Ben Orton and Steve McNichol get newcomers David Lloyd up and running in Tyke Petroleum Men’s Tennis League

The duo won 9-3 in the final rubber to complete a thrilling 55-53 victory.

Elsewhere in division one, big guns Fulford, Poppleton 1 and Dunnington all won to open a gap on the chasing pack. Tom Jordan had a fine Dunnington debut, top-scoring on 29 games in tandem with Dave Walton against Poppleton 2.

In division two, Copmanthorpe were heading for defeat at home to Starbeck, before an almighty 10-2 final rubber win by Mark Blackburn and Jack Wood pinched a 55-53 win. A closing 10-2 win from Wigginton captain Ben Storey and Ben Walker sealed a slender 56-52 win at Pocklington. Castlegarth remain top after a 71-37 demolition of hosts Strensall. In division three, leaders York 2 lost their 100 per cent record to unbeaten visitors Appleton Roebuck. Roebuck captain Gary Payne and Paul Kaye put them ahead in round two and they won 57-51.

Third and fourth swapped places as Castlegarth 2 lost 68-40 at home to Sutton-on-Derwent, who had debutant Steve Kettlewell and captain Chris Hobson winning 24 games. John Huffington and Ged McTernan were the week’s top guns with 31 games as Wilberfoss thrashed Alne & Tollerton 83-25 in division four.

Wilberfoss take over at the top of the table on games won as Copmanthorpe 2 triumphed by a smaller margin. Fulford 2 dropped to fourth after their second set-back in a row. They lost 63-45 at Sherburn.

A haul of 26 games from Ken Storey and Mike Baxter made the difference at Sutton-on-Derwent 2 as Wigginton 2 kept up their 100 per cent record in division five.

Civil Service 2 lost at home to Bubwith 2, while Chris Burnham and captain Kevin Fairclough won 30 games for Sheriff Hutton in a victory over visitors Cliffe.

Unbeaten Heworth went top of division six after beating York 4, while club-mates York 3 lost at Selby, despite a 25-game total from James Pilmoor and Gordon Bruce. Riccall remain top of division seven, despite losing 56-52 at home to second-placed Harlow.