PLYMOUTH table tennis star Liz May has targeted at least second place in the country's top league for her team.

City outfit Thornton are third in the Premier Division of the women's British Table Tennis League, but May reckons they can do better.

"It's really tight in the top division and you can't really tell how things are going to turn out," she said.

"But we have reached the half-way point of the season and to be in third place at this stage isn't bad at all.

"We're going to try to move up to second and see what happens after that."

Thornton drew three, won one and lost one in their latest British League match held at Bristol.

They are five points adrift of the division leaders, but only two off second place, occupied at the moment by Yorkshire side Ormesby.

It is a far cry from last season when the Plymouth team, who have won the Premier division, had a low-key start to the season, raising concerns they might be relegated.

Thornton travel to Doncaster next February to complete their fixtures.

They have been boosted by the return of city-based Lisa Radford, who was abroad last season.

May said she was pleased other Plymouth area teams were also showing up well in the women's league.

The city player has been behind the launch of a cancer charity, dubbed Pink Pong.

The charity, which raises funds via table tennis events, has put its own team in the British League.

May, who helps train the team, saw them soar to the top of Division Five after winning all five of their games at Bristol.

She said: "I'm really pleased with how they did – they have come in at the bottom, but they've got to start somewhere."

Woolwell carried on a weekend of success for Plymouth, also winning all five of their games.

That leaves the city team top of Division Two and in with a chance of promotion next season.