BROADHEATH Belters may be languishing near the bottom of the Malvern Table Tennis League's division two but proved more than capable of beating YMCA Vulcans in the quarter- final of the handicap competition.

With both teams playing off scratch a close contest seemed inevitable but John Stalker gained comfortable victories over Ray Holroyd 11-5, 11-5, 11-3, 11-9 and Beryl Shammon 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-4 and just pipped Chris Hughes 13-15, 11-9, 11-6, 7-11 to lead the Bellters to a 61 point victory.

Wombats are in commanding form at the top of Division Two but their progress in the Handicap Competition was halted by Crackpots C. Colin Dolding, James Palmer and Dave Steen all took points off Steve Baker and did well enough in their other games to give Crackpots a deserved victory.

Abbeydowne beat a two man Travellers team. Bill Lucas, Peter Denniss and Roy Holland will be relishing the prospect of playing in a semi-final.

In the secondary competition first division team Ledbury Merlins, despite giving away 260 points, beat Dukes Way Dynamos by 29 points. Nigel Foreshew in particular gave little away in an efficient manner.

Manor Park Pumas were another team keeping the first division flag flying with a 31-point victory over the promotion chasing Uckinghall side. Pete Nash took two games off Nick Price and Roger Davies and Matt Jones pushed the Pumas all the way in the doubles. Otherwise Dave Hallam, Jon duke and Nick Price played very competently to stop Uckinghall using their 150 point handicap to full advantage.

Manor Park Crackpots moved forward with a big win over division two promotion contenders Ledbury Exhaust. Richard Cullis was really on top of his game beating Ray Cooke 11-9, 13-11, 11-4, 11-5 and John Meredith 11-7, 11-5, 11-7, 10-12 and then going close with Stewart Moss. Richard was well supported by Ed Palmer and Stan Ginn who came out on top in a match against Ray Cooke 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 6-11.

RESULTS: Vulcans 327, Broadheath Bellters 388; Crackpots E (120) 461, Wombats 402; Dukes Way Dynamos (260) 412, Ledbury Merlins 441; Manor Park Pumas 438, Uckinghall (150) 400; Manor Park Crackpots (150) 490, Ledbury Exhaust 372.