BRADFORD Veterans' first team began their Yorkshire League campaign with three fixtures at Hull Table Tennis Centre – and made a fine start.

Skipper Graham Manicom needed two appearances to join the '100 club' but a recent knee operation restricted him to playing just once.

Manicom won two singles in the opener against York 1 and, with Phil Cawser and Deo Jones unbeaten, Bradford triumphed 9-1.

Kevin Pickles came into the team for match two against Doncaster and, alongside Cawser and Jones, they swept their opponents away 10-0.

The final fixture was a much harder test against Dewsbury, who included Richard Lightowler and Mark Land. This proved to be a tough nut to crack as just one win each from Cawser and Jones condemned Bradford to an 8-2 reverse. However, two wins from three is a satisfactory start.

In the Bradford League, Division Four leaders Hermits J maintained their 100 per cent record at Baildon C but needed an unbeaten performance from Brian Cooper to see off the home challenge 6-4.

Cooper's treble, along with one win each from John Margerison and Stuart Stead, put Hermits in control at 5-2.

But in a frantic finish, Jerry Harkawy and John Jennison took the last two singles in five games to leave Hermits needing the doubles to maintain their perfect start. Margerison and Stead came out on top 3-2 to keep Hermits in top spot.

RESULTS – Division One: Embassy Police B 2 Hermits A 8. Division Two: Hermits E 1 Pudsey A 9, Hermits C 9 Yeadon B 1. Division Three: Hermits F 2 Hermits G 8, Baildon A 9 Hermits I 1. Division Four: Hermits L 3 Thornbury 7, Baildon C 4 Hermits J 6.

Burton Cup second-round draw: Rastrick v Dewsbury Tog A, Yeadon A v Embassy Police B, Embassy Police A v Fastbats A, Hermits A v Highdale A.

Tony Theobould Trophy second-round draw: Baildon A v Hermits J, Pudsey B v Rastrick, Hermits K v Baildon D, Pudsey A v Thornbury, Hermits M v Hermits I, Unity B v Hermits H, Baildon B v Unity A, Baildon C v Hermits L.