The Second Division was done away with a few years ago because the number of teams had dwindled. However, a re-emergence in the interest, with at least three teams expected to expand to league to 16, has brought about a re-think, said Bermuda Table Tennis Association president Mansfield Smith yesterday.

So, for the first half of the new season, all the teams will compete in one league and after December the top eight will go into the First Division and the bottom eight into the Second Division for the remainder of the season. It will stay that way for the next season, with promotion and relegation.

It promises to be a busy season of table tennis, starting on October 2 with the annual round robin tournament at noon at Elliott Primary School gym for the top 10 players from last season. The first round of league matches is scheduled for October 5 with the new format.

The National Championships are scheduled for January 29, the Masters Championship for February 26 and the Bermuda Open for April 2.

The association will also send a team to Detroit for the US Championships from November 24-29 and will send a representative Masters team to Melbourne, Australia, in April next year.

According to Smith, the association will bring in two coaches from the Atlanta Table Tennis Association, father and son George and Anthony Cooper, from November 8 until the team departs for Detroit. They will travel with the team as coaches and not players.

The deadline for the registration of teams for the upcoming season is September 24 and Smith (297-0518 after 6 p.m.) or Rawle Frederick (292-3999) should be contacted.

Smith was returned as president of the league at the AGM on Tuesday night at The Centre. Also returning to their executive posts were Frederick as secretary and Aaron Spencer at treasurer. Dennis Pearman replaced Mike Lindo as vice-president, Lindo being absent from the meeting.

The club representatives are Calvin Butterfield, Phillip (Marlo) DeShields, Terry Smith and Lee Todd while the public relations officer is Derrick Burrows.

POOL POO Gary Bascome won this year's Bermuda Open eight-ball competition on Sunday at Swinging Doors, when he outlasted Dennis Eve in the final following wins over Sandy Sandhu, Paul Doidge, George Gomez, Paul Mathias and Tony Reveredo.

Al Alves was a double winner, taking both the men's nine-ball and the doubles.

Alves beat Greg Falzone in the nine-ball final and in the doubles he and partner Paul Doidge were victorious over Gaspar Oliveira and Mike Zimmerman.

Freya Robinson gained a measure of revenge as she defeated Paula Madeiros to win the women's championship. Madeiros had defeated Robinson in the final last year.

CRICKET CRI The following are the weekend's umpires: Saturday BCBC KO Cup semifinals St. George's v Southampton (D.Raynor, A.Virgil); St. David's v Devonshire Rec.

(R.Butler, G.Francis) Colt Cup Match Somerset v St. George's (L.Harnett, M.Shabazz) Sunday Premier Division: Hamilton Parish v PHC (L. Harnett, W.Dill); St. David's v Cleveland County (R.O'Hara, E.Marsh); Willow Cuts v Somerset Bridge (R.Butler, L.Tyrell); St. George's v Police (J.Pitcher, M.Shabazz); Bailey's Bay v Somerset (M.Swan, M.Smith); Flatts v Warwick (V.Simons, B.Minors); Western Stars v Social Club (G.Francis, W.Manders); Southampton v Devonshire Rec.

(O.Bain, D.Raynor) SOCCER SOC There will be a meeting for all North Village Rams players today at North Village club at 6 p.m.