WITH South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League first division leaders Newton Abbot Buzzards having the week off, the three sides chasing them all closed the gap at the top with big wins, reports Tony Halse.

In the runners-up spot, NA Eagles defeated Halwell A 8-2 with the help of maximums from both Mark Burridge and Paul Davey.

In an all-Brixham contest, the third-placed Sharks defeated the Trawlers 9-1, Aarish Maharjan and Chris Harper were undefeated for the Sharks. The NA Batmen team of Naomi Jackson, Dan Webster-Hall and Paul Hine defeated clubmates NA Owls 10-0.

Second division leaders Grove Guerrillas’ 9-1 victory over Torbay Academy 2 gives them a narrow two-point lead at the top, but they still have a game in hand. David Pearson and Andrew Gilhespy were undefeated for the Guerrillas.

NA Ravens, in second place, defeated NA Raptors 7-3 but lost ground on the leaders. NA Falcons defeated Halwell B 6-4 despite a fine maximum from Halwell’s Mark Smith. Busy Halwell B fared better against Taverners winning 8-2, Mark Smith again unbeaten as was Rod Sugden.

A David Davies maximum was the difference as Dawlish Aces defeated Brixham Pirates 7-3.

Torre Vikings failed to win for the first time this season, sharing the points with Torbay Academy 4 but they are still clear favourites to finish in top spot only requiring one more win to clinch the Division Three title. Chris Garner was again the main man for the Vikings with another fine maximum.

A couple of rearranged matches meant several teams playing twice this week. Torbay Academy 4 in the runners-up position played their clubmates Torbay Academy 5 winning 9-1, Matt Laws and Kevin Payne with maximums. Torbay Academy 5 also lost out 8-2 to NA Kites, the Kites’ James Kitchen was undefeated.

Dawlish Renegades, with Peter Chadwick in fine form, recovered from 5-2 down against NA Kites to share the points. Pictured is Nick Kitchen of the Kites in action against Dawlish Renegades’ Stan Grim.

The Brixham Gulls’ team of Nick Williamson, Kevin Ayling and Allen Pack whitewashed NA Harriers. Torbay Academy 3 beat NA Kestrels 6-4.

Similarly to club colleagues in Division Three, Torre Spartans just require one more win to secure the fourth division title following their 8-2 victory over NA Merlins. Maximums from the Spartans’ Elliott Glasser and Robert Excell led the way.

Grove Tigers, with Jeff Cornish and Francis Daly unbeaten, defeated Dawlish Delinquents 9-1. A Sacha Edwards maximum helped Brixham Seals beat NA Vultures 7-3. Both Rob Ferguson and Ken Ramsden secured maximums in a narrow 6-4 victory for NA Ospreys over Torbay Academy 6.

Full SD&T table tennis results:

Division One

NA Eagles 8-2 Halwell A

Brixham Trawlers 1-9 Brixham Sharks

NA Batmen 10-0 NA Owls

Division Two

Taverners 2-8 Halwell B

Brixham Pirates 3-7 Dawlish Aces

Torbay Academy (2) 1-9 Grove Guerrillas

NA Raptors 3-7 NA Ravens

NA Falcons 6-4 Halwell B

Division Three

NA Kites 5-5 Dawlish Renegades

Brixham Gulls 10-0 NA Harriers

Torbay Academy (5) 2-8 NA Kites

NA Kestrels 4-6 Torbay Academy (3)

Torbay Academy (4) 5-5 Torre Vikings

Torbay Academy (5) 1-9 Torbay Academy (4)

Division Four

NA Vultures 3-7 Brixham Seals

Grove Tigers 9-1 Dawlish Delinquents

Torre Spartans 8-2 NA Merlins

NA Ospreys 6-4 Torbay Academy (6)