THE Reading & District League season gets underway next week with 48 teams spread across four divisions, giving a full quota of 12 teams per division, writes Nigel Maltby.

For this season points will be scored for each set won rather than two points for a win and one for a draw. This is a fairly controversial change, but one the RDTTA committee felt was right to try following significant support for it at the association’s AGM.

Meanwhile more teams and players will be taking part in the popular Youth League at Bluecoat School, Sonning.

In Division One, Kingfisher A and Kingfisher B look like the two clear favourites for the title.

Kingfisher A have Hari Gehlot, Dmitry Khakhamov, Krasimir Ivanov and Sagar Sawant in their squad, while the B team may just have the edge on their rivals with Mark Banks and Martin Adams in their quintet alongside Richard Rosinski and new recruits Artur Morar and Lyazid Wirkhani.

Sonning Common & Peppard A could feature highly after finishing fourth last year with Gary Morgan, Neil Hurford and Joe Barraclough in their side alongside Jason Roberts and Malcolm Gregory, as may Tidmarsh A with Steve Murgatroyd added to their squad.

Sonning Common & Peppard B have added Andy Wang to their Division Two promotion-winning team, while Curzon Club A can also expect to be vying for a top-half finish with regular trio John Willcocks, Jon Willis and Pete Bradley likely to be better than most.

Tidmarsh B also look good enough to avoid the drop, as do new team Kennet Valley Free Church A, led by Julian Telford (84 per cent win-rate in Division Two last year), and Kingfisher C.

With so many teams moved up to the top flight it could be a real battle at the bottom, with last season’s Division Three champions Milestone A, Sonning Common & Peppard C and Kingfisher D likely to have most to do in what promises to be an intriguing season’s table tennis.

In Division Two, most teams featured in last season’s Division Three, so perhaps promoted Springfield A may start as favourites with Phil Burke recording an 88 per cent record in Division Three last season.

Other challengers may include Sonning Sports A and Sonning Common & Peppard D, fourth and fifth in Division Three last time around.

Curzon Club B should do well with Charlotte Binley and Carine Bey in their side, as could Pangbourne WMC.

Milestone B are a merger of last season’s side and Saiyan Brothers, while Kingfisher sides E and F are also in the division.

Tilehurst Methodists A and three Our Lady of Peace teams complete the division and any of them could challenge.

Chris West and Clive Perry will spearhead OLOP A’s challenge while Johnson Xu could do well for the B team after stepping up from Division Four last season where he got an impressive 94 per cent.

Tilehurst and Our Lady of Peace C may have most to do to avoid the drop.

In Division Three promoted Sonning Sports B will want to do well, although a second promotion would perhaps be a step too far.

Reading FC A have always featured near the top at this level and a serious promotion challenge may ensue this time around.

Kingfisher G and Kingfisher H may do well, particularly the G team with Nils Wedi, Joaquin Sabater and Gwynne Penny in their side, as should Springfield B.

Tidmarsh D and Tidmarsh E will at least be mid-table, along with Tilehurst Methodists B.

Of the rest, Springfield C, Our Lady of Peace D, Curzon Club C and Sonning Common & Peppard E will do well to avoid trouble at the bottom.

Favourites for promotion in Division Four appear to be Sonning Common & Peppard F and Sonning Common & Peppard G with Our Lady of Peace E also likely to feature.

Mike Casserley, Gerry Bacon and Julian James are a formidable trio at this level for the F team, while Anthony Reeve and Marko Madzar should see the G side in contention.

Reading FC B may be good enough to challenge this season, while new team Kennet Valley Free Church B may surprise a few.

Springfield D and Springfield E are likely to end up mid-table as should Sonning Sports C and Tidmarsh E.

Kingfisher I, Milestone C and Tilehurst Methodists C complete the division and all will be keen to steer clear of the bottom.