First week of action in the new table tennis league is proof that competitive title battles are on the cards

Division One got underway with Blues Club Aces putting out a strong team, including Robert Lamb in his first match since returning from university, to play an equally strong Blitz Club Chunky Monkeys.

Paul Johnson went unbeaten for Blitz while for Aces Barry Lamb and Gary Adlington both won two games each as the match finished in a 5-5 draw.

Chunky Monkeys also played later in the week, Steve Johnson replacing brother Paul in a match arranged by Liberal Branch Meteors to fill a cancelled fixture, but Meteors, with only two players, lost 8-2.

In Division Two there was a good contest between two of last season’s high finishers when Blues Club Kestrels hosted Methodist Batmen.

This was a long match with several five-ender rubbers and the 5-5 draw was a fair result.

A young Blitz Falcons team met Challengers at the Blues Club and it was the newcomers who made their mark by thrashing Falcons 9-1.

Blitz Dynamos also hosted a team from the Blues Club, the experienced Knights which included Alan Scott playing first league match for many years, but it was Dynamos who were the victors by a 7-3 scoreline.

Another club from the Blitz Club, Eagles, travelled to Willingham where they won 6-4.

Results: Division One - Aces 5 (B. Lamb 2, G. Adlington 2, plus doubles), Chunky Monkeys 5 (P. Johnson 3, J. Marshall 1, C. Gamble 1); Meteors 2 (M. Tindall 2), Chunky Monkeys 8 (S. Johnson 2, C. Gamble 1, 3 by default, 1 conceded.

Division Two - Kestrels 5 (B. Reed 1, D. Mason 2, S. Mason 1, plus doubles), Batmen 5 (T. Lovely 2, M. Longstaff Snr 3); Falcons 1 (doubles), Challengers 9 (S. Edwards 3, M. Sanderson 3, D. Shelley 3); Dynamos 7 (J. Longstaff 2, T. Arber 1, J. Sheehan 3, plus doubles), Knights 3 (B. Hodgson 1, T. Howdle 1, A. Scott 1); Wizards 4 (K. Birkett 3, M. Raisborough 1), Eagles 6 (H. Tomlinson 2, J. Croft 1, D. Davies 2, plus doubles).