keighley & District Table Tennis League carried the flag for their league with style at the recent Yorkshire Trials.

In the Under 16 Junior competition 14-year-old Dale Green did well to finish 17th and James Lister, also competing two years below the age limit, played with great maturity to finish 4th overall, earning him an invitation to the Regional Trials at Sheffield in January.

Twelve-year-old Mathew Lister finished 7th at the Under 14 Cadet level in which Karl McIntyre also did well to finish 14th. Additionally, Mark Waterhouse and Chris Gill, attending the trials for the first time, performed with great credit.

In the League, Mark Deacon achieved what nobody else had so far this season by defeating Tim Boothman. The Outsider rattled up a full house, including the 21-19, 21-19 win against Boothman, but his team mates couldn't add to his tally and succumbed 7-3 to Airedale Terriers 'A'. Steve Wands did well for the victors with a couple and almost stopped Deacon from posting a faultless return before losing out 20-22, 21-15, 22-20.

Once again Roy Towler was the Ilkley Road 'A' team's saviour with a classy three points at Oakbank Juniors, although he had to up the tempo against determined Adam Broadbent to win 21-10, 10-21, 21-16. Gareth Wiles ended with a couple for the Juniors, including a 23-21, 21-19 win against Steve Brigg. A solitary success for Steve Barton, two for Brigg and a doubles win completed the scoring for the Roaders in a 7-3 win.

Ben Lowe led from the front with a maximum for Oakworth at home to John Haggas. Firstly Michael Mitchell succumbed 21-15, 21-12 before Steve Fuller (21-10, 21-16) and Ian Ogden (21-11, 21-13) were similarly taken apart by Lowe. Good support from Steve Busfield with two and a 22-20, 21-9 win for Steve Smith against Ian Ogden eased Oakworth to a 7-3 triumph.

In Division Three, Mick Cawkwell notched all three for C.C.L. away at Ilkley Road 'B', although he almost came a cropper against Karl McIntyre, sneaking it 21-14, 19-21, 21-19. The ever improving McIntyre went on to score half his team's points with wins against Paul Lister 21-9, 19-21, 21-12 and Andrew Cawkwell. A couple from Lister and the doubles saw C.C.L. come out on top 6-4.

John Driver hit top form for Airedale Terriers 'B' as he registered a treble against the 'E' team, along the way registering wins of 21-3 and 21-0 over his hapless opponents. Two each from Stuart Myers and Paul Waddington plus the doubles earned the 'B' team an 8-2 win.

RESULTS: Division Two-Airedale Terriers 'A' 7, Rank Outsiders 3; Oakbank Juniors 3, Ilkley Road 'A' 7; Oakworth 7, John Haggas 3; Rank Outsiders 9, Central 'A' 1. Division Two-Airedale Terriers 'B' 8, Airedale Terriers 'E' 2, Ilkley Road 'B' 4, C.C.L. 6; South Craven 'B' 1, Airedale Terriers 'C' 9.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.