AFTER suffering from squad shortages and injury for most of this season, the Waveney Piranhas are finally starting to get their teeth into something in the Lowestoft and District table tennis league - this time at the expense of the Merlins.

AFTER suffering from squad shortages and injury for most of this season, the Waveney Piranhas are finally starting to get their teeth into something in the Lowestoft and District table tennis league - this time at the expense of the Merlins.

Tony Shaw, David Holland and Ernie George each picked apart the Mutford visitors with maximum scores all round. But while the Piranhas maybe now chasing the pack, the Dominators are still intent on leading it with their continued unbeaten run.

Although they needed to draw upon the assistance of their old teammate, Bob Quantrill, and despite Philip Tye's defeat of Stuart Baxter, the Dominators still pulled off a 6-4 victory against Trimwise thanks to another maximum from Martin Peek who remains on 100pc this season.

Another unbeaten player, this time for the Terminators, Paul Wright Jnr, refused to be caught out by the highly successful Thomas Baxter. But two out of three isn't bad as Baxter defeated both Trevor Pull and Charles Goddard to help the Spartans share the points with the Terminators.

The Oddbods meanwhile won each of their individual games against the Conservatives but failed to take the final doubles point when Simon Rouse and Malcolm Vasey managed to prevent a complete landslide victory.

In the second division the Shakers held the Critters to a draw after some tenacious play from Bernard Warnes who only marginally lost to Chris Trindall in the final set before going on to beat Graham Lawson in another three set clincher.

The Beacons were hit for six at Mill Lane when Mick Bayfield won all three of his games to help the Hits win 6-4. And the Kites were denied an Arrows whitewash after a remarkable victory for Kevin Jones against Bob Quantrill.

The annual Lowestoft Championships got off to a splendid start on Sunday with the Men's Singles, Men's Doubles, Youth Singles and Handicap Singles events.

The competition has been progressing all week with the finals being held tomorrow on Saturday, February 27 in the table tennis room of the Water Lane Leisure Centre at 6.45pm.

Presentations will be made by the table tennis veteran and former over 80's European Ladies Champion Mrs Edna Fletcher MBE, and as always spectators are welcome free of charge.

For further information on league table tennis in Lowestoft or coaching sessions please contact Alan Peek on 01502 589895.

LEAGUE RESULTS

Piranhas 10, Merlins 0

Conservatives 1, Oddbods 9

Terminators 5, Spartans 5

Trimwise 4, Dominators 6

Kites 9, Arrows 1

Beacons 4, Hits 6

Critters 5, Shakers 5