SOUTH DEVON & TORBAY TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE – SPONSORED BY ALBANY FLORISTS
2023-24 SEASON
It’s been a busy cup week and virtually all of the first round matches in both the Challenge Cup Team Handicap Singles and the Dyment Shield Team Handicap Doubles competitions were completed.
The current holders of the Challenge Cup, Torbay Academy 3 started their campaign with a comfortable 29-7 victory over NA Merlins. Torbay Academy 4 were also going well as they returned from Brixham with a 28-8 victory against the Trawlers. But it was not all plain sailing for the Academy teams as Torbay Academy 2 were beaten 19-9 by NA Kestrels and Torbay Academy 6 lost out 22-13 to NA Raptors. Dawlish Renegades saw off the challenge from Torbay Academy 5 with a 22-14 victory.
Huw Darch & Ed Moffatt (NA Raptors) v James Kitchen & Max Fearon (NA Vultures)
In the doubles competition the holders NA Kestrels were pushed all the way by Torbay Academy 3, the Kestrels eventually winning 19-17, and progressing in both the singles and doubles cups. Torbay Academy 4 also won in both competitions this week as they just eased past their clubmates Academy 5, also with a 19-17 scoreline. NA Condors had to battle for supremacy over the Taverners before easing to a 24-12 victory. There were three all Newton Abbot encounters. It was all square after the 6th set as NA Eagles traded blows with NA Falcons, Ian Callard, firstly with Jeremy Broad, and then with Marian Vasile, secured two 3-1 wins to put the tie beyond the Falcons, NA Eagles eventually winning 20-16. NA Raptors failed to deal with a substantial handicap awarded to their clubmates NA Vultures, fourth division Vultures winning through 20-8. In the final all Newton Abbot tie NA Harriers defeated NA Merlins 22-14. Dawlish Renegades, another team going well in both cup competitions, defeated NA Ospreys 26-10.
The tie of the round was the match between NA Parrots and Torbay Academy 2, all square at 16-16 going into the final set and the Parrots knowing a draw would see them eliminated had to win the set. Neville Cregan and Elsa Perry held their nerve in the final set and saw the Academy team home to an 18-16 victory.
Elsa Perry & Nev Cregan (Torbay Academy 2) v Rhys Lush & Dan Webster-Hall (NA Parrots)
There were a couple of rearranged league matches. In the first division Halwell A, struggling at the foot of the table, lost out 8-2 to Brixham Sharks whose Clive Banham and Christopher Harper both had maximums.
NA Vultures are climbing up the fourth division table following their 10-0 win over the inexperienced Brixham Seals. The Vultures’ James Kitchen, James Gilbert and Fin Humphreys were rarely troubled by the Seals as they eased their way to a whitewash victory.
David Olver & Gwilym Davies (NA Merlins) v Chris Baron & Dale Fabian (NA Harriers)
RESULTS - CUP WEEK
Singles Cup 1st Round
Torbay Academy (3) Beat NA Merlins 29-7
Torbay Academy (2) Lost to NA Kestrels 9-19
Torbay Academy (6) Lost to NA Raptors 13-22
Dawlish Renegades Beat Torbay Academy (5) 22-14
Brixham Trawlers Lost to Torbay Academy (4) 8-28
Doubles Cup 1st Round
Taverners Lost to NA Condors 12-24
NA Ospreys Lost to Dawlish Renegades 10-26
NA Eagles Beat NA Falcons 20-16
Torbay Academy (3) Lost to NA Kestrels 17-19
NA Raptors Lost to NA Vultures 8-20
NA Harriers Beat NA Merlins 22-14
NA Parrots Lost to Torbay Academy (2) 16-18
Torbay Academy (5) Lost to Torbay Academy (4) 17-19
LEAGUE MATCHES
Division One
Brixham Sharks 8 (Harper 3, Banham 3, Holmes 2) Halwell A 2 (Wadling 1, Sugden 0, Symons 0, Dbls)
Division Four
Brixham Seals 0 (W Mulholland 0, T Burston 0, M Burston 0) NA Vultures 10 (Kitchen 3, Gilbert 3, Humphreys 3, Dbls)
