BOOTHAM A' maintained their lead at the top of division one of the NEDL York and District Table Tennis League with a hard fought 6-4 win over second placed RI A'.

Paul Robertson was unbeaten for RI, but was unable to stave off defeat.

University A' are fighting hard to avoid the drop and Jan Natolski steered them to a 7-3 win over Holgate B'.

Division two leaders Coneysthorpe B' were given a fright by RI B', who are chasing a promotion spot, although they came through 7-3, with Mike Fenby proving hard to beat.

Bootham B' gained four precious points in their battle to avoid relegation, with Jo Suchecki undefeated as Poppleton A' won a tight affair.

The derby between Holgate's C' and D' teams went the way of the C' team, with Mick Kenyon and Peter Harpham in fine form in the 8-2 win.

Sessions B' look certainties for a play-off spot in division three and they overcame NEDL/ Bootham 8-2, with Laurent Minette unbeaten. Dave Boothroyd picked up two hard wins for the losers.

Howard Broadbent led BT A' to a keenly contested 6-4 win over Shepherds B'.

BT B' lead division four after a whitewash of Railway E'.

Their closest pursuers University A' received a setback as they went down 6-4 to an inspired Shepherds C', though Matt Fuller won his singles for the students.

Holgate F' kept in touch with the top two as they whitewashed Shepherds D', though four of the sets went to a final game in a lively encounter.

Sessions C' were grateful to John Stokes as they won 7-3 at Norwich Union A', although the losers' new signing John Gratton won two singles, including an epic 20-18 win in the final game against Pete Taylor.

Division five leaders Holgate G' found Chris Armstrong a difficult opponent as they won 6-4 against Poppleton B', while second-placed Norwich Union B' won 8-2 at Shepherds E', with Dave Sleet and Howard Lewis unbeaten.

Jeff Brown guided RI G' to an 8-2 win over Holgate H' with an in-house encounter going the way of RI F', as they overcame RI H' 6-4.

l The York Closed Championships are being held at York RI, Queen Street, today and tomorrow.