Derwent's first team started their bid to return to the National Table Tennis League's premier division with a 5-3 victory over hosts Grantham.

Mark Short pipped new signing Mark Smith for the player of the match, both players winning two for their team.

The new league format this season sees all teams meeting at central venues over four weekends, playing up to four matches each time.

In their second game, Derwent scored a 7-1 win over Seasiders (Blackpool) with Richard Smith gaining player of the match for his coolness under pressure.

Derwent continued their good work with a 5-3 victory over Kinghurst Bribar, Short gaining his second award.

With Derwent topping the league, disaster struck in the final match as they crashed 7-1 to Wellow House (Newark). Mark Smith gained the solitary set.

Derwent's second team, with their top players Steve Horsfield and Richard Shirt unavailable, lost their opening match 5-3 to Darlington, despite two good victories for substitute Mick Wilcockson.

They recorded their first victory 5-3 against Coventry, with Andrew Nicholls beating brother Chris to the player of the match award, both winning two sets.

Sarah Smith sealed the match in a thrilling final set.

Another two wins for Chris Nicholls earned him player of the match and helped his side to another 5-3 success against Halton Croda. Derwent were strengthened by the return of Horsfield for this match.

In their final match Derwent were unlucky to go down to early pacesetters Ormesby 5-3, despite two wins for Anderw Nicholls.

Derwent III were defeated in both their opening matches - 5-3 to Barrow and 6-2 to Darlington - but there were good victories for Sarah Smith, Stuart Wallace, Nicola Smith, Richard Moss and Chris Wragg.

On Sunday they drew 4-4 against Seasiders with wins for Simon Noutch, Janine Donnelly, Nicola Smith and Mick Wilcockson.

They then beat Dewsbury 6-2, playre of the match Wilcockson and Smith both winning two.

Janine Donnelly and Richard Moss added one apiece.

Cowick

cage the Kestrels

Newly-promoted West Cowick were pleased with the three points as they opened their division one campaign in the Selby League by beating Eggborough Kestrels.

Thorpe B's Bob White did well to beat Selby WMC's Roger Ellis 21-18 20-22 21-17, although Ellis came back to defeat Chris Godwin, also in three sets.

Selby won 6-4, helped by the welcome return to league play of Chris White, who was unbeaten.

And Ellis, along with Bernard Wales and John Senior, was impressive again as WMC beat West Cowick 10-0.

T&L, who have just one team in this year's competition, began in their customary style with Nigel Thorn, Mick Wilcockson and Andrew Kirk taking ten points against the Kestrels.

Womersley, who were relegated last season, look set to trounce much of the opposition in division two, beginning with a 9-1 win over last year's runners-up, Eggborough Merlins.

Roy Crossland, Russ Clarkson and Dave Steer did the damage, although Anthony Kidd pushed Steer to three games, and Phil Bromilow did likewise to Crossland.

Merlins' Colin Dobson beat Steer, but developed achilles tendon problems during the match, putting him out of action for a while.

Dobson and Kidd took two points each, and Bromilow one, in Merlins' draw with Sherburn Tigers.

Tigers' Geoff Harrop had no trouble taking three points, Damian Bramley took one and Sherburn won the doubles.

Mick Walker was the unbeaten player in the draw between Thorpe D and Eggborough Hawks - Colin Peacock took the Hawks other two points.

Stuart Anderson won two for Thorpe, with David Holder and Rick Wallis taking one apiece.

Ian Richardson, returning to the Eggborough Eagles side, took three of the eight points they won against Thorpe C.

John Stokes and Paul Barker gained two each and the Eagles won the doubles. Steve Taylor took Thorpe's points. Taylor went one better when playing Thorpe D, with Nick Godwin and Danny Lawrence adding two points each in the C team's 8-2 win.

Steve Peters took Thorpe D's two points in style.