THREE points separate four teams at top of the Division 2 table in the Kendal and District League with each side eager to book a top-flight place next season.

Burton D, who occupy pole position, clashed with fourth-placed Natland D this week.

Bryan Rhodes and John Pritchard shaded two victories as they edged out a dejected Howard Pimblett 11-7 and 11-9 respectively, with both games going into an exhausting fifth set.

At 3-2 in Burton’s favour, Peter Taylor built upon his earlier 3-1 sets victories against Shelley and Bryan Rhodes, to sweep aside Pritchard in straight sets.

Pimblett showed his mental strength by erasing memories of those earlier defeats to inflict a crushing three-set success upon Shelley Rhodes, leaving Burton 5-4 ahead with only the doubles to play.

In the doubles, Pimblett and Taylor earned a commanding four-set triumph to salvage a hard-fought 5-5 draw.

Dallam C climbed to second place, one point behind Burton D, after a 7-3 success against Burton E.

Dallam’s James Parkinson notched up three victories, while team-mates Tom Jackson and Thomas Parkinson won against Peter Hunt and Brian Gourlay.

Things could have been worse for Burton but for Matthew Pickering’s four-set triumphs against Thomas Parkinson and Jackson respectively.

Dallam B have fallen behind the leading pack despite a crushing 10-0 whitewashing of Dent A.

The Milnthorpe side’s trio of Tom Carling, Lawrence Duncan and Joe Alaimo are seven points off top spot, while Dent A are already 12 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.

In Division 3, an experienced Crook C sit top of the table with a healthy 21-point cushion.

The leaders netted their sixth win in seven with a 26-10 victory against Burton G.

Edwin Lister scored three victories and combined with team-mates Paul Metsers and Chris Mowat, who chipped in two victories apiece against James Burton and Danny Jackson.

Results: Division 1: Ibis 9-1 Natland C; Glaxo B 1-9 Glaxo A; Natland A 9-1 Crook A; Dallam A 0-10 Burton B; Burton B 2-8 Natland A.

Division 2: Burton C 6-4 Dallam D; Burton D 5-5 Natland D; Dallam B 10-0 Dent A; Dallam C 7-3 Burton E; Natland D 8-2 Dallam D.

Division 3: Natland E 17-16 Storth; Storth 19-16 K. Stephen C; Burton G 24-19 Dent B; Crook C 26-10 Burton G; Natland F 0-30 Crook C; Dent A 1-9 Natland D.