CONEYSTHORPE’S draw with Swinton ‘A’ in the Ryedale Table Tennis League put the division one title just out of their fingertip reach – meaning Ryedale ‘A’ are champions.

This result means ’Thorpe can only equal the 68 points achieved by leaders Ryedale ‘A’, who completed their fixtures with 7-3 win over third-placed Amotherby ‘B’.

Ryedale also have a superior sets average.

Whitby ensured their first division status with a 10-0 thrashing of bottom club Ryedale ‘C’, while Ryedale ‘B’ had a surprise 6-4 win over fourth-played Helmsley ‘A’ to boost their chances of staying up.

There is a similarly close race for the championship in division two, with Amotherby ‘C’ currently top with three matches to play and Ryedale ‘D’ only two points behind with four to play.

With Amotherby not in action, Ryedale ‘D’ moved closer with a 9-1 defeat of Ryedale ‘E’, the ‘D’ team’s only loss on the night coming in the doubles which went to five sets.

It is even tighter at the other end of the table, with only three points separating the bottom three.

Helmsley ‘B’s recent upturn in form is largely thanks to Andrew Turner, who recently won the division two singles championship at the RTTL Closed Tournament, but they remain bottom.

Ryedale ‘F’ produced their best performance of the season to beat Coneysthorpe ‘B’ 8-2.

Barry Rudd set the scene with an attacking straight-sets win over Wendy Prest, and Andy Paton and John Gascoyne built up a 3-0 lead with wins over Dave Allan and Eddie Prest.

Rudd continued his good form with a victory over Allan before going down to Eddie Prest in Coneysthorpe’s only singles victory of the night.

The game between Paton and Prest saw rapid-fire attacking and tenacious defending before Paton came through in the fourth end.

John Gasgoine then defeated Wendy Prest, also in four sets, after losing the first.

The game between Paton and Wendy Prest was the only fivesetter, Paton coming from two sets behind and 5-2 down in the final end to win 12-10 at the death.

Amotherby ‘D’s 8-2 loss to Swinton ‘B’ kept them in relegation danger, while bottom two Huttonle- Hole ‘A’ and Helmsley ‘B’ played out a draw which still gives them an outside chance of avoiding the drop.

Ryedale ‘H’, new to this season, have stormed to the third division title with a 100 per cent record to date.

Father and son Adrian and Josh Greaves, old stalwarts Ken Pidgeon and Steve Miller and newcomer Malcolm Standlan are certain of a triumph with two matches still to play.

Their current total of 92 points after 16 matches is just three short of the cracking total achieved last season by Amotherby ‘D’ and all five Ryedale ‘H’ players are in the top seven averages in the division.

There is a battle on for runners-up spot with Ryedale Laundry, Ryedale ‘G’ and Amotherby ‘E’ all still in the mix.

Amotherby ‘E’, though, have been hit by injury to Janet Bailey and more recently Nick Knight.

Ryedale ‘H’ beat Amotherby ‘E’ 9-1, while second-place Laundry increased their lead over third place Ryedale G with a 6-4 win.

Amotherby ‘F’ had a welcome 5-4 win over Westow, in-form Lynda Scott remaining undefeated on the night.