THE Bradford Table Tennis League season got underway last week with 33 teams in four divisions.

In the top section, Embassy Police A are going for a fifth consecutive championship.

They haven't lost a league match since the 2013-14 season, so obviously start as strong favourites.

Their main challenge will once again come from Dewsbury Tog A and Highdale A, but can they break the Police stranglehold on the league and cup trophies?

In Division Two, Unity A have persuaded Mike Stead to return to Bradford League action.

Stead has not played for over ten years but was one of the best players in the league, guiding Tog 24 to the title.

He made a fine start on his return for Unity, with three singles in straight games against Hermits B.

Geoff Dunne added a single but Hermits led 5-4, with Shamir Bose and Andrew Braithwaite winning two each and Martin Connolly adding one, but honours finished even as Stead and Steve Whitaker took the doubles in straight games.

In Division Four, the Hermits H trio of Stewart Varley, Mick and George Raine were quick to wrap up victory at Baildon D.

They won two each to storm into a match-winning 6-0 lead but the Baildon trio of David Rudley, Howden Jewson and Allen Pollard put a more respectable look on the outcome by taking the last three singles for a 7-3 victory for Hermits.

Results – Division Two: Unity A 5 Hermits B 5. Division Three: Unity B 4 Baildon B 6.

Division Four: Baildon D 3 Hermits H 7.