Carl White was ultimately the difference between the two teams as title hopefuls Embassy 'A' and Nemesis battled it out in the Keighley & District Table Tennis League.

The eighth game proved to be the pivotal point in the encounter when Embassy's White, previously the victor against Dave Manogue 13-11, 11-4, 11-2 and Steve Taylor 13-11, 11-8, 11-4, completed his treble with the 8-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5 defeat of John Stones, a win which virtually ensured a victory for the Bingley team. With Ziggy Cwiklinski and Neil Foley only registering a point each, both against Manogue, White needed to be on his mettle. Taylor and Stones with a couple each kept the match alive for Nemesis until the tenth when Cwiklinski and that man White got the better of Stones and Taylor 11-9, 11-6, 11-13, 11-5 to complete a 6-4 triumph.

Lothersdale 'B' visited Embassy 'C' and left with smiles on their faces due to a well deserved 7-3 success. Martin Connolly hit form with a treble that included a win against Les Wood 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6. The dales man received good support from Frazer Krischke with a couple that included a win against Tom Lacey 11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10. A win for Peter Midgley against Wood and a doubles victory for Krischke and Midgley 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9 against Lacey and Nick Kaye ensured the spoils went to the Craven district. For Embassy, Kaye did well to edge out Krischke 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9 and Midgley 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9.

In Division Two, early pace setters Cononley piled on the pressure at the Sports Club against Johnson & Johnson. Michael Mitchell earned three points for the home team, although he was made to work hard by John Pullen, eventually winning 11-4, 11-3, 6-11, 10-12, 11-8 in a thriller. Paul Lister plundered another full house for the home side, winning all his games in three, and Eric Hudson chipped in with a couple against Tony Bugeja and Derek Stanforth before just losing out to Pullen 11-8, 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-5. Mitchell and Hudson teamed up to good effect in the doubles, beating Bugeja and Pullen 11-5, 11-2, 12-10 to register a final score of 9-1 to Cononley.

Embassy 'D' played host to Wilsden, but their hospitality didn't extend to allowing the visitors to take the spoils. Clive Sherratt notched a full house that included a win against Luke Broadbent 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 7-11, 11-5 as did Peter Cowling, along the way defeating the same player 11-2, 11-9, 8-11, 3-11, 11-6. Points for Wilsden came via Luke, this time getting the better of Keith Brooke in another close contest 11-6, 11-13, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7; Dave Broadbent, who also defeated Brooke and in the doubles where Luke and Dave teamed up to inflict defeat on Brooke and Cowling 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, leaving a final score of 7-3 in favour of the Bingley team.

Skipton, playing their first match following promotion, stormed to a 10-0 victory at home to Denholme, themselves playing at this level for the first time. Coaching and practicing three times a week sure seems to have improved youngsters Graeme and Calum Davies during the summer as they sailed effortlessly to victory against Paul Whittaker, Dave Ellis and Adi Powis.

In Division Three, South Craven continued their good start to the season. Visiting Oakbank, the youngsters comfortably got the better of the home team. Once again, Eddy Jagger was top dog with a treble that included a win against Steve Flockton 6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5. Matthew Wiggan, continuing his steady progress of last season also chipped in with three, but it was close against Alan Pearson 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-5. The only blemish for the visitors was a defeat for Chris Farnworth 11-4, 12-10, 11-8 against Steve Flockton in his team's 9-1 victory.

Haworth Hawks 'B' and St Wilf's fought out a far from dull draw at Butt Lane. Max Davidson with a couple against Will Lister 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4 and John Jennison 9-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-9, 11-9 was top scorer for the Hawks. Lister and Jennison, who defeated Robert Sienkiewicz 11-13, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4, both earned St. Wilf's two points.

RESULTS

Division One: Embassy 'A' 6, Nemesis 4; Embassy 'C' 3, Lothersdale 'B' 7; Lothersdale 'A' 3, Ukrainians 'A' 7; Lothersdale 'B' 4, Lothersdale 'C' 6.

Division Two: Cononley 9, Johnson & Johnson 1; Crossflatts 'B' 1, Ilkley Road 'A' 9; Embassy 'D' 7, Wilsden 3; Ilkley Road 'B' 4, Crossflatts 'A' 6; Skipton 10, Denholme 0.

Division Three: Haworth Hawks 'B' 5, St. Wilf's 5; Ilkley Fastbats 'C' 4, Lothersdale Juniors 6; Oakbank 1, South Craven 9; St. Wilf's 1, Ilkley Fastbats 'A' 9.