BRADFORD'S Winter Table Tennis League began last week with a new format.

The previous system of smaller divisions, which had been in operation for several years, has been replaced by a three-division structure, with 14 teams in each division.

Teams will play each other once in the first half of the season, and then each division will be split into two for the second half of the campaign, with the top seven teams playing each other twice, as will the bottom seven.

The thinking is to guarantee more matches for every team, but the system will be reviewed at the end of the season.

There were two excellent contests in Division One, with defending champions Embassy-Police A given a tough test against Yeadon Flyers A.

Unbeaten Tim Dyson shone for the champions, with Shahriar Masoudi and Shayer Sirij adding one each.

Sam Clayton and Liang Wong won two each for Yeadon but Embassy-Police sealed victory with Masoudi and Sirij taking the doubles.

Fastbats A produced a fine comeback to snatch victory at Hermits B.

The hosts were 4-1 up, with Ian Warner winning two and Andy Braithwaite and Shamir Bose one each, but the match turned in set six when Greg Hill came from 2-0 down to beat Braithwaite.

Tony McGowan and Craig Knowles won the next two sets to level the match, and then Hill overcame Warner in the last singles, leaving McGowan and Knowles to complete the comeback in the doubles.

Results – Division One: Unity A 6, Fastbats B 4; Highdale A 9, Unity B 1; Embassy-Police A 6, Yeadon Flyers A 4; Hermits A 0, Dewsbury Sedbergh 10; Hermits B 4, Fastbats A 6. Division Two: Baildon A 4, Laisterdyke B 6; Fastbats C 2, Hermits C 8; Hermits F 5, Rastrick 5; Unity C 10, Hermits E 0; Yeadon B 6, Laisterdyke A 4. Division Three: Baildon D 8, Bradford College 2; Fastbats E 8, Hermits J 2; Hermits H 7, Baildon B 3; Hermits I 1, Pudsey B 9; Hermits K 2, Baildon C 8; Hermits L 2, Fastbats D 8.