THE Watford Observer Watford and District Table Tennis League kicked off this week with a major rule change having been introduced to the sport.

For 100 years, the format of matches has been the best of three legs, first player to 21 points in each leg.

However, matches will now be contested over the best of five legs, first player to 11 points in each leg.

But the new format seemed to have no effect on the players who produced some exciting matches in the first week.

In the Premier Division, the top two teams from last season, Fullerians and Aardvarks, both enjoyed convincing wins.

Last season's third-placed team, Abbots Langley, were surprisingly defeated comfortably by Audit A 9-1.

Match of the week was contested between OCA and Post Office A in Division One, which finished as a draw. The highlight in particular was the tie between F Jaffa and David Edwards, who came from two legs down and saved 15 match points on the way to a 3-2 victory.

Congratulations are also in order to Watford's leading lady veteran player, Sally Bax, for winning a silver medal in this summer's European veteran Championships in Aarhus, Denmark.

Bax teamed up with Yorkshire's Carol Judson to finish runners-up in the doubles, and she also made it to the quarter finals of the singles competition.

Premier Division: Aardvarks 10 Cougars 0; Dolphins 2 Fullerians 8; Abbots Langley 1 Audit A 9.

Division One: Three Valleys 7 Audit B 3; Eagles 7 Falcons 3; Post Office A 5 OCA 5.

Division Two: Audit C 8 Oxhey Hall 2; Gophers 6 Post Office B 4; Audit D 4 Hounds 6.