HELLAND B require just six points to secure the North Cornwall Table Tennis League’s Division Two title.

Despite losing their first game of the season, last Thursday night at Budehaven C, the village club are 15 points ahead of Budehaven meaning they just need six more in their final fixture at North Hill A to secure the championship.

Missing David Hughes, Helland fell to a surprise defeat at Budehaven as debutant James Raymont won all three of his matches to go alongside Owen Salisbury’s two victories.

Salisbury was defeated by Dave MacLennan in what was only his fifth defeat of the season.

While the top of the table looks a forgone conclusion, the situation at the bottom is anything but.

Launceston took a huge step towards survival with a 7-3 victory at North Hill B who are slowly being sucked into a relegation scrap.

Stephen Parsons’ brilliant recent form continued as he scrapped out three straight victories while Karen Horrell’s recent revival also shows no signs of slowing down as she won two of her outings.

Trevor Luckhurst was the home side’s best player as he beat Horrell and Lois Atkin who picked up a rare victory over Jack Flockton.

Altarnun solidified third place with a 5-5 draw at Budehaven B.

Paul Burden, who has lost just three times in 30 outings this term, again proved too good, dropping just one set in his three games while Chris Mill and Anthony Ward both played solidly to earn a pair of victories apiece.

In Division One, Blisland have a seven-point buffer over Helland A as the latter lost 7-3 at home to North Hill A just a couple of days after Blisland beat Crackington A 8-2 at home.

Frank Barnes continues to be Crackington’s main man as he beat Jim Rickwood and Kevin Tarling as well as losing in a classic with Robert Thompson.

The rest of the evening was a much more comfortable affair for the hosts as they inch their way closer to the title.

North Hill are now up to fourth after their surprise win at Helland.

All three of the visitors players, Martin Hynes, Shirley Luckhurst and debutant Dave Pellow won two of their singles with Mike Fisher (2) and Ritchie Bartlett grabbing the home points.

The mid-table clash between champions Budehaven A and Torridge ended in an easy win for Budehaven.

Helen Murgatroyd inflicted a rare defeat on Pete Freeburn in a 100% winning record on the night while Dave Salisbury and James Raymont also won two apiece.

Freeburn did come back from his loss in the first match of the night to grab victories over Salisbury and Raymont.

In Division Three, North Hill C have the title in their own hands despite slipping up by three matches to two at fellow championship hopefuls Bridgerule A.

Alan Quilter continued his 100% winning record as he made it 30 victories for the season while David Shoubridge and John Parker grabbed points for North Hill.

As it stands North Hill will win the title if they win their two matches left 5-0 as Bridgerule sit four points ahead with just one game left.

In the other North Hill v Bridgerule clash in the division, North Hill D hammered the visiting C team as Hannah Luckhurst and Dominic Pipe won all five matches in three sets.

The other week’s game saw Budehaven D edge past Helland C with Nathan Jukes (2/2) and the doubles doing the trick.