LEDBURY Lions progressed into the quarter-finals of the Malvern Table Tennis League's main handicap competition beating league leaders Grosvenor Eagles by four points.

Dave Saer played a substantial part in the Lions' victory when taking points off Ian Bell 11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7 and also off Norman Merchant 11-4, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9. Gordon Stables also beat Ian as Dave White's valiant efforts for the Eagles came to nothing.

Two Junior teams made further progress. Manor Park Juniors beat Manor Park Pumas by 45 points.

This young team is improving rapidly as the season nears its close. Ben Salisbury took a game off Dave Hallam and Jon Dyke whilst Jack Higgs took games off Tom Palmer and Jon. Juniors B won the Handicap competition last season and moved into the next round when beating Abbeydowne comfortably. Matt Lang, Anthony Wiseman and Tom James won all their matches during the course of the evening.

The Crackpots team had mixed fortunes. The B team fielded only two players and inevitably lost against CSSC Nomads. The other Colwall based teams, however, have made their way into the last eight. Crackpots E owed a lot to Colin Dolding in their 32 point victory over Manor Park Rangers and Nick Gilbert did well to hold Dave Steen in an even match 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 13-11.

Crackpots C had an easy victory over CSSC Trojans who missed the stabilising influence of Dave Backhurst. The evening was particularly successful for Richard Cullis who beat both Dave Huntley and Rob Redden and had a very close match with Dave Hayes.

RESULTS: Crackpots C (165) 510, CSSC Trojans 388; CSSC Nomads (20) 352, Crackpots B 300; Ledbury Lions (80) 397, Grosvenor Eagles 393; Manor Park Rangers 378, Crackpots E (45) 410; Manor Park Juniors (170) 486, Manor Park Pumas 441; Junior B 431, Abbeydowne (120) 388.

- The draw for the quarter-finals took place at a recent meeting and brought together the two leading sides in Division Three when Bromyard Logics were drawn at home to Juniors B.

The draw is: Main Competition - Crackpots E v Juniors C; Crackpots C v CSSC Nomads; Bromyard Logics v Juniors B; Manor Park Juniors v Ledbury Lions.

Secondary Competition - YMCA Magpies v Manor Park Express; Manor Park Maulers v Ledbury Merlins; YMCA Vulcans v Police.

Matches should be played during the week of Monday, March 3.