Bradford Table Tennis League Division Two title contenders Laisterdyke A were on the wrong end of an 8-2 defeat at in-form Highdale C but the result does not tell the story of a very close contest which could have gone Laisterdyke’s way.

The first two sets were shared in straight games as Mann Younis beat Shamir Bose only for Highdale’s Gary Foster to level against Peter Holbrook. The next seven sets all went to a deciding fifth game but, unfortunately for Laisterdyke, it was Highdale who won six of them.

Laisterdyke were in front in five of the six encounters but could not get over the finishing line and had just two sets from Mann Younis to show for their efforts.

In Division One, the title race is developing into a two-horse race between Highdale A and Police and the teams were in opposition last week, with Police boosting their hopes of the Championship with a fine all round team performance.

Mike Stead was unbeaten for Highdale but Tim Dyson, John Chew and James Brown all won two each in a 7-3 Police victory which keeps them just ahead of Highdale.

There was a dramatic finish to the Yorkshire League season for Bradford Veterans-2 at Halifax last weekend.

After losing to York-1 and Hull-1, their final fixture was against Doncaster and a draw would have been enough to preserve their Division One status.

They lost the first four sets and relegation was staring them in the face. The match turned when Graham Manicom and Richard Priestley won the doubles and they then won the last five singles as Manicom and Priestley took two each and Ian Gomersall won one to send their opponents down.

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