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

The outstanding match of the year, so far, paired the two teams aiming to take the First Division crown off Newton Abbot Batmen for the first time in 7 years. Brixham Sharks & Torbay Academy I played out an exciting encounter which the Sharks led at the half way stage, however the Academy side fought back taking four of the last five sets to win the match 6-4 and maintain their 100% win record.  Stam Kioufis remains unbeaten for the Sharks but was tested by both Jo & Kris Piwowar.  Newton Abbot Batmen still lead the Division thanks to a convincing 9-1 win against Dawlish Aces, Iain Dummett in particularly fine form for the Batmen not dropping a leg to the strengthened Aces side; Giles Tushingham preventing the whitewash for the Aces. Halwell also had a fine 9-1 win against Newton Bishops, who, unusually, after losing all of their singles, took the last doubles for their point.

The Second Division leaders had a tough match against Marldon but eventually came through 7-3, Colin Harrop being the Taverners star with a hard fought maximum.  A fine 7-3 win for Bishops Academicals in third place keeps the pressure on the top two.  They overcame a resilient Tykes side for whom Kevin Ayling was unbeaten, and Robert Stephens who recently transferred from the Tykes to the Bishops picked up 2 singles victories against his former team.  At the bottom end of the table, Dawlish Diamonds defeated their close rivals in the relegation battle, Torre 21 Up, 6-4, thanks to a Bruce Freeman maximum, however it was not enough to lift them off the bottom of the table as the Torre side continue to pick up points in defeats, although Torre are still to win a match this season.  There was another defeat for Torre 21 Up against Brixham Panthers with Robert Excell winning the point for the Torre side; Oliver Slocombe and Alan Carthy both with maximums for the Panthers.

The only result from the Third Division saw two Brixham sides head to head, Ben Deakin was the man of the match for the losing Panthers side, winning his 3 singles in fine style, but the all-round strength of the Rebels’ side saw them home 6-4. A first singles win in the league for the Rebels’ James Rodger

There were wins in the Challenge Cup for Torbay Academy II and Marldon Badgers, and wins in the Dyment Doubles for Torbay Acadamy I and Newton Bishops.

Results

Div 1

Halwell  9 (Atkinson 3, Sugden 3, Wadling 3)  Newton Bishops 1 (S Jessop 0, R Jessop 0, McIvor 0, Dbls)

Batmen 9 (D Gibbs 3, I Dummett 3, M Dummett 2, Dbls)  Dawlish Aces 1 (G Tushingham 1, Y Tushingham 0, Crawford 0)

Brixham Sharks 4 (Kioufis 3, Shipway 1, Johns 0)  Torbay Academy I  6 (K Piwowar 2, J Piwowar 2, Cincala 1, Dbls)

Div 2

Dawlish Diamonds 6 (Freeman 3, Frain 2, Beesley 0, Dbls)  Torre 21Up 4 (Heathcote 2, Lush 1, Excell 1)

Taverners  7 (Harrop 3, Read 2, Tyrrell 1, Dbls)  Marldon 3  (Atkin 2, Breyley 1, Oatley 0)

Tykes 3 (Ailing 3, Metcalfe 0, Garner 0)  Bishops Academicals 7 (Tyrrell 2, Coxhead 2, Stephens 2, Dbls)

Torre 21 Up 1 (Excell 1, Heathcote 0, Lush 0)  Brixham Swallows 9 (Carthy 3, Slocombe 3, Meah 2, Dbls)

Div 3

Brixham Rebels 6 (Pryce 2, Munns 2, Rodger 1, Dbls)  Brixham Panthers 4 (Deakin 3, I Brown 1, Bradley 0)

Challenge Cup (Singles Handicap)

Dawlish Aces 2  (Davies 1, Crawford 1, Y Tushingham 0)  Torbay Academy II  5 (Perkins 2, Furgol 2, Barnett 1)

Brixham Trawlers 2 (Stead 2, Beavington 0, Williamson 0)  Marldon Badgers 5 (M Hern 2, Warwick 2, S Hern 1)

Dyment Doubles (Doubles Handicap)

Newton Bishops 5  Torbay Academy II 1

Torbay Academy I  5  Dawlish Aces 0

Division 1

Division 2

Division 3