THE top two in the Ryedale Table Tennis League Division One clashed for the final time, with Ryedale D coming out on top with a 6-4 triumph.

Level after eight games, the final single and doubles went in favour of the Rye’s, which saw Gareth Bryning undefeated and a brace for Chris Gamble.

But with Andy Paton failing to register, a Gary Tranter double and singles for Tim Smith and Dave Quinlan proved just unable to close the gap. 

Ryedale A won by the same score against Ryedale B with a brace each for John Flintoft and Stephen Temple plus a single for Ruth Purseglove.

Andrew Malley and Mike Fenby kept themselves in contention with two wins each with Zdzislaw Strawczynski, playing up, thwarted.

Swinton and Ryedale C fought out another draw with the home side’s star man Paul Cuthbertson undefeated alongside a brace for Pat Swindell. 

In reply, Titch Temple won two with singles for Ruth Purseglove and Jan Bryan before taking the vital doubles.

Division Two leaders Ryedale J doubled up, firstly beating Ryedale E 8-2 with trebles for Zdzislaw Strawczynski and Mike Perry plus two for Dave Gamble. 

Both Rob Williams and Alan Kirkwood drew blanks, leaving Roger Wilkinson to save face and take the doubles with Kirkwood. 

A closer affair saw the J’s beat the G’s 6-4 with star man Mike Perry undefeated plus singles for Dave and Rosario Gamble. 

Fighting back, Roger Wilkinson and Eric Bell recorded doubles with Terry Stone winless.

Ryedale E had better luck against Rillington B, winning 8-2 as Ed Wardman won three with a brace each for Alan Kirkwood and Eddie Prest before taking the doubles, leaving Greg Welburn-Kelly to save face with a well-earned brace. 

Rillington A’s 6-4 win over Ryedale F came as Phil Horton won three, Chris Needham two and Dan Stansfield one just pipping Alan Kimber (2), Mike Askham (1) and Eddie Prest, plus the doubles. 

Amotherby B kept the season alive with a narrow 6-4 win over Ryedale I thanks to a treble from Aleksander Milanov, a brace for Richard Brown and a Ken Darby single. 

Responding, Rob Williams won two and John Draper a single before pairing up to take the doubles.

In Division Three, Amotherby E’s excellent season was blown away, playing one man short against leaders Amotherby C who showed no compassion to win 9-1.

Daniel Zajaczkowski and Malcolm Sims scored trebles, plus a brace for Nick Knight, with Josh Blakeston saving the whitewash.