TIGERS will start a new Mid-Cheshire Super League campaign as favourites to take the title after qualifying with the best record.
Ben Chan, Winston Duff and Craig Lee inflicted a first defeat on Sparks, who had won each of their previous eight matches in Group One, to claim top spot.
Dave Southall twice came from behind in a singles rubber against Chan to notch a solitary success for his side.
Victoria occupy third place after an 8-2 win against Manweb, and they will be joined in Division One next month by Raptors, Wreckers and Cobras.
Lemmings and Bears played out a draw and will play in the second division along with Hawks, who finish bottom.
Daresbury had a single blemish on their copybook on the way to topping Group Two, and concluded the preliminaries by winning 8-2 at back-markers Romans.
Valiants ended Wolves’ hopes of making the cut for a Division Two berth with a 6-4 win, allowing Sticklebacks to sneak in following a hard-earned 7-3 victory against Winsford Locke.
Elsewhere, Snakes proved too strong for Kinetics and Vikings could not be separated from visiting Rangers in a 5-5 draw.
The Super League’s opening round is scheduled for next month.
Before then the teams turn their attention to the Mike Johns Memorial Handicap Team Knockout.
Results
Mid-Cheshire Table Tennis Super League
Qualifying
Week Nine
Group One: Lemmings 5-5 Bears; Manweb 2-8 Victoria; Raptors 8-2 Hawks; Tigers 9-1 Sparks; Wreckers 6-4 Cobras
Group Two: Kinetics 1-9 Snakes; Sticklebacks 7-3 Winsford Locke; Romans 2-8 Daresbury; Valiants 6-4 Wolves; Vikings 5-5 Rangers
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