THERE were tight matches in the Paperstation Malvern League’s handicap competition second round.

The experienced Geoff Woodward, Jon Dyke and Dave Hallam from top-flight Manor Park Pumas proved too much for Division Three’s Panthers, overcoming a 272-point handicap to win by 38.

Bromyard Hopefuls from Division Three defeated higher-ranked Nomads by 64 thanks to the up-and-coming Ed Tinton, who was ably supported by David and Martin Gwilt.

Vulcans turned around a 37-point handicap to win by 53 against Crackpots ‘D’ thanks to John Cawthra, Richard Bennett and Mark Clinton.

In the all-Division Two clash between Dynamos and Tornados, the former managed to overcome a 116-point handicap to triumph by 32 through Geoff Burford, John Phillips and Tom James.

The secondary competition saw Division One’s Pterodactyl Old Boys tackle a 246-point handicap against lower-ranked X Police to win by nine through Dave White, Steve Glazzard and Svilen Andreev.

The experience of Roger Davies, Pete Nash and Peter Quy proved decisive against Poolbrook Juniors, enabling them to overcome a 142-point handicap to win by 21.

An all-Division One clash between Collection and Express went to the former as they overcame a 53-point handicap to win by 45.

The Division One class of Chris Hewitt, Alan Salisbury and Graham Thompson enabled Ramblers to beat a 306-point handicap and win by 11 against Abbeydowne.

Division One’s Ledbury Rovers overcame a 230-point handicap against Devils to win by 59.

Handicap second round, main competition: Bromyard Hopefuls 421 (66), CSSC Nomads 357; Poolbrook Panthers 402 (272), Manor Park Pumas 440; Crackpots ‘D’ 367 (37), Vulcans 420; Tornados 391 (116), Dynamos 423; secondary competition: Pterodactyls Old Boys 439, X Police 430 (245); Abbeydowne 429 (306), CSSC Ramblers 440; Ledbury Collection 414, Manor Park Express 369 (52); Devils 379 (230), Ledbury Rovers 438; Upton 445, Poolbrook Juniors 424 (142).

Quarter-finals (Monday, February 9), main competition: Crackpots ‘B’ v Dynamos, Manor Park Travellers v Bromyard Hopefuls, Vulcans v Manor Park Wanderers, Manor Park Pumas v Broadheath Belters/Scuttling Gang; secondary competition: CSSC Ramblers v Ledbury Collection, Ledbury Lions v Pterodactyl Old Boys; Upton v Manor Park Rangers; Manor Park Crackpots v Ledbury Rovers.