Heavyweight thriller delivers a classic in South Devon Table Tennis

The top of the first division clash between the two heavyweights did not disappoint producing some of the best table tennis seen this season.

The current champions, NA Buzzards, knew they were in for a tough match and they started really well against the Brixham Sharks going into a 4-0 lead. The Sharks were not giving up though, Aarish Maharjan with a couple of excellent singles wins kept them in the hunt.

However, an excellent maximum from the Buzzards’ Herbie Sage well backed up by Kevin Nicholls with two singles wins and Naomi Jackson with one, saw the Buzzards home to a 7-3 victory.

The Buzzards now have a four-point lead over the Sharks at the top of the table and have played a match fewer. Paul Davey and Ian Callard were both undefeated as NA Eagles beat NA Owls 9-1.

The leaders of the second division, Brixham Trawlers, were held to a 5-5 draw by NA Raptors, Stuart Shipley with a maximum for the Trawlers. Teignmouth Aces closed the gap at the top to just four points following their 8-2 victory over NA Falcons, Mark Sharratt was unbeaten for the Aces.

Torbay Academy 3’s Alex Fialho, was again unbeaten as the Academy 3 team shared the points with Torre Vikings.

The top of the table clash in the third division was postponed giving the chasers a chance to close the gap.

NA Kestrels closed to within four points of the leaders with a narrow 6-4 victory over Torbay Academy 5, whose Jamie McGuire was unbeaten. A Colin Harrop maximum for Taverners helped them overcome Torbay Academy (4) 7-3. James Kitchen was unbeaten in his singles as NA Kites defeated Brixham Gulls 6-4.

The leaders of the fourth division, Grove Tigers, thrashed NA Merlins 10-0 to open up a ten-point lead at the top. Jeff Cornish, Nigel Langley and Thomas Foley looking unstoppable as they march towards the title.

Still in the hunt, the Teignmouth Delinquents team of Andrew Clitheroe, Laurie Girling and David Sanders, who also won 10-0 at Brixham against the Seals. The Delinquents are third, level on points just behind Torbay Academy 6, who won, but lost ground, as they dropped three points to NA Vultures.

An excellent Noah Gage maximum helped his Torbay Academy 7 team to a narrow 6-4 victory over NA Ospreys. Finally, there was a handicap doubles cup tie played between two Newton Abbot teams which saw the holders NA Kites, Fin Humphreys, Nick & James Kitchen, defeat NA Vultures 24-12.