A club which has never won a league's top tennis title has made a promising start to the new season against tough opposition.

Spa maintained its undefeated start by toppling big guns Harrogate Academy 6-3.

The win put Spa among champions Harlow and Boroughbridge, all on five points at the top of Division One.

Boroughbridge lead on rubbers after beating Harrogate Racquets second team 6.5-2.5.

Spa's victory over The Academy came against a team led by the silky skills of American pastor Doug Keen, who partnered Julie Abbott.

Although the Keen-Abbott partnership were not beaten Spa will take heart from the clear-cut victory when playing without one of their leading players Chris Dight.

Match scores - Spa 6 The Academy 3 (Spa names first): Rob Dearing and Jo Craven halved with Doug Keen and Julie Abbott 6-3, 3-6; beat Philippe Bourgeois and Sue Stothard 6-3; beat Gianfranco Cavestro and Rebecca Sowden 6-2, 6-0.

Karel Detois and Roxanne Sammel lost to Keen and Abbott 0-6, 3-6; beat Bourgeois and Stothard 6-4, 6-3; beat Cavestro and Sowden 6-1.

Tom Bentley and Nicola Pratt lost to Keen and Abbott 1-6; beat Bourgeois and Stothard 6-2, 6-3; halved with Cavestro and Sowden 6-3, 3-6.

Champions Harlow are unbeaten after three matches, but ther 6.5-2.5 win was against Bedale, who are bottom of the table without a point.

For Harlow Simon Daly and Sophie Jacob took two-and-a-half rubbers. The partnership of Colin Smith and Julie Bradley brought the same return while Simon Belcher and Pauline Knight took one-and-a-half rubbers.

Meanwhile in Division Two a close battle appears to be looming. Not one of the eight sides have lost a match this term.

Meanwhile in Division Three Northallerton have bounced back after their first defeat in 40 matches to beat West Tanfield 6.5-2.5

Graham Iveson and Margaret Fenwick combined to win all three rubbers for Northallerton. Neil McLoughlin and Jackie Wonders took two victories while Paul Collier and Sue Pratt posted one-and-a-half rubbers.

Division One: The Academy 6 Harrogate Racquets 3; Boroughbridge 6.5 Harrogate Racquets A 2.5; Harlow 6.5 Bedale 2.5; Harrogate Racquets 5.5 Thirsk 3.5; Spa 6 The Academy 3.

Division Two: Raskelf 4 Harlow B 5; Ben Rhydding 5.5 Dacre 3.5; Harlow A 5 The Academy A 4; Knaresborough 7.5 Harrogate Racquets B 1.5.

Division Three: Northallerton 6.5 West Tanfield 2.5; Ripon 8 Harlow C 1; Thirsk A 5.5 Wetherby 3.5.

Division Four: Ripon A 4.5 Harlow D 4.5; Harrogate Racquets C 5 Ripon A 4; Knaresborough A 5.5 Northallerton A 3.5; Wetherby A 4.5 Dacre A 4.5.

Division Five: Ripon B 6.5 Spa A 2.5; Birstwith 5.5 Spa A 3.5; Thirsk B 5.5 Masham A 3.5; West Tanfield A 2 Bedale A 7; Wetherby B 2.5 West Tanfield A 6.5.

Division Six: Burton Leonard 6.5 Spa B 2.5; West Tanfield B 2 Birstwith A 8; Bedale B 6 Thirsk C 3; Northallerton B 9 Raskelf A 0; Ripon C 5 Knaresborough B 4; Dacre B 2.5 Harrogate Racquets 6.5.