Albany Florists–sponsored South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League
2016-17 Season Preview
Another fine season is in prospect for the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League which ‘kicks off’ next week.
Division One 2014-15 champions Torbay Academy 1 have got the winning side back together again and must be favourites for the First Division title. Kris Piwowar, unbeaten in the league over the last two seasons, is joined by Patrik Cincala, Grzeg Wojtowicz & Daniel Barnett. Last season’s runners-up, NA Batmen, will be looking to challenge, helped by better availability from Stover youngster, Kelvin Cheung, who joins father & son Dennis & Shaun Gibbs together with Nick Halse. Brixham Sharks, always there or thereabouts, have strengthened their team by bringing in Clive Banham to join Adam Shipway, Gordon Holmes and Josh Millman, so they will expect to mount a strong challenge this season. Giles Tushingham has rejoined Dawlish Aces together with Gergely Kiss and Naomi Jackson, all from last season’s champions, who join up with David Davies and Chris Short. Back in the top Division with a new look side, are NA Buzzards, led by League sponsor, Sonja Ryland, who has gathered together Jon Cheung from last season’s champions together with Kevin Nicholls and Tony Halse. Kevin and Tony have both taken many league titles for Halwell & Batmen, so they will be looking to make an impact. Torbay Academy 2 will not be able to rely on Kris Piwowar maximums, and will have their work cut out, but are still very capable of causing problems to even the top sides. Both Halwell and Brixham Gulls teams remain unchanged and will want to improve on last season’s League positions.
Champions 2014-15 Torbay Academy 1 reformed – Patrik Cincala, Grzeg Wojtowicz, Kris Piwowar, Dan Barnett
Division Two Should again be very closely contested. The relegated Battlers who struggled last time out in the First Division but were Division Two champions in 2014-15, will be challenged by several teams: including Torbay Academy 3 with the vastly improved Sage brothers, Herbie & Curtis, joined by Daniel Webster-Hall and Michael Hernandez. Last season’s runners up, Brixham Trawlers, and clubmates Brixham Pirates with Martin Sharp, Ben Deakin and the Shipley twins, plus the NA Eagles side who have last season’s top of the averages, Ed Crawford, joining their ranks, will all be looking to win the 2nd Division title. But as in last season, there are many talented players in every team and anyone can beat anyone. Taverners are strengthened with the signing of Martin Dilkes, whilst Marldon, unchanged from last time out, and Marldon Tykes, Division 3 champions, stronger with the acquisition of Paul Hine, are all capable of beating the best.
Division Three The relegated Denbury Tykes, who with their clubmates from Marldon, have yo-yo’d between Divisons 2 & 3 over the last few seasons will again be challenging at the top, but expect things to be much closer this year. The two Brixham sides, Dolphins & Diamonds, both look strong, as do Torbay Academy 4, with young Jakub Piwowar and Elsa Perry joining Ben Hoare & Matt Cooper; Mike Coxhead’s NA Hawks are strengthened with the inclusion of Doug Morgan from last season’s Eagles. Dawlish Diamonds, Hasbeens and NA Falcons have all added to their ranks and will be hoping for better things this season.
Division Four As always, with many players new to League table tennis taking part in this Division, it is difficult to predict the outcomes. NA Kites, Torbay Academy 5, and Torre Tigers have similar sides to last season and fared well then. Dawlish Drifters and NA Ospreys have a number of newcomers to the League. NA Owls’ Rob Bayliss has recruited his 10 yr-old son Rowan to join older brother Dylan and Travis Graham and will be looking to progress, as will Brixham Swifts, Torbay Academy 6 and Torres R Us, who have all changed some personnel from last time out.
NA Owls, looking to progress – Rob Bayliss with sons Rowan & Dylan
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
