While Embassy B and Laisterdyke A battle it out for the top two places in Bradford Table Tennis League Division Three, the other five teams in this section are fairly evenly matched, with only four points separating them.

To illustrate the point, four of them were involved in two tightly-contested matches.

Fastbats C are bottom but they recorded just their second victory in a marathon affair at Hermits D.

The hosts led 4-3 as Martin Jackson took all three while Les Packer won one, but Fastbats rallied as Jim Illingworth pipped Zarnab Jamal 12-10 in the fifth game, followed by Terry Miller overcoming Packer 11-8 in the decider.

The doubles was the seventh match to go the distance, and Illingworth and Miller clinched victory for Fastbats by beating Jackson and Packer.

Baildon A and Hermits E were also involved in a cliffhanger, with a draw probably the right result.

Hermits led 3-1 but Baildon hit back as Peter Warner won two and Rod and Chris Willey added one each to put Baildon 4-3 up.

The last two singles both went the full distance as Peter Eccles completed a treble for Hermits, pipping Warner 11-9 in the fifth, and Glen Ellis beat Rod Willey by the same score, but parity was restored as Warner and Rod Willey took the doubles.

Results - Division One: Fastbats A 4, Embassy A 6; Unity A 9, Fastbats A 1; Embassy A 2, Police 8. Division Two: Unity C 3, Pudsey A 7; Hermits B 8, Hermits A 2; Highdale C 5, Yeadon A 5. Division Three: Laisterdyke A 7, Unity F 3; Embassy B 10, Unity E 0; Hermits D 4, Fastbats C 6; Baildon A 5, Hermits E 5. Division Four: Hermits F 6, Baildon B 4; Pudsey B 5, Rastrick 5; Fastbats D 2, Hermits H 8; Laisterdyke B 2, Hermits G 8. Division Five: Unity F 8, Fastbats E 2; Baildon C 3, Baildon D 7; Hermits L 2, Thornbury 8; Hermits I 8, Hermits J 2; Hermits K 8, Hermits J 2.

Yorkshire League - Division Two: Bradford Vets-2 5, Keighley-2 5. Division Three: Ryedale 0, Bradford-3 10.