The new handicap adjustment system appeared to be working so well that most matches ran longer than the 40-minute time allocation.

In Division One, Colin Alexander faced match ball down at 14-all in the fourth game against Chris Ward but scrambled to draw even at two each. And in a seesaw fifth, Alexander was leading 14-13 when Ward broke a racquet string.

But with a replacement racquet he levelled at 14-all and after a long gruelling rally, Alexander finally hit a deep crosscourt into the backhand corner which Ward was unable to retrieve. The final score was 9-15, 10-15, 15-9, 15-14, 15-14.

In Division Two, Noel Fardy snatched a close victory over Reg Rawlins 15-11, 15-3, 11-15, 11-15, 15-14 and in Division Four, Tara Walsh overcame her debut tournament nerves but narrowly lost out to Kath Barker in a marathon which ended with a 15-6, 6-15, 15-13, 13-15, 15-14 scoreline.

GOLF GLF Fourteen-year-old Aaron James continued his excellent form in the Bermuda Golf Association Medal tournament at Castle Harbour on the weekend, shooting an impressive even par 71 on Saturday and following up with a 73 a day later.

Dave Purcell was James' nearest challenger, also carding a 71 on Saturday but following with a 76 the next day.

Those players who carded 75 or better qualified to play the second 18 holes on Sunday when they were eligible for further Order of Merit points.

David James and Jerome Bradshaw, who carded 75 on Saturday, were the only other qualifiers, following up with 80 and 86 respectively.

Aaron James now leads the Order of Merit table with 471 points, 25 ahead of Purcell.