MATTHEW Stephens made a sparkling Bradford Table Tennis League debut for Hermits A in their Division One derby at Hermits B.

The B team gave a good account of themselves in a see-saw tussle.

Hermits A led three times as Sam Clayton beat Faz Hussain in the opener and Stephens had wins over Hussain and Richard Aitken, but Paul Mckrieth was in fine form for the B team as he overcame Alex Shaw and Clayton, and Aitken beat Shaw to leave the match nicely poised at 3-3.

The next two sets were crucial, and it was Stephens who remained unbeaten, defeating Mckrieth in three, but then Clayton found Aitken a handful and had to come from 2-1 down before edging the decider 12-10.

Hussain won the last singles for the B team, but in the deciding doubles Clayton and Stephens were too strong, and the A team got home 6-4.

Mark Tattersfield took the honours for Unity B in their Division Three encounter with Hermits F.

Unity were always in the ascendancy as Tattersfield recorded a treble, while Peter Jackson beat Chris Town and Michael Walker overcame Paul Rook.

Although David Campbell had two good wins for Hermits, it was Unity who clinched the points as Walker and Jackson took the doubles.

Hermits K came from behind to rescue a draw at home to Baildon C in Division Four.

The visitors led 4-2 and 5-3 as Jerry Harkawy and Shirley Toulmin won two each, with John Jennison tagging on a single.

Joe Healey and Michael Butler kept Hermits in contention with two wins each and, although Sid Ulph drew a blank in the singles for Hermits, he teamed up with Butler to pip Toulmin and Harkawy 11-6 in the fifth game as honours ended even.

Results – Division One: Yeadon A 4 Dewsbury Tog 6, Hermits B 4 Hermits A 6, Highdale A 7 Embassy Police B 3. Division Two: Pudsey A 10 Yeadon B 0, Highdale B 7 Fastbats B 3. Division Three: Unity B 6 Hermits F 4, Rastrick 4 Hermits G 6. Division Four: Hermits K 5 Baildon C 5, Baildon B 10 Baildon D 0, Hermits M 2 Hermits J 8.