THE top four teams in Division 1 clashed and produced two intriguing contests in the Huddersfield Table Tennis League.

Champions Scissett would have dearly loved to include Huddersfield title-holder Darren Lindley against Brooks.

But his continued unavailability has meant his side have dropped points they might otherwise have expected.

However, Andrew Rawnsley rose to the occasion magnificently and won all his three sets, inflicting only the second defeat of the season on Russell Senior.

Rawnsley combined with Ian McLean to defeat Senior and Alan Rennison in the doubles, while McLean’s singles victories over Rennison and Stuart Sykes ensured the champions went down 6-4.

Brooks B team’s 100% start to the season has seen them create an early lead at the top of the table.

However, they expected a tough challenge from Woodfield Park A.

The Police team were strengthened by the availability of Mark Pugh and his contribution was significant in the 5-5 draw.

Pugh was unbeaten, playing magnificently to defeat Shaun Ellis in an epic five-game set 10-12,11-9, 15-13, 9-11, 11-9 – only the second defeat this season for Ellis.

Pugh was well supported by an in-form David Wood, who defeated both Phil Schofield and Sykes.

In the end, the doubles proved crucial in maintaining Brooks unbeaten run, Ellis and Schofield just pipping Pugh and Keith Skarz 12-10 in the fifth and deciding game.

Elsewhere in Division 1, there was an all-Kingsmith clash between the A and C teams.

The A team of Ken Burgess, Mohammed Ali and Andrew Wilkinson proved too strong, with Burgess not dropping a game in his side’s 9-1 victory.

Gareth Stott gained some compensation with a sound victory over Wilkinson.

Tony Stead was another scoring a maximum in Marsh Wanderers’ 7-3 defeat of David Brown A.

Fraser Krischke, making only his second appearance of the season, won two but lost to Jonathan Taylor, who picked up two points for the losers.

In Division 2A, Scissett WMC B have already opened up an impressive lead at the top of the table and only a victory by Newsome B’s Graham Hudson over Brian Armitage prevented Scissett from completing their fourth 10-0 clean sweep in seven matches.

Their nearest challenge could come from Deighton Leisure Centre A, who seem to have found a strong third player to compete alongside Barry Drain and Kevin Senior.

In his three appearances so far, John Cooke has a 100% record.

With Drain’s pedigree well established, the other two could help him to realise his ambition to return to the top flight next season.

Their latest match against Newsome C also produced a 9-1 victory, with Kevin Senior losing to an in-form Anthony Cobbin in what was an excellent victory for the youngster.

Woodfield B and Kingsmith PW are the pacesetters in Division 2B.

But in a season where the top six in each section of Division 2 have something to play for, then as much interest will focus on the mid-table positions as the top as the season progresses.

Meanwhile, this season the Concorde Trophy will revert to being a knockout competition, with first-round losers competing for the Plate.

In the draw for the first round proper to be played in the week commencing December 7, holders Scissett WMC A are drawn at home to Brooks D who are going well this season and, once handicaps are taken into account, could mount a challenge to the holders.

Of the remaining ties, Deighton A’s clash with Woodfield Park A and the all-First Division pairing of Kingsmith B with Marsh Wanderers A both promise to be close.

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