Aubrey Hughes, president of the Oxford and District Table Tennis Association, has hit back at suggestions that the sport is in decline.

Following comments about the size of the Oxford League, Hughes points to the increase of junior teams as a healthy sign.

"It is true the league is smaller than it was say 20 years ago," said Hughes.

"However, this season sees more teams in operation than at any time since 1996-1997, although the structure is different.

"For example, in 1997-1998, 43 teams of three were operating in the main league and six teams of two in the junior league, a total of 49.

"Now there are 35 teams of three in the main league, eight of two in the development competition and ten teams of two in the junior league.

"In fact, the number of people involved in regular competition - 141 - is exactly the same as in 1997/1998.

"The junior league was started nine years ago to encourage youngsters to take part in competitive play, and this has led to a considerable number moving into the main competition.

"However, it soon became obvious that the gap between the junior league and the main league was too great.

"So, four years ago the development competition was started to encourage not only juniors, but also adults who enjoyed playing without being able to compete at a higher level.

"It is worth pointing out that as the league contracted, many of the people dropping out were those struggling to meet the ever-increasing standard of the bottom division."

The Oxford Association has 38 juniors playing in official competitions registered with the English Table Tennis Association.

Hughes said: "This does not include the number of young people undergoing coaching, and the Forum Club in Kidlington has a waiting list which means it takes about six months to join."

RESULTS

OXFORD & DISTRICT

Division 1: RAL 2, Forum B 8 (F Harris 3, A Flint 3); Morris Motors A 2, Forum A 8 (K Bushell 3); Vikings B 6 (M Newns 3), Haddenham A 4; RAL 4, Vikings A 6 (T Filmer 3).

Division 2: Bicester A 8 (A Yogi 3, S Coratella 3), Begbroke A 2; Begbroke A 1, Morris Motors B 9 (C Lansley 3, P Humphrey 3); Holton A 6 (S Mangels 3), Morris Motors B 4; Forum C 4, Bicester A 6.

Division 3: Forum D 7 (A Macpherson 3), Vikings C 3; Vikings D 4, Bicester B 6 (J Chalcraft 3); Begbroke B 5 (J Hopkins 3), Vikings D 5.

Division 4: Forum F 9 (P Norton 3, T Tia 3, A Hughes 3), Vikings E 1.

Division 5: Forum H 5, St James C 5 (R Ford 3); Holton C 4, Forum G 6 ( P Whitford 3); Morris Motors D 5 (J Joyce 3), Morris Motors E 5; St James C 3, Morris Motors E 7 (D Kay 3); Morris Motors D 5, Holton C 5 (S Littlewood 3); Morris Motors E 3, Forum H 7 (B Sandison 3, L Christer 3).

OXFORD JUNIOR LEAGUE

Gruesome Twosome (L&M Sheppard 2) 5, Kidlington 0; Begbroke Boys 2, Great Two (J Lee 2) 3; Super M's 1, Kylemat (M Simmonds 2, K Harris 2) 4; Snooker Balls 1, Bicester (M Burns) 4; Cherwell (G Evans 2) 3, The Batters 2.

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

St James E 5 ( T Borrowdale 2, P Oakley 2), Forum J 0; Forum M 1, Forum I 4 (P Norton 2); Forum M 3, St James E 2 (T Borrowdale 2); Forum I 3, St James D 2 (P Guest 2); Bicester E 5 (R Moore 2, S Hook 2), Forum K 0; St James E 3 (T Borrowdale 2), Bicester E 2.