THE new Mid-Cheshire Table Tennis League season is up and running.

George Abbott’s Butchers proved that they will be real contenders in Division One with an 8-2 victory at home to Wreckers.

The Butchers’ Wayne Percival and George Abbott were in top form, with both winning all three and beating League Champion, Terry Turner. The Wreckers' only points came in Turner’s win over Alec Johns and a five-set doubles success.

Champions Lostock Tigers kicked off with a comfortable 8-2 win over Manweb, with Gwilym Morgan stepping up from Division Two to record his first win in the top flight over Shaun Devaney.

Raptors battled to a 5-5 draw with Sparks, with Simon Lafferty and Chris Snape both beating Ray Worthington (3-2) and substitute Dave Nelson, while Dave Southall starred with a maximum for the Sparks.

Victoria romped to a 10-0 win over Lemmings, while Winsford secured an 8-2 triumph at Hawks, with a maximum for Andy Beswick.

Closest match in Division Two took place at Holmes Chapel, with honours ending even between Victoria Club 2 and Romans.

Alan Lenton, from the Vic Club, helped himself to three wins and a doubles victory with Keith O’Brien.

Daresbury’s Lab Rats started with a 10-0 rout of Wolves, while Kinetics achieved the same score line over Lostock Smashers and Vikings started with a 9-1 win at Rangers, whose only point came courtesy of Ross Bettison’s straight sets win over Andrew Ingleby.