YMCA Vulcans faint hopes of earning promotion from Division Two of the Brewin Dolphin Securities sponsored Malvern Table Tennis League finally ended when they drew with fourth placed Poolbrook Juniors.

This was a very even match with 17 sets being won by the minimum two points. The closest match of the night was the doubles encounter between two of the top pairings in the division. The visiting duo of Nick Price and Ray Holroyd came out on top 14-12 in the final set against Graham Collier and Anthony Wiseman. Two wins apiece for Graham and Matt Lang and one for Anthony saw Poolbrook come from 2-0 down to lead 5-3 but the Vulcans, having started stronger also finished better, with Nick and Ray both winning in four sets to gain a draw.

Manor Park Pumas are now guaranteed second place. Their draw with relegation threatened Bromyard Logics put them out of contention for the championship, which goes to Manor Park Juniors. Dave Hallam was in inspired form, winning all his singles and was backed up by Dave Steen and Jon Dyke with a win each. Logics had John Hunt and Richard Owens playing in the same team for only the second time this season and were good value for their draw, with both players winning twice plus the doubles, inflicting a rare defeat on Messrs Hallam and Dyke. The match lead fluctuated all night with neither team managing to ever get two games ahead and was typified by the final game of the night which saw Dave Hallam beat Richard Owens 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 12-10.

With promotion issues now settled, attention switches to the bottom of the table, where four teams are still involved in the relegation dogfight. Logics improved their position considerably with a win over already relegated Upton Ripples. John Hunt was again in good form winning all three and he was well supported by Chris Daniels, who was also unbeaten on the night, and Derek Craddock who won once. Chris and Derek also gained their first doubles success of the season, beating Roger Davies and Pete Nash in five sets. For the home team Matt Jones and Roger Davies won one apiece. A win for Bromyard in their final match of the season against CSSC Trojans will ensure second division survival for them.

Colin Dolding was again in inspired form for Crackpots with three wins plus the doubles with James Palmer, but this was not enough as a good all round team effort from Ray Cooke, John Meredith and Stewart Moss gave Ledbury Exhaust a valuable win in this crucial eight pointer between two of the relegation threatened sides. Ledbury now need four points from their last three matches to guarantee they avoid the drop. Crackpots need to win their last match or hope other results go their way.

RESULTS: Ledbury Exhaust 6, Crackpots E 4; Upton Ripples 2, Bromyard Logics 8; Manor Park Pumas 5, Bromyard Logics 5; Poolbrook Juniors 5, YMCA Vulcans 5.

MAULERS, with Paul Lythgoe playing with Bill Smith and Ray Davies, took maximum points from X-Police in their Division Three fixture but four sets went to five games and two of them were won by 12-10 in the fifth, so it was not as easy as the score suggests.

Ray Davies saved the whitewash for Maulers when they played Abbey College. Henry Chan and Henry Hung again won three and the doubles and Alan Chan won the other two.

When the College played Abbeydowne Henry Chan won three giving him the highest qualifying average of the division of 95.8 per cent and Henry Hung won two but they lost the doubles to Bill Lucas, who won two singles and Peter Denniss (1) and Roy Holland won one.

Maulers were only able to get two players against Crackpots B but Ray Davies won two and Bill Smith one to give them a point. Stephen Lindner won two singles and the doubles with his son Alex, who was playing in only his second league match and very creditably took a game off both Ray and Bill before losing in four.

All members are reminded that tickets for Presentation Night, on May 7 at Colwall Village Hall, are available price £6, which includes a two course meal from Cicely Palmer. No tickets will be available on the night and none will be reserved without payment. As numbers are restricted and they are going fast, players with trophies to collect would be wise to send their money quickly or come to the Handicap Finals night at the CSSC Club on April 20 when they will be on sale.

RESULTS: Abbeydowne 5, Abbey College 5; Manor Park Maulers 3, Crackpots B 7; Abbey College 9, Manor Park Maulers 1; Manor Park Maulers 10, X-Police 0.