The first result to come through to be recorded in the new Leicester and District League season was in Division One when Steve Silk notched an excellent maximum for Arnesby in a 5-5 draw with Desford Village.
Good support came from Ian Brown who won two, while Tony Smith scored two for Desford. Sohail Caratella and Arun Jogi each won one for Desford before Smith and Jogi took the doubles for a share.
Electricity II were promoted for this season and played the team who were promoted the year before, Ajax Wolvey, who made a big mark in the top sphere when finishing a very creditable third.
Ajax had all three players in tip top form with Mick Allsopp, John Williams and Aiden Walsh all emerging undefeated before the Sparks were able to prevent a full house when Sam Radenhurst and Russell Pettitt won the doubles in four games for a 9-1 result.
Maurice Newman won a customary three for Thringstone in their 6-4 victory over Desford Village II but Richard Hayes almost made a dent by taking Newman to five, albeit running out of steam at 11-1 in the fifth. Support this season for Newman will come from Trevor Kerry, who has moved over from Unicorn, and an excellent maximum underlined this. Hayes, Alastair Hawthorn and Kevin Parker all won one for Desford.
A heartening feature of the first week of fixtures came in the lower sections when both Divisions Four and Five had every match recorded, albeit one a default in Five.
In Division Four, Blaby and Whetstone II, down from Three, faced a team promoted from Five in Knighton Park VIII, the improving juniors. Blaby’s experience told, especially Paul Hinson who notched a very good maximum with support from Phill Hinson (2) and one from Tom Phipps. Dan Pearson won two for KP.
Abbots Road III look strong in depth and had Raju Rahul in good form as he racked up three against Regent Sports III. Dave Rana and Shabnam Ahmed both backed well with two apiece in an 8-2 success.
Ian Lockington and Mark Williams both emerged undefeated in Wigston Conservative’s 8-2 win over Knighton Park IX, while Dan Woolman and Dave Greasley did the same for Electricity V against Nomads IV in a 7-3 win. Woolman beat Dave Weston 21-19 in the fifth. Meanwhile Steve Lomas was up to his winning ways for Desford Village III against Nomads III in a 6-4 win.
Knighton Park XII are shocked to find themselves at the top of Division Five thanks to Electricity VI having a mix-up, resulting in a default for the very young KP side entered for the experience.
Goons II look very strong with Jim Mee and Steve Harrison unbeaten in a 9-1 victory over Abbots Road V, with Steve Webb throwing two into the hat, beaten by Pat Evans who prevented the full house.
Knighton Park XI won 9-1 against Winstanley Wizards II with Phil Wood and Simon Taylor taking maximums and John Murray two, while another 9-1 result saw Regent Sports IV beat the other Electricity team when Keith Bramhall and Mick Smith both won three, James Smith two.
Scott Morris made a strong impression in his first match for Syston Casuals IV when winning all three in a 7-3 defeat. This included a five-game success over Mike Eastell who won the individual title in this division last term.