Bad night for Brixham in the Table Tennis League rescued by the Seals

It was cup week in the South Devon and Torbay Table Tennis League, sponsored by Albany Florists, as the second round of the team handicap singles got underway, although several other important league fixtures also took place.

The Brixham TTC teams, going well in the league, didn’t have a happy night in the singles cup as their top three teams all crashed out. The Brixham Sharks, who ‘rested’ their top players, were just edged out in the final set 15-21 by an unfamiliar NA Falcons line up of Steve Tyler, Paul Davey and Leo McTear.

An injury to Charles Lamden made it very difficult for the Gulls as they went down 24-12 to NA Owls, Jim McIvor, Ed Thompson and Pawel Juraszczyk. The Torbay Academy 5 team of Jamie McGuire, Steve Metcalfe and Aleksandra Treder were comfortable 20-12 victors over Brixham Trawlers.

Salvaging Brixham’s night, their Seals’ team of Wayne Gilbert, Elliott Stobie and Brian Noades, struggling in the league, progressed to the quarter finals of the doubles handicap cup with a narrow 19-17 victory over Torbay Academy 6.

Back to the singles cup and the Taverners, Geoff Read, Colin Harrop and Prabhu Kashap, were pushed all the way by Torbay Academy 7, eventually winning through 20-16. The Halwell team of David Wadling, Mark Smith and Rod Sugden defeated NA Kestrels 21-15 to earn a quarter-final match against Teignmouth Delinquents.

Finally, in the singles cup, NA Harriers defeated clubmates NA Raptors 20-16. The Harriers’ Ivor Copley, Lee Raymond and Albie Andrews 10-2 ahead after the third set were never under too much pressure despite the Raptors fighting back.

Brixham Sharks drew level on points with NA Buzzards at the top of the first division table with a 6-4 victory over NA Owls. Aarish Maharjan was again the main man for the Sharks winning his three singles and, with Chris Harper, clinching the victory with the final doubles.

Another Colin Butterworth maximum for the Grove Guerrillas edged out NA Eagles 6-4. An excellent 9-1 victory for Torre Spartans over NA Kestrels moves them within one point of the leaders NA Harriers. Rob Austin, still unbeaten, and Lewis Lavery with maximums for the Spartans.

Rob Ferguson and Ken Ramsden were unbeaten as they helped NA Ospreys defeat NA Vultures 9-1 in an all Newton Abbot fourth division match.