THIS year's Malvern Table Tennis League handicap competition has already seen some close finishes.

In the battle of the youngsters Poolbrook Allsorts had the advantage of a 220 handicap when pipping Poolbrook Juniors by four points. The Allsorts were indebted to Mark Griffiths who took a game off both Matt Lang and Tom James.

Allsorts will be joined in the main competition by Manor Park Juniors who beat fellow Division Two team Bromyard Logics by 20 points. John Hunt kept Logics in the game when he took points off all the Juniors players, but Dave Smith, Jack Higgs and Ben Salisbury won the other games convincingly to overcome the Logics 100 point handicap.

Crackpots B just overcame their Division Three rivals Abbeydowne by a 13-point margin. The star of the evening was Stephen Lindner who won all his games easily for the winners, whilst Abbeydowne's Bill Lucas battled gamely throughout the evening.

YMCA Vulcans made good use of their 95-point advantage when beating Ledbury Lions by 27 points. The crucial games were the doubles and Nick Price's 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 victory over Richard Smith.

CSSC Nomads had a comfortable victory over Crackpots E. Tony Hughes, Geoff Davies and Adrian Fray all acquitted themselves well against second division opposition.

Colin Dolding's efforts for Crackpots E were not enough. Manor Park Express did not need their handicap when they consigned Grosvenor Eagles to the secondary competition. Alan Salisbury played well and took a point off Dave White in a 11-9, 10-12, 7-11, 11-6 scoreline.

RESULTS:

Manor Park Juniors 416, Bromyard Logics (100) 396; Crackpots B 390, Abbeydowne (60) 377; Manor Park Express (35) 428, Grosvenor Eagles 374; CSSC Nomads (85) 418, Crackpots E 368; Poolbrook Juniors 440, Poolbrook Allsorts (220) 444; Ledbury Lions 387, YMCA Vulcans (95) 414.