THE 2019/20 North Cornwall Table Tennis League gets underway next week with Torridge looking to retain their Division One crown.

Once again there will be three divisions, with Division One having nine teams, the second-tier eight and Division Three, six.

Torridge cruised to their first ever Division One title last year and will be confident of doing so again as they name an unchanged squad, including David Streak who is still undefeated in North Cornwall since moving to the area.

Their nearest challengers are likely to be Budehaven A or last year’s runners-up North Hill A. Budehaven will be bolstered by the regular inclusion of Mark Beaumont to join Dave and Owen Salisbury while North Hill boast an equally adept trio in Martin Hynes, Shirley Luckhurst and Iain Oxenham. However the departure of Bob Thompson will be keenly felt.

Current Division Two champions Budehaven D are joined in coming up by Budehaven C with last year’s bottom club Crackington B dropping down.

However Crackington’s best player, Ross Paynter, is staying in Division One with the A team, switching with Judith Cook, who’ll play in the second-tier.

With Brandon Forsyth having moved away, David Ewen joins Ashley Taylor and David Sillifant at Budehaven B, who will be aiming for a top-five finish.

Torridge start at home to Budehaven C on Wednesday evening before three further matches take place on Thursday as Whitstone Wanderers host North Hill A, Budehaven A welcome Crackington A and Helland make the long trip up the A39 to Budehaven B.

The second round of fixtures see last year’s top four square off.

Torridge have a home game with Budehaven A on Wednesday, October 16, before going to North Hill A 24 hours later.

After heading over to North Tamerton, Bude head to Bodmin Moor to Helland.

With nine teams in Division One, Budehaven D have to wait a week for their first involvement, a home clash with their B team.

Division Two is once again made up of eight teams with two alterations from last year. Crackington B and Division Three champions North Hill C are the new faces with Budehaven C and D moving up.

The opening round of fixtures see Launceston host Crackington C, a derby between Altarnun A and North Hill C, Crackington B head up to Budehaven E and North Hill B go to Bridgerule A on the Friday night.

The third-tier starts a week later (October 17) with Budehaven F and G at home to Bridgerule C and B respectively, while Budehaven H head to Altarnun B.

For all the latest news, results, fixtures and more, visit www.tabletennis365.com/NorthCornwall