TABLE TENNIS: Leaders Whitbread had a superb start to the season in Division One of the Blackburn and District League.

Team secretary John Marshall led fellow players Eddie Pilling and Ged Simpson to an astonishing 10-0 home victory over H&S Plumbers 2nd despite Fred Coghlan's fighting spirit for the disheartened Plumbers.

Second-placed Unison, unperturbed by the performance of newly-promoted Queen's Park 2nd, also had an easy 8-2 home victory with Colin Walton in devastating form. Last season's undefeated Division Two champion, Wyndham Johnstone was surprisingly outplayed and could only clinch one quivering win against John Beardsworth. On their home territory, Queen's Park 2nd made good progress sharing the points in an awesome 5-5 draw against Whitbread.

Last year's runners-up H&S Plumbers started the season with a thumping 10-0 home win against a rather disappointing Audley House 2nd, who were outmanoeuvred and outclassed by the more versatile trio of Frank Hamer, Keith Jackson and superstar Colin Parkinson.

However, Audley House 2nd managed to scrape three points against last year's champions Hyndburn, who continued in their rich vein of form with a convincing 7-3 away victory.

Queen's Park had a tense start to the season against Unison. Despite Ian Haworth's tremendous form for Unison, David Pilkington and Dave Moir remained calm and composed during their doubles game to achieve a well-deserved 5-5 draw. In Division Two, relegated Darwen URC, with Ian Mason leading by example, began the season in excellent form by battering Unison 2nd 7-3 at home. They currently top the table after their superb 10-0 away victory over Queen's Park 3rd who soon recovered from their whitewash with Nathan Walton in irresistible form against Darwen URC 2nd but they could not keep up the pressure during the doubles game, allowing URC to clinch a well-earned 5-5 draw.

Newly-promoted West End found the going tough in Division Two and were daunted by a more vigorous Unison 2nd, losing away 7-3. A terrific unbeaten performance by Stuart Elliott secured the points for Unison which moves them up the table into second place.

Both Andy Thompson and fast-improving Janet Rybicki got off to a flying start for battling BT, but it was third-placed Fire Brigade A who managed to steal a fortuitous 8-2 home victory after three hours of table tennis, with five games going to three sets.

In Division Three, third-placed Darwen URC 3rd found a real challenge against Tek-Neek. The ding-dong encounter finally ended in a 5-5 draw when the dynamic duo Mick Wales and Derek Erskine won a crucial doubles game for Tek-Neek, which saved them from the jaws of defeat. Tek-Neek currently hold top spot after their fortunate 6-4 away victory against a youthful Queen's Park 4th.

H&S Plumbers 4th, with Gordon Stobbart in excellent form, move into second place after their convincing 7-3 home victory against a rather nervous NASH.

In a mid-table clash, cool Joe Constable saved the day for Northern by putting on a stunning, unbeaten performance against Fire Brigade B to conclude a 5-5 draw after a tremendous battle.

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