SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE – SPONSORED BY ALBANY FLORISTS

PRESS REPORT – Sunday 2^nd April 2023

There were just a few final rearranged games to wind up the league season.

The outstanding team in the league this season, Torbay Academy 1, completed their impressive season with a victory and a draw to top the First Division by 9 points ahead of NA Batmen.  Maximums from Toma and Alessandro Mitranescu helped them to an 8-2 victory over Halwell A and having secured the title played a team of reserves in a 5-5 draw against Halwell B. An excellent squad full of top local players was led by Toma Mitranescu and included his son Alessandro, Adam Shipway, Patrik Cincala and the Piwowar brothers Jakub and Kacper.

Torbay Academy 1 – First Division Champions

Toma Mitranescu, Alessandro Mitranescu, Adam Shipway

The only outstanding fixture in the Second Division saw Brixham Gulls clinch the runners-up spot with a 7-3 victory over Torre Titans.

Dawlish Renegades had to wait until their last match to secure the Fourth Division title, which they did with a comfortable 7-3 win over Torbay Academy 7. The Renegades, undefeated all season, were led by Prabhu Kashap who has topped the averages throughout, alongside Pierre Doutreligne, Laurie Girling and Harry Scott. Torbay Academy 6 required eight points against NA Kites to finish runners up. They managed just three as Clare Northcott and Lewis Short maximums led the Kites to a 7-3 victory which resulted in NA Merlins ending up in the runners-up spot.

Dawlish Renegades – Fourth Division Champions

Pierre Doutreligne, Harry Scott, Laurie Girling (Prabhu Kashap, not pictured)

Following a three year absence due to the pandemic the team handicap cup competitions were reintroduced this season and proved to be the best ever. Historically always won by the top teams or teams with unknown players who have been handicapped incorrectly, this season a much fairer and competitive system gave all teams a sporting chance.  This was proved by the wide range of teams that reached the latter stage of the competition with all four divisions represented. An unprecedented number of matches were incredibly close with many being decided in the final set.  It was refreshing to see teams that had been struggling in the league competition having impressive cup runs. 

The team singles competition was won by the Torbay Academy 4 team of Peter Moretta, Andy Harris, John Fowler and Kevin Palin, who defeated NA Harriers in an entertaining final which they narrowly led throughout and eventually won by 359-298.

The team doubles semi-finals saw NA Kestrels, Tim Shears, Rob Williams and Andy Millman, defeat Torbay Academy 7 372-314, while Torbay Academy 4 were trying to reach their second final in another encounter against NA Raptors. This time the Raptors took revenge on their singles semi-final defeat by Academy 4 with an exciting 373-362 victory. A superb match with the sides neck and neck throughout played in excellent spirits with some high class action.

Torbay Academy 4 – Team Handicap Singles Challenge Cup Winners

John Fowler, Peter Moretta, Andy Harris

RESULTS

DIVISION 1

Halwell A 2 (Symons 1, Smith 1, Dunn 0) Torbay Academy (1) 8 (T Mitranescu 3, A Mitranescu 3, N Mitranescu 1, Dbls)

Halwell B 5 (Wadling 2, Sugden 1, Symons 1, Dbls) Torbay Academy (1) 5 (Hoare 3, S Shipley 2, Perry 0)

DIVISION 2

Torre Titans 3 (Lush 2, Garner 1, Crawford 0) Brixham Gulls 7 (Maynard 2, Sharp 2, Edwards 2, Dbls)

DIVISION 4

Torbay Academy (6) 3 (Neafcy 1, Gibbs 1, Fowler 1) NA Kites 7 (Northcott 3, Short 3, Stratton 0, Dbls)

Dawlish Renegades 7 (Scott 3, Doutreligne 3, Girling 1) Torbay Academy (7) 3 (Pearce 1, Maynard 1, Dillon 0, Dbls)

SINGLES CUP FINAL

Torbay Academy (4) Beat NA Harriers 359-298

DOUBLES CUP SEMI-FINALS

NA Kestrels Beat Torbay Academy (7) 372-314

Torbay Academy (4) Lost to NA Raptors 362-373

FINAL LEAGUE TABLES

DIVISION ONE

DIVISION TWO

DIVISION THREE

DIVISION FOUR