THE Aldershot Table Tennis League season opened with fewer teams than last year. Some top sides have departed, but there are newcomers at the bottom of the structure.

Defending champions Central A notched up a resounding 9-1 win against Cody A. Phil Snelson and Dennis Perrett picked up maximums. Perrett was returning after a serious operation, but this result suggests that he is on the top of his game. Peter Millard won twice in support.

Central B eased past Tennis C 8-2, with Martin Townshend and Robin Pretty unbeaten and Andy Appleby bagging a brace. Tennis A started with a 7-3 victory over Frimley A. Rod Kay was undefeated and Eliot Tilley contributed two wins in support.

Cody B are already showing their promotion credentials in Division?Two after a 9-1 victory over Tennis E. Dario Cereda and Paul Mission each took maximums and Duncan Sibbick won two.

Bentley B and Tennis D shared the spoils. Michael Kwan was unbeaten for Tennis, while Robin Street and Paul Farrant both won twice for Bentley. Broadmoor A easily beat their B team 9-1, thanks to the efforts of Tony Gabriel (3), Dave Connelly (3) and Keith Jones (2).

Ash C, meanwhile, recorded a fine 8-2 win over Old Woking. Alan Gess was unbeaten and Nigel Tustin and Chris Carter each won twice, both losing to Old Woking’s Bill Matlock.

In Division Three, Tennis F proved far too strong for Ash E, winning 8-2. Bob Brown won three, backed up by Peter Killick (2) and Paul Jarvis (2).

Ash D beat their F clubmates 9-1 (Terry French 3, Les Knight 3, Dave Bentall 2), while Tennis G eased past Frimley D 6-4. Martin Evans won three for Tennis and Anthony Connelly won twice for Frimley. Every player won at least once.

The performance of the week in Division?Four was the draw achieved by new team Tennis J against an experienced Ash G. Bob Murrell was unbeaten for Ash, while Ray Mears (Ash) and Tushar Vaja (Tennis) both took two. Charles Burton and Dave Lewis opened their league accounts with wins against Roger Fletcher.

Cody E, favourites for the title, beat Ash H 7-3, with Kim Phillips and Nigel Roberts unbeaten. Crawley Ridge B whitewashed Ash J (Richard Pape, Richard Hornby, Peter Greenwood-Sleep all unbeaten) and Frimley E beat Cody F 6-4. James Maxwell was unbeaten for Frimley and Steve Bridle chipped in with two. Young Phil Russell won twice for Cody.

Results:

Div I

Central B 8 Tennis C 2, Cody A 1 Central A 9, Tennis A 7 Frimley A 3

Div II

Broadmoor B 1 Broadmoor A 9, Bentley B 5 Tennis D 5, Tennis E 1 Cody B 9, Old Woking 2 Ash C 8

Div III

Frimley D 4 Tennis G 6, Tennis F 8 Ash E 2, Ash D 9 Ash F 1

Div IV

Frimley E 6 Cody F 4, Ash J 0 Crawley Ridge B 10, Tennis J 5 Ash G 5, Cody E 7 Ash H 3