SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE – SPONSORED BY ALBANY FLORISTS

PRESS REPORT – Sunday 16th Feb

The top two sides met in a crucial match at the top of the First Division of the Albany Florists Sponsored South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League this week.  Torbay Academy 1, champions for the last three seasons, were up against NA Batmen, six times champions between 2007-13.  The Academy needed a big win as their five-point lead at the top was in threat with the Batmen having played two matches fewer. Jakub Piwowar, England number 1 ranked in the under 13 age group, was brought in by the Academy and he dominated proceedings with an excellent maximum, however it was not enough for victory as the points were shared 5-5.  NA Buzzards, still not out of the contest, put in a strong performance against clubmates the Condors, winning 8-2 with an excellent maximum from Herbie Sage well supported with two apiece from Kevin Nicholls and Nick Halse.  Gordon Holmes was unbeaten again as Brixham Sharks defeated their Gulls 7-3 in an all Brixham encounter.

Jakub Piwowar (Torbay Academy 1)

Brixham Sharks & Gulls, Chris Dunn, Mark Smith, Gordon Holmes, Mick Mercer, Bob Parkins, Ian Saxby

Two fine wins against Marldon Tykes have pushed Torbay Academy 3 to the top of the table for the first time this season. A 6-4 win at Marldon was followed by an 8-2 victory at the Academy. There were maximums for Ivan Vaplaks, William Bevan, Kacper Piwowar and Alessandro Mitranescu over the two matches.  Marldon’s 8-2 victory over Denbury Tykes keeps them in a strong position, Helen Glover and Ed Thompson were unbeaten for the Marldon outfit.   Despite a fine maximum from Ian Saxby Brixham Trawlers’ challenge faltered as they were held to a 5-5 draw by a resurgent Taverners.  In an all Newton Abbot affair the Kestrels picked up their first victory of the season with a 6-4 win over the Falcons, despite a maximum from the Falcons’ Chris Baron.

Marldon’s Ed Thompson & Helen Glover

With leaders of the third division Torre Titans’ fixture being called off it was down to their two closest challengers NA Owls and Hasbeens to battle it out against each other in the race for the title. Richard Fitzgerald started the evening well for the Hasbeens with an excellent win over Josh Redfern, but the Owls eventually took control winning the match 7-3, the Owls’ Rowan Bayliss picking up the man of the match award.  Torbay Academy 4’s Ed Damanskas and Craig Collins were too strong for NA Kites, they were both unbeaten as the Academy won 7-3. Rob Burridge and Carl Tucker were unbeaten in a comfortable 9-1 win for Torre Panthers over NA Harriers.  Brian Pengelly was unbeaten as the Seals shared the points with the Dolphins in an all Brixham encounter.

Alan Tyrrell & Richard Fitzgerald (Hasbeens) v Rowan Bayliss & Matt Cyron (NA Owls)

Derek Stratton & Quillan Wilson (NA Kites) v Craig Collins & Ed Damanskas (Torbay Academy 4)

Fourth Division leaders The Grove eased past NA Ospreys 6-4 despite a fine maximum from the Ospreys’ Henry Greet. It was the same score line for second placed Torbay Academy 6 as they defeated NA Merlins thanks to another maximum from the Academy’s Jerry Hollings. A Tony Bussell maximum for Dawlish Diamonds helped the Diamonds to a share of the points with Torbay Academy 7.  Jasem Abu Ali was unbeaten as NA Vultures defeated Brixham Swifts 7-3.

Henry Greet (NA Ospreys)

Eve James & Chris Bishop (NA Merlins) v Jerry Hollings & Denis Cramond (Torbay Academy 6)

DIVISION 1

NA Buzzards 8 (Sage 3, Nicholls 2, N Halse 2, Dbls) NA Condors 2 (M Burridge 2, T Burridge 0, Davies 0)

Brixham Sharks 7 (Holmes 3, Parkins 2, Saxby 1, Dbls) Brixham Gulls 3 (Mercer 1, Smith 1, Dunn 1)

Torbay Academy 1 5 (J Piwowar 3, Cincala 1, Suarez 0, Dbls) NA Batmen 5 (Jackson 2, D Gibbs 2, S Gibbs 1)

DIVISION 2

Marldon Tykes 4 (Garner 1, Metcalfe 1, Ayling 1, Dbls) Torbay Academy (3) 6 (Vaplaks 3, Bevan 3, Moretta 0)

Taverners 5 (Harrop 2, Dilkes 1, Read 1, Dbls) Brixham Trawlers 5 (Saxby 3, Hopkins 2, Williamson 0)

Marldon 8 (Glover 3, Thompson 3, Goodman 2) Denbury Tykes 2 (Hine 1, P Darch 0, H Darch 0, Dbls)

Torbay Academy (3) 8 (Piwowar 3, Mitranescu 3, Vaplak 2) Marldon Tykes 2 (Tyler 1, Metcalfe 0, Garner 0, Dbls)

NA Falcons 4 (Baron 3, Wilshire 1, Millman 0) NA Kestrels 6 (Bellham 2, Freeman 2, Fabian 1, Dbls)

DIVISION 3

NA Kites 3 (Wilson 1, Stratton 1, Guy 1) Torbay Academy (4) 7 (Damanskas 3, Collins 3, Gibbs 0, Dbls)

Brixham Seals 5 (Pengelly 3, Richards 2) Brixham Dolphins 5 (Williams 1, Byng 0, Morris 0, Awarded 4)

NA Owls 7 (Rowan Bayliss 2, Redfern 2, Cyron 2, Dbls) Hasbeens 3 (Tyrrell 2, Fitzgerald 1, Coxhead 0)

Torre Panthers 9 (C Tucker 2, Burridge 2, Russell 1, Awarded 3, Dbls) NA Harriers 1 (Copley 1, Ferguson 0)

DIVISION 4

Brixham Swifts 3 (Parton 2, Maddison 1, Blood 0) NA Vultures 7 (Abu Ali 3, Thain 2, Salt 1, Dbls)

Torbay Academy (7) 5 (Turner 2, Jewell 2, Brookes 1) Dawlish Diamonds 5 (Bussell 3, Kashap 1, Stevens 0, Dbls)

The Grove 6 (Daly 2, J Jones 2, Rodger 1, Dbls) NA Ospreys 4 (Greet 3, James 1, Lee 0)

NA Merlins 4 (James 2, Winstanley 1, Bishop 1) Torbay Academy (6) 6 (Hollings 3, Neafcy 1, Cramond 1, Dbls)

DIVISION ONE

DIVISION TWO

               DIVISION THREE

               DIVISION FOUR