Academy edge out Buzzards in classic

It was a big week at the top of the Albany Florists South Devon and Torbay Table Tennis League first division table with the top four sides playing each other, writes Tony Halse.
Last week’s leaders, Torbay Academy 1, had a titanic battle with NA Buzzards which they edged 6-4. Another Toma Mitranescu maximum and a brilliant doubles win with Aarish Maharjan sealed the victory for the Academy. A Shaun Gibbs maximum for NA Batmen helped the Newton Abbot side to the top of the table as they defeated clubmates NA Eagles 8-2. Halwell A avoided defeat for the first time this season as they shared the points with NA Parrots, Rhys Lush was unbeaten for the Parrots.
With the leaders, Brixham Trawlers, not in action this week Dawlish Aces closed the gap at the top of the second division to just two points. A David Davies maximum helping the Aces to a comfortable 8-2 victory over Halwell B. NA Raptors, in third place, slipped to a 6-4 defeat at the hands of a Neville Cregan inspired Torbay Academy 2. A Wojtek Cyron maximum led the way for the NA Falcons as they defeated clubmates NA Kestrels 7-3.
The top of the table clash in Division three finished all square, the runaway leaders Torre Vikings sharing the points with the Taverners, Martin Dilkes with another fine maximum for the Taverners. An Andy Guy maximum for NA Hawks saw them to an 8-2 victory over clubmates NA Harriers. The Academy’s Ionel Ichim was undefeated as Torbay Academy 4 beat Dawlish Renegades 7-3. Dawlish Doubtfuls are the new leaders of the fourth division following their 9-1 victory over Torbay Academy 6. Father and son, Marc and Stanley Grim with maximums for the Dawlish outfit. Young Aleksandra Treder, playing as a reserve, helped Torbay Academy 5 to a 7-3 victory over NA Vultures with a fine maximum. Both Lewis Lavery and Robert Excell had maximums as Torre Gladiators defeated NA Merlins 8-2.
RESULTS - Division One: NA Buzzards 4 (Sage 2, Nicholls 1, James 1) Torbay Academy (1) 6 (T Mitranescu 3, Maharjan 2, A Mitranescu 0, Dbls); Halwell A 5 (Sugden 1, Symons 1, Smith 0, Awarded 3) NA Parrots 5 (Lush 3, Sage 1, Dbls); NA Batmen 8 (S Gibbs 3, D Gibbs 2, Jackson 2, Dbls) NA Eagles 2 (M Burridge 2, Broad 0, Gaston 0)
Division Two: Dawlish Aces 8 (Davies 3, Bellham 2, Sharratt 2, Dbls) Halwell B 2 (Smith 2, Dunn 0, Dyson 0); NA Falcons 7 (Cyron 3, Haslam 2, Wilshire 1, Dbls) NA Kestrels 3 (Williams 2, Millman 1, Weinstein 0); NA Raptors 4 (Hine 2, Darch 2, Moffatt 0) Torbay Academy (2) 6 (Cregan 3, Damanskas 1, Gandev 1, Dbls)
Division Three: NA Hawks 8 (Guy 3, Whitehorn 2, Sercombe 2, Dbls) NA Harriers 2 (Baron 2, Copley 0, Fabian 0); Torbay Academy (4) 7 (Ichim 3, Hollings 2, Payne 1, Dbls) Dawlish Renegades 3 (Kashap 2, M Grim 1, S Grim 0); Torre Vikings 5 (Garner 2, Keywood 2, Russell 1) Taverners 5 (Dilkes 3, Harrop 1, Read 0, Dbls)
Division Four: Torbay Academy (5) 7 (Treder 3, Gibbs 2, James 2) NA Vultures 3 (Humphreys 2, Kitchen 0, Gilbert 0, Dbls); Dawlish Doubtfuls 9 (S Grim 3, M Grim 3, Pook 2, Dbls) Torbay Academy (6) 1 (Maynard 1, Clark 0, Brookes 0); NA Merlins 2 (Olver 1, Stratton 1, Bishop 0) Torre Gladiators 8 (Lavery 3, Excell 3, De Landes 1, Dbls)