Cwmbran Colts extended their lead at the top of Division One of the Eastern Valley Table Tennis League with their win over YMCA Preachers 21-14. Despite the absence of their number one player Lee Thomas they managed to overcome the Preachers thanks to a player of the match performance from Lyndon Jones with 3 wins. Jones just beat Mathew Pearce to the award, as he also had 3 wins. The Preachers battled hard for their points, but the Colts were just too good for them on the night.
Still chasing the leaders are Cwmbran Aztecs, following their narrow 16-15 win over Bristol Nomads. The Aztecs were once again indebted to the recently recruited 'bluebirds' supporter, Tony Collins with his player of the match performance and 3 wins. The Aztecs were missing Andrew Ryder, but, his replacement Iestyn Howells' 2 points proved the difference between winning and losing. For the Nomads Andy Banks secured 2 wins including a good win over the higher ranked Mark Edmunds. The Nomads' Ian Maggs also had 2 wins.
Closing the gap to the second placed side are Cwmbran Blues who had a 24-13 win over Blaenavon Aces. The player of the match was the Blues' Mark Farrow with 3 wins, just ahead of Roger Grech who also had 3 wins. The Aces fought well for their points with both Ben Allen and Bethany Brewer picking up 5 points each.
With Cwmbran Panthers having a bye this week, Cwmbran Dynamos took the opportunity to move to the top of Division Two with an emphatic win over Chepstow Chiefs 27-1. The Dynamos' Alex Jones, Richard Lownsbrough and Will Smith-Haddon all picked up maximum wins but it was Lownsbrough who edged the player of the match award. The Chiefs battled hard but they could not overcome the absence of their number one player, Connor Pyke and had two players making their league debut.
Moving into second place having played a game more than their rivals, are Cwmbran Eccentrics, despite their 16-13 defeat to North Gwent Cougars. This match saw the eagerly awaited contest between the Cougars' Greg Price and the Eccentrics' John Thomas. Prior to this match Price had won all his matches without dropping a set whilst Thomas had only suffered one defeat this season. However, Price managed to continue his unbeaten start to the season by winning 3-1 and securing the player of the match award. Thomas and his team-mate Lincoln Alford won 2 matches each.
The final match saw Cwmbran Devils defeat Cwmbran Fellows 20-14. This match saw another eagerly awaited encounter between players who had only been beaten once this season. The Devils' Roshan Rai took on the Fellows' Wayne Ford and it was Rai who came out on top in a titanic tussle 3-1 and picked up the player of the match award. For the Devils' Colin Scott picked up 2 wins and 8 points.
