Table Tennis Leagues beginning to take shape

It was a busy week in the first division of the South Devon & Torbay table Tennis League, sponsored by Albany Florists, with all the teams in action and a couple playing twice.
Torbay Academy 1, with Aarish Maharjan and Toma Mitranescu unbeaten, comfortably saw off NA Parrots 9-1, Rhys Lush preventing the whitewash for the newly formed Parrots in their first encounter of the season. T
he NA Batmen team of Naomi Jackson, Dennis and Shaun Gibbs went one better, inflicting a whitewash defeat on Halwell A. The Halwell outfit had earlier lost 9-1 to another Newton Abbot team in their first match of the season, David Wadling picking up the one for Halwell, while Bryan Birkbeck and Mark Burridge collected maximums for the Eagles.
NA Eagles, with another Bryan Birkbeck maximum, returned from Brixham with a fine 7-3 victory over the Sharks. In an all Newton Abbot affair, the Buzzards defeated the Condors 8-2, Herbie Sage and Kevin Nicholls were undefeated for the Buzzards.
Brixham Trawlers are the early leaders of the second division, an Ian Saxby maximum helping them on their way to an 8-2 victory over NA Kestrels. NA Raptors, unbeaten to date, are just behind the leaders following their 8-2 win over previously unbeaten Grove Guerrillas, the Raptors’ Paul Hine with a maximum.
Also going well are Dawlish Aces whose David Davies and Mitch Bellham were undefeated as they also won 8-2 against NA Falcons. A Mick Mercer maximum helped his Halwell B side to a share of the points with Torbay Academy 5.
The Taverners are the early leaders in Division Three following their 9-1 victory over NA Harriers, Martin Dilkes and Colin Harrop were unbeaten as the Taverners coasted to victory. Torre Vikings were also 9-1 winners, Steve Russell and Bill Keywood with maximums as the Vikings defeated Torbay Academy 4.
Nick Williamson was unbeaten but his maximum for Brixham Gulls was not enough for the win as Dawlish Renegades held them to a draw. Torbay Academy 4 had a fine 6-4 victory over NA Hawks, Peter Moretta man of the match for the Academy side.
The early fourth division leaders are Torbay Academy 5 who picked up their third win with a narrow 6-4 victory over NA Merlins. A Kai Fowler maximum helped Torbay Academy 6 to a 7-3 victory over Torre Gladiators.