The two top teams in Division 3 clashed at Westway last night in a titanic battle and it was the Old Citizens who shaded the contest with a 2-1 win that sees them now in a very strong position at the head of the table. Lancing went with experience at first pair with Nigel Cox and Paul Baddeley and they went head to head with Paul Jefferys and Ronald Pattison, a late stand in for Spencer Chapman (having a mare off court rather than on it for a change). The match was tight from start to finish but the Citizens pair managed to close out each of the three games to win 9, 10 and 8. The South Coast outfit struck back immediately at second pair where the tried and trusted father and son pairing of Richard and Julian Black made short work of Mark Stockton and Rob Cooper. It was left to the third pair to decide the win and Lancing's Dan Bell and Karen Hird got off to a good start. winning the first game 15-13 against Alex Nice and Stephen Mullin. The Citizens weren't finished, though, and came back to win the next two games 12-8 and 12-9. With the match poised at 6-4 to Alex and Stephen in the fourth game, the 10pm lights out deadline was reached, leaving the Citizens 2-1 ahead and claiming the third point to take the match 2-1.