(TABLE TENNIS) THE penultimate week of the NHHTA League programme saw the eagerly-anticipated top-of-the-table showdown between Royston C and Royston D in Division Two. The previous encounter had ended 5-5, so another closely contested meeting was expected. And they d

THE penultimate week of the NHHTA League programme saw the eagerly-anticipated top-of-the-table showdown between Royston C and Royston D in Division Two.

The previous encounter had ended 5-5, so another closely contested meeting was expected.

And they did not disappoint, with both teams producing some entertaining action.

Man-of-the-match Gordon Barnes won all of his singles, and the doubles with Haydn Gowan, to help the C team edge a narrow 6-4 victory.

Gowan and Terry Bailey also won singles for the C team, while two singles for Andy Teemal and one apiece for Derek Clark and Julian Lugg provided the points for the D team.

With a six-point lead, the C team now only have to avoid defeat in the last game to secure the title.

The A team ensured their survival in the Premier Division with an emphatic 8-2 victory over Broadway Le Roi B, thanks to John Manley's three singles, and two apiece as well as the doubles from Dave Bridger and Simon Cockman.

The B team will go into their final game of the season, holding a one-point lead at the top of Division One. Three singles each from Yuci Gou and Martyn Symonds plus one from Alf Mills gave the B team a comprehensive 7-3 win against Green Man E.

In Division Three the E team suffered another defeat, going down 6-4 at Green Man H, despite the efforts of Barry Sharp, who won all his singles and his doubles match alongside Fred Bendall.