THERE were close matches in the Paperstation Malvern League Handicap Competition first round.

Lower division teams excelled against top-flight opposition with pride of place going to Poolbrook Panthers’ all-female line-up of Jude Tyson, Collette James and Dina Murdie.

They beat Division One title-challengers Ramblers by nine points, just managing to protect a handicap of 329.

Division Three’s Crackpots ‘D’, with a handicap in their favour of 293, overcame Ledbury Collection by 14 points despite not winning a set.

Veteran Ted Cates held Ann Barnes to 14-16 in his opening set of the match.

Vulcans from Division Two preserved a 205-point handicap to defeat Pterodactyl Old Boys by seven with Richard Bennett taking notable sets against Svilan Andreev and Steve Glazzard.

The match between Nomads and Manor Park Crackpots, of Divisions Two and Three respectively, was decided by the narrowest of margins.

Nomads overtook the 104-point handicap by just one despite an excellent performance from Ed Palmer.

He took three sets off Adrian Fray and two off Geoff Davies.

Bob Hunt also claimed a set off Fray but the experience of Dave Hayes proved decisive.

Dynamos also won by a single point, overcoming a handicap of 230 to beat Poolbrook Juniors with consistent displays from Geoff Burford, John Phillips and Tom James.

They did not drop a set although Zoe Snee merited a special mention for holding Phillips to 13-11 twice and James once.

The Division One clash between Belters and Express was won by the former overcoming a 151-point handicap by 21.

Express took just five sets through Dale Dickinson against Michael Siket, Ben Bennett and Brett Brining and Ray Page (2).

Division One side Pumas overcame a 233-point handicap to defeat lower-ranked Devils by 10, winning 39 of the 40 sets.

England-ranked veteran Liz Hallam enjoyed an excellent 12-10 victory against Jon Dyke in the final match.

Travellers also beat Division Three opposition in Rangers by 38 thanks largely to Craig Preece, who only dropped 25 points in his 12 singles sets.

Scuttling Gang defeated higher-ranked Ledbury Lions by 47 points thanks to the impressive Richard Cullis, Richard McKenna and Ray Davies against Mike Morgan in particular.

Ed Tinton starred for Bromyard Hopefuls against fellow Division Three side X-Police, guiding them to a 38-point victory with solid support from David Gwilt and Martin Gwilt.

RESULTS Handicap first round: CSSC Nomads 411 Manor Park Crackpots 410 (104); CSSC Ramblers 440 Poolbrook Panthers 449 (329); Vulcans 441 (205) Pterodactyls Old Boys 434; Crackpots ‘D’ 430 Abbeydowne 350 (139); Broadheath Belters 434 Manor Park Express 413 (151); Manor Park Travellers 440 Manor Park Rangers 402 (206); Manor Park Wanderers 465 (185) Ledbury Rovers 421; Ledbury Collection 445 Crackpots ‘B’ 459 (293); Dynamos 446 Poolbrook Juniors 445 (229); Bromyard Hopefuls 388 X Police 350 (7); Manor Park Pumas 445 Devils 435 (233); Scuttling Gang 420 (96) Ledbury Lions 373.

Main competition second round (week commencing January 5): Crackpots ‘D’ v Vulcans; Bromyard Hopefuls v CSSC Nomads; Crackpots ‘E’ v Manor Park Travellers; Poolbrook Panthers v Manor Park Pumas; Tornados v Dynamos; Scuttling Gang v Broadheath Belters. Byes: Manor Park Wanderers, Crackpots ‘B’. Secondary competition: Abbeydowne v CSSC Ramblers; Pterodactyl Old Boys v X Police; Upton v Poolbrook Juniors; Ledbury Collection v Manor Park Express; Devils v Ledbury Rovers. Byes: Ledbury Lions, Manor Park Crackpots, Manor Park Rangers.