Malton's title challenge received a setback in division one of the NEDL York and District Table Tennis League when they lost 6-4 to Railway B'. Paul Robertson was unbeaten for the winners.

Malton bounced back to winning ways when they narrowly out-pointed Coneysthorpe A' 6-4 in a derby duel.

Brian Quinn led the way with three singles wins, with Paul Young doing well to pick up two victories on his debut for Coneysthorpe.

Holgate A' are still in with a shout of the title as they whitewashed a two-man Poppleton A' side 10-0.

There was a tight struggle between Sessions A' and Railway A' with the former winning 6-4.

Mick Wilcockson won his three singles to sustain his fine season. Railway B' whitewashed Groves A' 10-0 with Paul Robertson, John Hughes and Jill Rounce the successful trio.

In division two, there was an upset when Nestl Rowntree A' beat leaders Groves B', who fielded only two players, 6-4. Peter Harpham won his singles for the losers.

York Table Tennis Associa-tion's Tim Smith has won his last nine singles and was the star of the show as Railway C' forced a 5-5 draw in typically cold conditions at Coneysthorpe B'.

Division three leaders Railway E' had a decisive 9-1 win over Poppleton C', with Pat Swindell and Luke Blackburn unbeaten.

BT A' are their nearest pursuers after a resounding win by a similar scoreline in their in-house clash with BT B'.

Howard Broadbent won his three singles without dropping a game while new signing Gary Neads justified his selection with three singles wins, although Bill Carter made him pull out all the stops, taking him to 14-12 in the final game.

Division four leaders Holgate D' enjoyed a winning return to action as they whitewashed Groves D'. Steve Wands, Colin Dickson and Ray Holroyd formed the successful side.

Shepherds C' upset Shepherds B', winning 6-4, with Alan Milner unbeaten.

The undefeated Colin Dobson led NEDL/ Bootham to an 8-2 win over Railway G'.

Alan Jones did the same for his Poppleton D' side in division five, with Chris Armstrong also unbeaten as they beat Railway I 7-3.

It was a bit like family fortunes as the Mellings took on the Sleets, with the latter coming out on top in a 7-3 win for Norwich Union B' over Shepherds D'.