THE first round of the Clements Bros Cup saw some exciting matches from teams in the Bromsgrove and Redditch League this week.

This year the English Table Tennis Association agreed to adopt the World Table Tennis Association's recommendation that all games should be played of five games of 11-up, instead of the traditional three games of 21-up.

Most countries adopted the new system, but the Bromsgrove and Redditch League adopted it for cup games only.

Two teams could only get two players this week but they both won 5-4. West Midland Phones beat Studley Road Terriers.

Captain Ian Cooper won his three games for the phone lads, and J Cook won the other two.Terriers only win came when Peter Hartles beat J Cook 9-11, 11-9,11-7, 10-12, 11-6.

In the other game Newton Works B won away to Studley Road Terriers. Alan Hall won his three games for Newton with Gary Jackson getting the other two. Nomads only win came when Jeff Lines beat Gary 4-11, 6-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-7.

In the third 5-4 game, Droitwich lost at home to Hillcrest. Chris Harris and Simon Tibke both won two for Droitwich, but three wins for Graeme Farrall and one each from Margaret Buxton and Terry Pountney saw Hillcrest home.

The score was 4-4 when Terry came up against Droitwich's Dave Watson in the final game, with Terry just getting home 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 13-11, 11-9.

In the three remaining games, second division teams all went down 9-0 to sides from division one.

Astwood Bank beat New Works C, Lickey Monarchs beat Barnt Green Sports B and Newton Works A beat Barnt Green Hornets.