The 2015-16 season of the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League starts next week with the prospect of another close fought contest at the top of the First Division.
Division One - 2014-15 champions Torbay Academy 1 have mixed their team with the Academy 2 side to enable both sides to challenge at the top of the table. Last year’s runners-up, Brixham Sharks, have lost Stam Kioufis, who has moved away from the area, but have been joined by Gordon Holmes & Josh Millman, so you can expect a strong challenge from them again. Giles Tushingham has pulled together a number of top Exeter League players to form Denbury Imports who look very strong and NA Batmen have been joined by Shaun Gibbs & Kevin Nicholls so expect a serious challenge from the Newton Abbot side. Newly promoted Battlers will be trying to make an impact, while Halwell will be looking for a better season following their dice with relegation last time out. Brixham Gulls will want to continue their fine form from last season when they finished in a creditable 4th place.
Torbay Academy 1 - Champions Div 1 2014-15, Patrik Cincala, Grzeg Wojtowicz, Kris Piwowar, Dan Barnett
Division Two – Should again be a very close contest. The relegated Brixham Trawlers side have joined forces with the Imports and look very strong, as do the emerging Brixham Pirates. Taverners should again be challenging at the top as should the two Newton Abbot sides, Buzzards & Eagles. Expect a better season from Marldon who have signed on Nigel Goodman. Dawlish, without a Division One side this year, will be hoping the Aces will be challenging towards the top. Runaway winners of the 3rd Division, Denbury Tykes, will be trying to establish themselves as a 2nd Division side. Torbay Academy 3 have lost Dave Wills to their 2nd team but will still be hoping to maintain their fine form from last season.
Division Three – Relegated Marldon Tykes look as strong as anyone in the 3rd Division but they can expect a challenge from Brixham Diamonds if they fully commit to the cause. NA Hawks' new personnel, with Mike Coxhead at the helm, will be looking to challenge towards the top. Division 4 champions last time out, NA Falcons will be aiming to establish themselves, as will Brixham Dolphins and Torbay Academy 4 who were both competing at the top of the 4th Division last season and have taken the step up to Division 3. Hasbeens, who struggled with health issues last season, will want to come back strong and put in an improved campaign. The Dawlish challenge comes from last year’s runners-up, Dawlish Diamonds, but they have lost players to the Aces, and Dawlish Drifters. Torre’s top side, Torre Bats, with a mixture of experience and new players to the league complete the teams for the 3rd Division.
Denbury Tykes, Champions Div 3 2014-15 Steve Metcalfe, Huw Darch, Martin Dilkes, Pat Darch
Division Four – With another large influx of new players it is difficult to predict the favourites for the title. The Division is made up from just 4 Clubs. Newton Abbot have 3 teams, Kestrels, Kites & Owls, while there are 2 teams each from Brixham, Torre and Torbay Academy. The Brixham sides, Panthers & Swifts, both coming down from the 3rd Division look strong & Torbay Academy’s two sides may well challenge at the top. The Academy 6 side is a team entirely of juniors, several U11. Torre Tigers are an experienced team while Pure Torre are youngsters looking to establish themselves as league players. Newton Abbot, who threw several youngsters into the fray last season, are hoping the experience will help them win more games this time out.
There are several Clubs in the area that would welcome anyone interested in playing Table Tennis. For more details look on the League website www.tabletennis365.com/southdevonandtorbay
