THE Worcester Table Tennis League Premier Cup got off to a slow start with only three matches being played.

In all of these, Division One teams came out on top against Division Two opponents.

The closest match saw Evesham Rowing Club, with only two players, win 6-3 at Hartlebury BL. Evesham won all the games available to them, but Doug Payne only just beat both John Phillips and Colin Lane in deciding sets.

Reigning champions Grosvenor Eagles beat Broadheath Bellters 9-0. Brett Brining played extremely well for Broadheath, taking a set off Norman Merchant and losing narrowly 11-8 in the fifth set to Alan Salisbury.

Last year's semi-finalists Cripplegate Roamers ran out 9-0 winners over Cripplegate Ash, only two of the games requiring a fourth set.

Meanwhile, the Worcestershire Junior Closed Championships are at Christopher Whitehead School, Bromwich Road, Worcester on Saturday, November 29, starting at 9.30am.

There will be new winners in the boys' and girls' singles as boys' champion Matthew Hutton from Dudley is too old and girls' title holder Kendall Smith (Kidderminster) no longer plays.

Ben Salisbury from Worcester will defend his Cadet Boys singles title, and Hannah Garbutt (Dudley) hopes to keep her Cadet Girls Singles title.

Entries will be accepted up until Monday, 17 November. Contact Beryl Shammon on 01905-421715.

n The Hereford Children in Need Tournament, an unusual doubles competition (pairs drawn), will be at Whitecross School, Baggallay Street, Hereford, on Friday, November 21 at 7pm. Entry fee is by donation on the night.

Organiser Simon Morgan can be contacted on 01568-610659 or by e-mail at: simon morgan1001@yahoo.co.uk