THERE were some close matches in the Paperstation Malvern Table Tennis League handicap competition second round.

Pride of place went to Division Three outfit Crackpots 'B', who enjoyed an eight-point victory against Poolbrook Wanderers from Division Two.

The victory was thanks largely to a fine performance by veteran Ted Cates, who shared his four sets with Dave Bradley and defeated Charlie Burford 3-1.

Alan Forsdike also played well to win his four sets against Bradley.

Rob Weston fought bravely for Wanderers, winning all 12 singles sets but was unable to prevent them falling eight points short of recovering the 172-point handicap.

Division One side Manor Park Express recovered a 184-point handicap against lower-ranked X Police to win by 38 points, only losing two of the 40 sets played.

Dave Woodyatt took all his 16 sets, including the doubles with Ray Page for Express, while Dale Dickenson was in fine form too.

Ledbury Lions made their experience count, recovering a 270-point handicap to defeat the youngsters from Abbey College by 60 with unbeaten performances from Steve Meredith, Richard Smith and Patryk Kovacz.

alvern Table Tennis League Handicap Round 2

Main competition scores: Team Tekkers 352 (92) Manor Park Crackpots 404; Scuttling Gang 382 (121) Pterodactyls Old Boys 420; Abbeydowne 443 (156) Dynamos 408; Manor Park Pumas 378 Manor Park Rangers 444 (125); Manor Park Express 433 X Police 398 (185).

Secondary competition: Poolbrook Wanderers 412 Crackpots 'B' 420 (172); Crackpots 'E' v Ledbury Rovers - away walk-over; Abbey College 380 (270) Ledbury Lions 440; Manor Park Devils 379 (58) Tornados 421.

Quarter-final draw (matches to be played week commencing March 3), Main competition: Manor Park Rangers v Manor Park Express; Nomads v Ledbury Collection; Abbeydowne v Pterodactyls Old Boys; Manor Park Crackpots v CSSC Ramblers.

Secondary competition: Manor Park Travellers v Upton Floods; Ledbury Lions v Poolbrook Panthers; Crackpots 'B' v Tornados; Ledbury Rovers v YMCA Vulcans or Crackpots 'D'.