Slazenger Harrogate and District League

Two successive victories by Thirsk have boosted their season as they bid to recapture a championship they last held four years ago.

Thirsk defeated title pretenders Harrogate Racquets 6.5-2.5 before beating newly-promoted Spa 5.5-3.5 to put them in second spot behind Harlow in Division One.

Harlow, with a match in hand, head the table with a better rubbers' average.

Harlow are now the only side unbeaten in Division One this season, romping home 8.5-0.5 against struggling Knaresborough who have yet to register their first victory this term and are bottom.

The partnership of Graham Parker and Carol Collinson won three rubbers in Thirsk's 6.5-2.5 win over Harrogate Racquets. The doubles pairing of Andrew Parry and Debbie Hannam secured one rubber. Nick Hatch and Julie Abbott won two rubbers, halving a third.

Scores from Thirsk's 5.5-3.5 win over Spa (Thirsk names first): Graham Parker and Carol Collinson beat Chris Dight and Nicola Pratt 6-4, 6-4; halved with Tom Bentley and Helen Worthington 6-6; beat R Wilson and C Cage 6-0, 6-2.

Nick Hatch and Debbie Hannam halved with Dight and Pratt 4-6, 6-3; halved with Bentley and Worthington 6-2, 3-6; beat Wilson and Cage 6-0.

Howard Wilson and Julie Abbott lost to Dight and Pratt 0-6; lost to Bentley and Worthington 1-6, 4-6; beat Wilson and Cage walk-over.

Bedale, relegated to Division Two last season, and Raskelf, near Easingwold, newly-promoted to the division, are neck and neck at the top of their table. Bedale currently lead with a better rubbers' average, both sides being on ten points with one defeat in six outings.

Bedale's latest win, by 6-3 over Harlow B, was achieved thanks to John Hart and Melanie Couchman (two and a half rubbers); Mark Scarlett and Helen Broadwith (three rubbers); Keith Roddam and captain Althea Draper (one match halved).

Division One: Thirsk 6.5 Harrogate Racquets 2.5; Knaresborough 0.5 Harlow 8.5; The Academy 5.5 Boroughbridge 3.5; Thirsk 5.5 Spa 3.5; Knaresborough 0 The Academy 9.

Division Two: Ben Rhydding 6 West Tanfield 3; Dacre 2.5 Raskelf 6.5; Ben Rhydding 3 Masham 0; Bedale 6 Harlow B 3.

Division Three: Thirsk A 2 The Academy A 7; Ripon 5 Harrogate Racquets B 4; Harlow C 2 Harrogate Racquets B 7; Thirsk A 5.5 Wetherby 3.5; The Academy A 8.5 Knaresborough A 0.5.

Division Four: Boroughbridge A 5 Wetherby A 4; Wetherby A 7 Thirsk B 2.

Division Five: Northallerton A 8.5 West Tanfield A 0.5; Masham A 3.5 Harlow D 5.5.

l Players behaving badly will face swifter punishment following a crackdown by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

The game's controllers are so worried about a growing trend of John McEnroe style tantrums on court that they have ordered tournament officials and counties to take firm action.

There has been particular concern about bad behaviour and racket throwing outbursts by youngsters.

Now regions have independent mentors from neighbouring areas who, along with county discipline panels, will deal directly with code of conduct issues.

The aim is to streamline the discipline system.

Yorkshire's "monitoring officer" is Cumbrian-based Tony Hesmondhalgh who will oversee the whole North Eastern region.

Under the old system loutish action on court was reported directly to LTA headquarters in London and then dealt with by counties, sometimes causing long delays.

In Yorkshire the disciplinary panel has not met for many months and does not appear to face a major problem.

Barkston Ash

Men's League

Champions Bardsey have been set a tough fight by title challengers Whitkirk.

Whitkirk have rattled off five successive victories this season to head the table on 20 points.

Bardsey, with two victories in as many outings, are second on eight.