Robert Excell Photography-Sponsored South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League

With the top two sides having a week off, NA Batmen had the chance to get back in the running at the top of the First Division going into the Christmas break, however, they stuttered to a narrow 6-4 victory against old adversaries Halwell, the pick of the sets being Rod Sugden’s impressive win over Dennis Gibbs. Gibbs, saving several match points in the 4^th game, looked odds-on to take the 5^th as Sugden went over on his ankle, however Sugden raced to a 5-0 lead which Gibbs wasn’t able to recover from, eventually going down 11-8. Yannick Tushingham helped his Dawlish Aces side to a 6-4 win over Brixham Trawlers, but was missing from the team as the Aces went down by the same score to NA Buzzards, Kelvin Cheung gaining another maximum for the Buzzards.

All change at the top of the Second Division following top side Taverners losing to the Pirates at Brixham. Youngsters Ben Deakin and Holly Johns proved to be unbeatable for the Pirates. Battlers took full advantage to go top with good wins against Brixham Swallows, 9-1 and Marldon 7-3.  NA Eagles were thankful for yet another draw after being behind all night against Torbay Academy III. Doug Morgan’s win against newcomer David Wills was the turning point. A fine doubles victory by Dennis Long & Jim McIvor 11-6 in the 5^th game against Wills and Paul Hine, who was unbeaten in his singles sets, secured the draw for the Eagles.  Aaron Millman found some form to help the Swallows defeat the Imports 7-3 in an all-Brixham encounter.

Denbury Tykes extended their lead at the top of the 3^rd Division with a whitewash over Brixham Diamonds.  At the other end of the table Brixham Swifts are 14 points adrift following another heavy defeat by fellow Brixham team Rebels 9-1.  Torre Warriors won an impressive 9-1 victory over Dawlish Drifters.

NA Falcons closed the gap at the top of the Fourth Division behind leaders Torbay Academy IV by beating the Academy V team 8-2. Brixham Dolphins are just behind in 3^rd  place following their narrow 6-4 victory over 4^th placed Torre Nadoes.

Rod Sugden - Defeated Dennis Gibbs

Ben Deakin - Maximum for Brixham Pirates

Holly Johns - Maximum for Brixham Pirates

Doug Morgan - Turning point

Aaron Millman - Back in form

Division 1

Dawlish Aces 4 (Short 2, Crawford 1, Pustowka 1) N A Buzzards 6 (Cheung 3, Adams 2, Tyrrell 0, Dbls)

Halwell 4 (Sugden 2, Wadling 2, Atkinson 0)  N A Batmen 6 (D Gibbs 2, N Halse 2, Dunn 1, Dbls)

Dawlish Aces 6 (Y Tushingham 3, G Tushingham 2, Cooper 0, Dbls)  Brixham Trawlers 4 (Banham 2, Maynard 1, Williamson 1)

Division 2

Battlers 9 (K Hawkins 3, Nicholson 3, Thompson 2, Dbls)  Brixham Swallows 1 (Aaron Millman 1, Meah 0, Holmes 0)

Marldon 3 (Atkin 2, S Hern 1, Holmes 0)   Battlers 7 (Thompson 3, Hawkins 2, Nicholson 1, Dbls)

Brixham Imports 3 (Stead 1, T Haggerty 1, Slocombe 1)  Brixham Swallows 7 (Aaron Millman 3, Andy Millman 2, Holmes 1, Dbls)

Brixham Pirates 6 (Johns 3, Deakin 3, Mercer 0)  Taverners 4 (Harrop 1, Tyrrell 1, Read 1, Dbls)

N A Eagles 5 (Morgan 2, McIvor 1, Long 1, Dbls)  Torbay Academy III 5 (Hine 3, Wills 2, Perry 0)

Division 3

Denbury Tykes 10 (P Darch 3, Metcalfe 3, Dilkes 3, Dbls)  Brixham Diamonds 0 (Williams 0, K Wilson 0, N Wilson 0)

Brixham Swifts 1 (Duckett 1, T Andrews 0, Rodgers 0)   Brixham Rebels 9 (Friend 3, Munns 3, Parton 2, Dbls)

Torre Warriors 9 (Holtham 3, Lush 3, Heathcote 2, Dbls)  Dawlish Drifters 1 (Beesley 1, Copley 0, Beck 0)

Division 4

Brixham Dolphins  6 (Gilpin 2, N Shipley 2, S Shipley 1, Dbls)  Torre Nadoes 4 (Excell 3, B Youd 1, C Youd 0)

N A Falcons 8 (Passmore 3, Stratton 3, Bretagne 2)    Torbay Academy V 2 (Burridge 1, Gupta 0, Brookes 0, Dbls)