IN division one of the Malvern Table Tennis League, sponsored by Brewin Dolphin Securities, Magpies top the table having won all of their first four matches.

Their latest two victories came against an under-strength Grosvenor side and Broadheath Wombats.

In the match against Grosvenor, they took full advantage of the missing Dave White and Wayne Chopping to record a four-point haul with a 10-0 win.

Three of the games went to five sets with Alan Salisbury and Steve Humphrys coming from two sets down to beat Ian Bell and Norman Merchant in the doubles 8-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8. Steve also came from two sets down to beat Ian 11-9 in the fifth, while Norman had a very good game against Magpies number one Mark Jones before succumbing 11-8 in the fifth.

While not expecting to gain maximum points against Grosvenor, Magpies must have fancied their chances against bottom club Wombats but had to settle for three points in an 8-2 win.

They were denied maximum points as Steve Baker beat Steve Humphrys 11-9 in the fifth, as did Tony Birch who won 12-10.

After a shaky start to the season last year's champions Manor Park Cavaliers have moved up to second place in the table, three points behind Magpies.

Their first victory of the season came against Wombats, 10-0, with the closest game of the night being Mike Keeley's win in five against Steve Glazzard.

They also beat Express 7-3 with Keeley unbeaten, and he teamed up with Joe Higgs (2) to win the doubles. Pete Griffiths played well for Express winning two games.

Poolbrook Pioneers and CSSC Ramblers played out a hard-fought draw with Graham Thompson beating Jack Higgs in the final game of the evening 5-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 to secure the draw and his three wins as well as ending Jack's unbeaten start to the season.

Earlier, Ann Barnes had won twice for Pioneers and in the doubles Higgs (2) teamed up with Graham Collier to beat Thompson and Ian Backhurst 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 15-13.

In Ramblers' other game, they beat Merlins 6-4. Chris Hewitt was unbeaten and he secured the win with victory over Nigel Foreshew (2) in the final game of the evening by 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9.

RESULTS: Broadheath Wombats 0, Manor Park Cavaliers 10; Manor Park Cavaliers 7, Manor Park Express 3; Poolbrook Pioneers 5, CSSC Ramblers 5; Magpies 10, Grosvenor 0; CSSC Ramblers 6, Bromyard Merlins 4; Broadheath Wombats 2, Magpies 8.

BROADHEATH Belters are setting a hot pace at the top of division two.

Five different players featured in their maximum points victories against Manor Park Crackpots and YMCA Vulcans, dropping just 11 sets in the process. Brett Brining was the only person to play in both matches, winning all six of his games. Peter Roberts and John Stalker were also unbeaten with three wins apiece and Aileen Phillips and David Elliott each won twice.

Vulcans fared better when they visited Crackpots E and a draw seemed a fair result after a very tight battle. Dave Steen had a busy night, all his singles games required a fifth set. He beat Ray Holroyd and Beryl Shammon but came unstuck against Chris Hughes. Chris won two and Ray and Beryl one each. Colin Dolding was man-of-the-match with three wins out of three for Crackpots, although he was pushed every step of the way by Beryl before clinching the fifth set 11-6.

Crackpots were involved in another close match with Ledbury Lions. The teams shared the first eight games before Ledbury won the last two to preserve their 100 per cent record and hand the visitors their first defeat of the season. Richard Smith won all his games and remains unbeaten for Lions, but Neville Meredith suffered his first loss in a five set game with Colin Dolding (2). James Palmer and Dave Steen both won once for Crackpots.

Manor Park Pumas finally got their season started with a comfortable victory over Bromyard Logics. Stewart Moss made his debut for Manor Park Travellers in their match against Bromyard. Both he and Martin Snee were unbeaten, including the doubles, and were well supported by Ken Hipwell with two wins. Tony Williams saved the whitewash for Logics by beating Ken in the thrilling final game of the night, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 15-13.

RESULTS: Crackpots E 9, Uckinghall 1; Ledbury Lions 6, Crackpots E 4; Manor Park Crackpots 1, Broadheath Belters 9; Bromyard Logics 1, Manor Park Travellers 9; Crackpots E 5, YMCA Vulcans 5; Bromyard Logics 0, Manor Park Pumas 10; YMCA Vulcans 1, Broadheath Belters 9.

NICK Haggar was in great form when the Hop Pickers played the Allsorts in division three. He won all his sets in straight games but Alex Lindner and Lizzie Gorton both won two and the doubles for the visitors.

James Mulka was unlucky not to get a win as he took Geoff Fletcher to four games and only lost by 9-11 to Andrew Hepworth-Smith in their fifth game.

Maulers inflicted the third division's first whitewash of the season on Dynamos but Collette James took two sets to four games and Charlie Burford, having won the third game by 12-10 against Ray Davies, took their fourth game to ten all before losing 10-12. Don James and Bill smith were the other two Maulers' players.

Ralph Cook, playing for X-Police, won his first set in straight games but it was not enough to get them a point from CSSC Nomads. Half the sets did go to a fourth game but the Nomads were just too strong on the night, with Geoff Davies and Tony Hughes winning three singles and Tony teaming up with Adrian Fray, who had won two singles, for the doubles win.

The closest match of the week was between Abbeydowne and Crackpots B. Two sets went to five games and another four to four and nine games were won by only two points and five by just three. Roy Holland and Bill Lucas each won two for Abbeydowne and Ted Cates three and the doubles win with Tim Snee for Crackpots and Tim and Stan Ginn both won one.

RESULTS: Hop Pickers TT Club 5, Manor Park Allsorts 5; Dukes Way Dynamos 0, Manor Park Maulers 10; X-Police 1, CSSC Nomads 9; Abbeydowne 4, Crackpots B 6.