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

Both the top two teams were made to work for their victories this week: a strong Dawlish side fought all the way to the fifth leg of the final doubles against leaders Torbay Academy I before going down 6-4. The Academy side also saw off Halwell 7-3, Kris Piwowar remaining undefeated in both matches. Second-placed Brixham Sharks were 1-3 down against stablemates Gulls, but came back to win 5 of the next 6 sets to win 6-4, with Stam Kioufis unbeaten for the Sharks. Brixham Trawlers lifted themselves away from the danger area with an impressive 9-1 win over bottom side Torbay Academy II, however the score doesn’t tell the whole story, as the struggling Academy side fought all the way and lost 3 of their sets 11-9 in the 5^th game.

Taverners go back to the top of the Second Division, courtesy of a 7-3 win over Brixham Imports despite a fine maximum from the Imports’ Terry Stead. An excellent 9-1 win for NA Eagles over Brixham Swallows lifts them up to 2^nd place. Two teams to watch out for in the second half of the season are Torbay Academy III, with new signing Dave Wills, and a rapidly improving Brixham Pirates. The Academy III side saw off Marldon 7-3 and the Pirates, with Brian Pengelly at the helm, whitewashed a battling Marldon Tykes, following up their victory over champions and current leaders Taverners just before Xmas.

Runaway leaders of the Third Division, Denbury Tykes came away from Brixham with an 8-2 win against the Rebels,  withMartin Dilkes still unbeaten for the Tykes. Second place Dawlish Diamonds came through a close encounter with Hasbeens 6-4; a fine maximum from Martin Charlesworth led the Diamonds to victory. Dawlish Drifters’ first victory since mid-October was an excellent 10-0 victory over Brixham Swifts, who are still looking for their first win of the season.

NA Falcons take over at the top of the Fourth Division, thanks to a whitewash over luckless NA Owls, who are still looking for their first win.  Brixham Dolphins’ Nick Shipley had a maximum to help his side to a 7-3 win at Torbay Academy V to keep them in the hunt at the top. NA Hawks beat stablemates Kestrels 7-3 with Dan Webster-Hall still unbeaten in the league, well-supported by Joe Strickland for the Hawks.

Division 1

Torbay Academy I  6 (Piwowar 3, Cincala 1, Wojtowicz 1, Dbls)  Dawlish Aces 4 (Harries 2, Y Tushingham 2, G Tushingham 0)

Brixham Sharks 6 (Kioufis 3, Shipway 2, Johns 0, Dbls)  Brixham Gulls 4 (Millman 2, Smith 1, Mercer 1)

Halwell 3 (Sugden 1, Atkinson 1, Wadling 1)  Torbay Academy I 7 (Piwowar 3, Cincala 3, Barnett 0, Dbls)

Brixham Trawlers 9 (Maynard 3, Banham 3, Baron 2, Dbls)  Torbay Academy II 1(Wills 1, Ricketts 0, Perkins 0)

Division 2

Taverners 7 (Harrop 2, Read 2, Morley 2, Dbls)  Brixham Imports 3 (Stead 3, Slocombe 0, T Haggerty 0)

Torbay Academy III 7 (Wills 3, Hine 2, Cincalova 1 Dbls)  Marldon 3 (Holmes 2, Glover 1, Breyley 0)

Marldon Tykes 0 (M Hern 0, Ayling 0, Garner 0)  Brixham Pirates 10 (Pengelly 3, Johns 3, Deakin 3, Dbls)

Brixham Swallows 1 (Andy Millman 1, Meah 0, Holmes 0)  N A Eagles 9 (Long 3, McIvor 3, Morgan 2, Dbls)

Division 3

Dawlish Drifters 10 (McConnell 3, Tudball 3, Beesley 3, Dbls)  Brixham Swifts 0 (Hodierne 0, Rodger 0, Hughes 0)

Hasbeens 4 (Wickens 2, Fitzgerald 1, Alexander 1)  Dawlish Diamonds 6 (Charlesworth 3, Freeman 2, Rabbage 0, Dbls)

Brixham Rebels 2 (Friend 2, Munns 0, Parton 0) Denbury Tykes 8 (Dilkes 3, Metcalfe 2, H Darch 2, Dbls)

Division 4

Torbay Academy V 3 (Hoare 2, Cooper 1, Neafcy 0)  Brixham Dolphins 7 (N Shipley 3, Gilpin 2, S Shipley 1, Dbls)

N A Kestrels 3 (Robins 2, Bastow 1, Short 0)  N A Hawks 7 (Webster-Hall 3, Strickland 2, Graham 1, Dbls)

N A Owls 0 (R Bayliss 0, D Bayliss 0, Embury 0)  N A Falcons 10 (Passmore 3, Stratton 3, Bretagne 3, Dbls)