Gripping finale for Torbay Table Tennis

It is incredibly close in all four divisions as we approach the final few fixtures of the season in the Torbay and South Devon Table Tennis League.

All of the leading teams in the top three divisions will be fighting it out amongst themselves in the closest finish to the season in recent times.

The NA Batmen’s 9-1 win over NA Parrots saw them open up a five-point lead over Torbay Academy 1 at the top of the first division. Rory Harries and Dennis Gibbs secured maximums against their clubmates, who battled away in vain for most of the night.

The Batmen still have to play the Academy 1 team, who also have to play third-placed NA Buzzards and they could still have a say in the title race.

There are three teams in with a shout of the second division title. Brixham Trawlers have the upper hand, as they are eight points ahead of Halwell B and nine ahead of third-placed Dawlish Aces, who have a game in hand.

Again, the top sides have still to play each other and this week they all stumbled, dropping vital points against lower sides. Ian Saxby was in fine form for Brixham Trawlers, getting a superb maximum but that was not enough to see off NA Raptors, who held the top side to a 5-5 draw. Halwell B moved up to second spot with a 6-4 victory over NA Falcons but may well regret the dropped points, Mick Mercer with a maximum for Halwell. Dawlish Aces, with that game in hand, were held to a draw by Torbay Academy 2, Neville Cregan was unbeaten for the Academy.

Colin Butterworth secured yet another maximum for the Grove Guerrillas, as they saw off basement side NA Kestrels 7-3.

In the third division, the top two sides are having strong finishes to their campaigns and the division is likely to be decided when they confront each other shortly. The Taverners and Torre Vikings are level on 91 points, well ahead of the rest.

This week, the Taverners, with Geoff Read and Martin Dilkes unbeaten, defeated Torbay Academy 4 9-1, while Torre Vikings beat NA Harriers 7-3 with the help of a Charun Tatom maximum.

NA Harriers, who played twice this week, did pick up a much-needed win over a depleted Dawlish Renegades 7-3, Chris Baron was undefeated for the Harriers. NA Hawks had a close tussle with Brixham Gulls, just coming out on top 6-4.

Torbay Academy 5, Anne-Marie Gibbs, Jean Neafcy and Eve James, have emerged favourites for the fourth division title following their whitewash victory over clubmates Torbay Academy 6 and their 5-5 draw against Torre Gladiators.

The Gladiators’ Lewis Lavery, with a fine maximum, stalling the Torbay Academy 5 march to the top. Although Academy 5 trail Dawlish Doubtfuls by six points, they have an extra game to play.

Dawlish dropped four vital points against bottom side Brixham Seals, despite another Marc Grim maximum for the Dawlish team, the Seals just losing out 6-4 to the division leaders. Nick Kitchen had to work hard for his maximum as NA Merlins defeated Torbay Academy 6, 8-2.