Two successive victories by Thirsk have propelled them to top spot in Division One.

While they were beating Harrogate Racquets A team 8-1 previous league leaders Boroughbridge were twiddling their thumbs after their match against Bedale had been washed out.

Thirsk now lead the table on rubbers over Harrogate Racquets first team, both sides having 14 points.

Boroughbridge slip to third place but have 12 points and a match in hand on their rivals.

Thirsk's 8-1 win over Racquets A team followed an 8-1 victory over rock bottom Bedale.

Results from Thirsk's 8-1 win over Racquets A team, which secured them the top position were (Thirsk names first): Graham Parker and Carol Collinson beat Graham Penkett and Pauline Edwards 6-0, 6-1; beat Trevor Nuttall and Frederique Brown 6-0; beat Nick Atkinson and Jackie McBurney 6-4, 6-0.

Nick Hatch and Debbie Hannam beat Penkett and Edwards 6-2, 6-1; beat Nuttall and Brown 6-2, 6-3; beat Atkinson and McBurney 6-0.

Andrew Parry and Debbie Williamson halved with Penkett and Edwards 6-6; halved with Nuttall and Brown 5-6, 6-2; beat Atkinson and McBurney 6-3, 6-3.

The Academy's title hopes were dealt a blow when they were beaten by Harrogate Racquets first team 5.5-3.5, leaving The Academy in fourth place, six points behind the leaders but with a match in hand.

Racquets were led to success by husband and wife partnership Jonathan and Gillian Smail, who remained unbeaten in their three clashes without conceding a set.

Scores - Harrogate Racquets 5.5 The Academy 3.5 (Racquets names first): Jonathan Smail and Gillian Smail beat Chris Sorby and Sue Stothard 6-5, 6-5; beat David Whitelaw and Rebecca Sowden 6-3; beat Ross Leventhal and Julie Abbott 6-4, 6-4.

John Hargreaves and Frederique Brown lost to Sorby and Stothard 4-6, 5-6; beat Whitelaw and Sowden 6-2, 6-3; beat Leventhal and Abbott 6-2.

John Tindall and Jackie McBurney lost to Sorby and Stothard 4-6; lost to Whitelaw and Sowden 2-6, 4-6; halved with Leventhal and Abbott 6-4, 3-6.

Division One: Bedale 1 Thirsk 8; Spa 0 Harrogate Racquets 9; Thirsk 8 Harrogate Racquets A 1; Harrogate Racquets 5.5 The Academy 3.5.

Division Two: Ben Rhydding 3.5 Harlow A 5.5; Harlow B 6.5 Harrogate Racquets B 2.5; Ben Rhydding 5 The Academy A 4; Harlow A 3.5 Dacre 5.5; Knaresborough 6 Harlow B 3; Harrogate Racquets B 5 Knaresborough 4.

Division Three: Harlow C 4 Wetherby 5; Ripon 3.5 Starbeck 5.5; Masham 0 Northallerton 6; Ripon 6 Wetherby 3; Thirsk A 6 West Tanfield 3.

Division Four: Ripon A 3.5 Northallerton A 6.5; Harrogate Racquets C 6.5 Dacre A 2.5; Northallerton A 2.5 Boroughbridge A 6.5; Ripon A 3.5 Knaresborough A 2.5; Wetherby A 8.5 Knaresborough A 0.5; Harlow D 2 Ripon A 7.

Division Five: Wetherby B 6 Birstwith 3; West Tanfield A 1.5 Thirsk B 7.5; Spa A 6 Ripon B 3.

Division Six: Raskelf A 2 Starbeck A 7; Northallerton 5.5 Thirsk C 0.5; Ripon C 3.5 Harrogate Racquets D 4.5.

* Patience has finally paid off for John Rowe who is back on the tennis courts after an accident on the French ski slopes.

Rowe was out of action for six months after a skier ran into him causing horrendous injuries. It led to a complete rebuild of the injured shoulder.

After undergoing surgery the 38-year-old from Boroughbridge promised his consultant that he would neither work nor play tennis for six months - three months of total rest and another three months rehabilitation.

Rowe did not break the promise and it has paid dividends.

Rowe, who was initially detained in a French hospital before coming home, has just restarted playing for Boroughbridge in Division One of the Slazenger Harrogate and District Tennis League.

Team captain Suzanne Lodge said: "John virtually had his shoulder rebuilt with metal bolts - and was only given the all clear to start gentle play a few weeks ago."

Rowe won two of his three matches on returning to the side which is bidding to win the Division One title for the first time in the club's history.

Lodge recalled: "When we won promotion to the First Division before we went straight back down again. I think some people thought that might happen again, but we have assembled a strong side and are pleased to be making a challenge for the championship."

The line up includes former Selby-based Yorkshire county player Graeme Campbell, who now lives at Boston Spa. He was was spotted while playing for the David Lloyd Centre in Moortown, Leeds.

Former Rawdon Yorkshire county player Ian Grasby is another strong member of the squad. Gayle Partridge, Kathy Farrand and Lodge also play for the side involved in a tight race for the First Division Championship.

"We're not making any predictions but will just keep battling right to the end," pledged the Boroughbridge skipper. "But at least this time we have shown that we are equal to the First Division challenge," she says.