Week 17 Report
The plot thickens shall we say as we enter the final scheduled week of fixtures in the North Devon table tennis league. What looked like a title winning campaign for Misfits in Division One is no longer a forgone conclusion after Smugglers produced a fine 10-0 win against Chumleigh A. The trio of Matthew Thomas, Martin Babulik and Peter Hedge masterminded a faultless performance, comfortably dispatching of a side sitting third from bottom and struggling for consistency.
As suggested, Chumleigh did top of the table Misfits very little favours with that result after their trip to Instow saw them lose 6-4 to Nets and Edges. In a tough night for all involved, David Streak again came out as the star man winning all three for the home side but didn’t have it all his own way, with many of his games posting some high scores. Streak was admirably backed up by Martin Eyles who secured a double, being beaten only by Misfits top player Martyn Beer, who also tallied two wins on the night. A good win in the doubles then meant Nets and Edges took the 6-4 win, reducing the gap at the top to only four points, as Smugglers continue to hunt them down.
In what is an uncertain situation for first and second, the third place looks to have been won by Spin Doctors whose 10-0 hammering of second from bottom Chumleigh B leaves them 12 points clear of Nets and Edges in fourth. Michael Sussex added another three to his impressive tally this year, as the Doctors notched up a perfect scorecard.
Herons are unfortunately staring a last place finish in the face after going down to a heavy 8-2 defeat this time at the hands of Balls of Fury. Wim Faassen landed a treble as his impressive season continues, whilst Lee Farrant also followed suit, but only after two gruelling five-set wins over both Rob Gale and Robert Herman. Both Rob’s were only ones to pick up points for Herons, both landing convincing wins over Tim Strand. That result means Herons did, however gain points on Chumleigh B above them, cutting the gap to just two with a game in hand. Who will finish bottom only time will tell.
The match between Holsworthy A and McDonalds & Co is yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.
In Division 2, Holsworthy D have already run away with the title but continue to prove their credentials as the best with an 8-2 win over their closest rivals Littleham. Nathan Jukes and Dave Sillifant both landed brilliant trebles, whilst Ashley Taylor secured a brace in a convincing win. Littleham’s leading man David Stone was the only man to pick up a victory in the singles, whilst they also valiantly battled to win the doubles.
First and second played one another, whilst third and fourth were also scheduled to play but the score is yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.
Below them Top Spin Tail Spinners did all they could to hold onto fifth position after they achieved an 8-2 win over Despicables. Jai Moore and Alan Briggs secured trebles, whilst it was a nice return to the action for Robert Baker, following a season or so out as he also picked up a point. Malc Overson and Richard Nicholls tried to supply some resistance for Despicables as they won one game each, but unfortunately the result was always going one way.
Holsworthy C are the team hot on the tail of the Spinners and they did all they could to catch them, also winning 8-2 against Dolphins. Samuel Jennings landed the only treble of the night being backed up well by both Timothy Orchard and Robert Montague. For the opposition Sam Coutu-Oughton won a nice double to ensure the Dolphins did not suffer an infamous whitewash, as the gap between Holsworthy C and Top Spin Tail Spinners remains at six points heading into the final week.
In the only other game in the division, Chumleigh Chiefs avoided any upset against The Vice, winning 7-3. The king chief Joey Butt continued his rich vein of form winning all three, whilst teammate Andrew Suliauskas also won two of his three matches. Bob Taylor tried to keep a vice like grip on proceedings for his side but his hard fought double counted for very little as they were comfortably beaten in the end. That result means they could still be vulnerable to finishing bottom with Dolphins currently only sitting seven points adrift with an extra game to play.
Compiled by Rob Herman
