THE two teams that contested one of the tightest ever Southend & District Table Tennis League Premier Division title races ever last season both started the new campaign with 9-0 wins.

Rawreth A welcomed their D side into the top flight with a whitewash while champions Thorpe Bay A were equally impressive with a maximum result against Hadleigh Forum A, thanks to hat-tricks from Alex Abbott, John Poysden and new signing Paul Sayer.

Elsewhere there were 5-4 wins for Rayleigh Mill against Warehouse while Castle Point A beat Rawreth B.

Thorpe Bay B kicked off the season with a 6-3 win against Hullbridge B and there was a first day defeat for another Hullbridge team as the C team went down 5-4 to Rawreth C.

Invicta A enjoyed a great debut game in Division One, beating two man Lentern E 8-1 to go joint head of the table. The Lentern B team were also faced with only two players when they played Customs A and ended up with the same result, an 8-1 win, The other debut team, Hockley A, found it tough going against Canvey A who ran out 7-2 winners.

Hadleigh Forum B fared better against the B team of Canvey coming out 8-1 winners as Dave Woolmer and Mick Tappenden both scored maximums.

Hadleigh Forum C showed their class, by also recording a 7-2 win against the youngsters from Hullbridge D Lentern C won 6-3 against Rawreth E with Mike Grout, Les Tayler and Chris Crooks scoring two each but no-one could beat Steve Buer who scored all the points for the losing Rawreth team.

Lentern D won 6-3 against Warehouse B with Peter Pond scoring a maximum.

In Division Two, Mickey Baker was undefeated for Warehouse’s visit to Castle Point B as they won 7-2.

Hockley B recorded the same score at home to two-man Rawreth F with Paul Strutt scoring a maximum for Hockley.

RESSC’s combined experience was too much when they entertained the youngsters from Rawreth G, with Ron Coutts and Frank Hooper both undefeated.

Wakering’s return to the division started with a 5-4 reversal at home to Hullbridge F and, thanks to a maximum from Steve Bottom, Warehouse D had a comfortable 7–2 win against Castle Point C Basildon Hospital gave visitors Hullbridge E a difficult time, winning 8-1.

In Division Three, the youngsters of Hullbridge G and Rawreth I both suffering 8-1 defeats against the more experienced sides of Customs B and Invicta B respectively, but in the other match, Hockley D and E teams went the distance with the D team earning a narrow 5-4 win.

Customs proved far too strong for Hullbridge and the Hockley derby was won by the all round strength of the D team.