The strength of Student sides is the unknown factor at start of new campaign

THE BIGGEST unknown at the beginning of a new Loughborough and District Table Tennis League season is the strength of the Students sides.

An inevitable fast turnover of players makes it impossible to predict whether Students A can successfully defend the Division One title they won last term.

Their first test against a Draycott Donkeys team, who finished third, offered few clues as they found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline.

Most encouraging sign was a double for Luke Greenfield but Malcolm Truman and Erin Green swept up the remaining sets.

Donkeys then maintained their own fine start by winning 5-1 at Students B with Jeremy Henty and Erin Green remaining unbeaten in the singles.

In Division Two, Students C already look a strong side as they picked up four-point victories at the expense of Draycott Diamonds and Charnwood Blockers.

Sean Henderson has led the way so far with three singles wins out of four.

Charnwood Aggressors have also made a good start with a narrow win over Unicorn Curlews and a 3-3 draw at Draycott Diamonds.

Hugglescote Hawks are the early Division Three leaders with Michael Harker and Gary Pitts in good form as they have seen off Goons and Charnwood Choppers both by 5-1 and drawn against Unicorn Dippers.

Last season’s champions Choppers also found themselves on the receiving end of the most notable result so far when they were whitewashed 6-0 by Peter Crown and Berkeley Young of Charnwood Drivers.

Sawley Tempted have made a lightning start in Division Four with three successive victories.

Louise Watson is unbeaten in six singles and Linda Walshe has five wins out of six as Tempted have taken 16 out of the 18 available points so far.

Students G are in second spot, having taken nine points from two successive wins.