The start of the season for the Keighley & District Table Tennis League brings with it the most fundamental change to the game of its entire history.

The introduction of an 11 up best of 5 scoring system to replace the old 21 up best of 3 may serve as an inspiration and will certainly be a challenge to many of the League's established players. The big question, however comes in two parts. Firstly, will players adapt to the new regime or will they drift away from the sport, hankering after 'the good old days' and secondly, will it attract younger players to the sport as the game's hierarchy hopes. Only time will tell. Meanwhile, in Division One, Lothersdale 'A' got off to a good start with a good 8-2 success at home to Second Division Champions Nemesis 'B'. Bob Davis just ended up the wrong side of a thriller in the first 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9 to Dave Manogue, but the only other success for the visitors came in the fifth when Tim Moran also defeated Davis 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3. Dave Adams registered a customary treble, although Pete Worger was unlucky to lose 7-11, 13-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8 to the Lothersdale veteran. Keith Wilkinson also started the season the way he will hope to go on with a full house before teaming up with Adams to win the doubles 11-6, 11-6, 11-2.

Nelson Nomads and Embassy 'B' fought out a thrilling encounter that ended with the superb Palminder Sandhu leading his team to an excellent away victory. His treble included the defeat of Peter Wood 11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-2, David Ayrton 11-5, 11-5, 11-5, and the one that tipped the balance in favour of the Bingley team, Mick Wrigley 11-6, 11-6, 11-9. Wrigley earned the Nomads exactly half their points with wins against Peter Kitching 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 and Nick Kaye 14-12, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, but a doubles win for Kitching and Sandhu 11-4, 13-11, 11-6 against Wood and Wrigley left the scoreline 6-4 in favour of Embassy.

Nemesis 'A' look to have strengthened well with the signing of Mark Land as the debutant earned himself a max at home to Ukrainians, along the way getting the better of Peter Holbrook 12-10, 11-7, 11-5. Holbrook was the only scorer for the Ukies with defeats of Steve Taylor 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 and Katie Lightowler 2-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5. A fully fir Steve Rutherford is now ready to resume playing for the Ukrainians and on this showing they will need him if they are to avoid a season long struggle against relegation.

In Division Two, relegated Airedale Terriers were surprised at home by Wilsden for whom this season could be the one that sees them promoted to the top flight following three years of steady progress up the League. Adam Broadbent set the tone for the visitors with a gritty 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10 defeat of Stuart Myers in the first, followed by an 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6 success against Paul Beck and a determined win against Tom Lacey 11-6, 11-13, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9 to clinch his treble. Luke Broadbent grabbed a couple against Myers and Beck 9-11, 11-2, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8 and Dave Broadbent's 7-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 defeat of Lacey ensured Wilsden finishing with a 6-4 victory.

The youngsters of newly promoted Ilkley Road 'B', bolstered by Steve Barton, took on visitors Embassy 'C' but could not stop the visitors from clinching an 8-2 victory. Star of the show was Clive Sherratt who collected a full house that included the 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 defeat of Nick Emblem. Barton and Emblem earned the points for the Riddlesden team with wins against Jeff Bennett.

John Pullen picked up in Division Two where he left off in Division Three last season with a full house for Johnson & Johnson at home to Stockbridge Spartans. However, that was as good as it got for the Gargrave team as Ryan Foulds, Ray Wallace and Munzir Nazir all got the better of Tony Bugeja and Derek Stanforth to earn the Spartans a rare victory.

Relegated Lothersdale 'B' opened with a derby encounter against their 'C' team who had Tony Richardson making his debut. Martin Connolly started with a 13-15, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5 win against Richardson on his way to a treble. David Galley also got the better of Richardson 3-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-8 and Richards Crookes 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10 and Peter Midgley also grabbed a couple with wins against Richardson and Martin Mulligan 9-11, 11-7, 14-16, 11-8, 11-3 as the 'B' team set their sails towards a quick return to the top flight with a 7-3 victory.

In Division Three, new team Denholme played host to the youngsters from South Craven and started well as Paul Whitaker defeated Edward Jagger 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6 in a game that was a credit to the Third Division. Whitaker, obviously a quality player, went on to defeat Chris Airey and Matthew Wiggan on his way to a max. Unfortunately for Denholme, however, this was all they single success they could muster as Jagger, Airey and Wiggan all defeated Peter Heaton and Teale before Whitaker and Teale earned their team a much needed point in the doubles with a tremendous 11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 7-11, 11-6 win against Jagger and Wiggan to leave a final score of 6-4 in favour of South Craven.

RESULTS

Division One: Lothersdale 'A' 8, Nemesis 'B' 2; Nelson Nomads 4, Embassy 'B' 6; Nemesis 'A' 8, Ukrainians 2.

Division Two: Airedale Terriers 4, Wilsden 6; Ilkley Road 'B' 2, Embassy 'C' 8; Johnson & Johnson 3, Stockbridge Spartans 7; Lothersdale 'B' 7, Lothersdale 'C' 3.

Division Three: Denholme 3, South Craven 6; Embsay 0, Ilkley Road 'C' 10.