IT WAS cup week as we head towards the business end of the competitions in the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League, reports Tony Halse.

In the Handicap Singles Cup, Torre Spartans were the first team to reach the semi-finals with a narrow 20-16 victory over last season’s finalists Brixham Sharks. The Spartans’ team of Robert Excell, Dylan Sadler and Elliott Glasser started poorly, then led throughout after set three but didn’t clinch the victory until the final set.

Their opponents in the semi-final will be from Newton Abbot- NA Condors or NA Falcons, the Falcons having just seen off the challenge from Brixham Trawlers 19-9 in the previous round.

The second semi-final is another all-Newton Abbot affair following excellent quarter-final victories for the NA Owls over Brixham Gulls and NA Kites over Torbay Academy 4. The Owls team of Jim McIvor, Ben Hoare and Ed Thompson led throughout but the Gulls were always in the tie until the final set, the Owls winning 21-15.

Even closer, the NA Kites were neck and neck with Torbay Academy 4 and went into the final set needing just one game for victory. For the Kites, Tim Shears and James Kitchen had picked up points all the way through but it was left to Nick Kitchen to win the decisive game for victory.

There were just a couple of matches in the Doubles Cup. The experienced Taverners team of Geoff Read, Colin Harrop and Martin Dilkes were too strong for Newton Abbot Harriers as they moved into the semi-finals with an impressive 27-9 victory. The other match saw a very close contest between club-mates NA Owls and NA Ravens. The Owls team, Jim McIvor, Ed Thompson and Jeremy Broad eventually winning in the final set 20-16.

Although set aside for cup competitions there were also a number of rearranged league matches played.

In the second division NA Ravens have joined Grove Guerrillas at the top of the table on 88 points following their 7-3 victory over Dawlish Aces. Steve Hugh and Mitch Nash with maximums for the Ravens who go top as they have won more matches but the Guerrillas have a game in hand. The former, Hugh, is in action against Dawlish Aces’ David Davies.

Halwell B, with Mark Smith and Rod Sugden unbeaten, climb up the table following their 8-2 victory over Torbay Academy 2. A Keith Haslam maximum for NA Falcons helped his team defeat Brixham Pirates 7-3.

Comfortable wins by the two Torre teams opened up big leads at the top of the third and fourth division tables. Torre Vikings 8-2 victory over NA Kestrels gives them a 13-point lead at the top of the third division, Chris Garner with another maximum for the Vikings.

While Torre Spartans in division four lead the table by twenty-six points following their whitewash victory over NA Vultures. Robert Excell, Lewis Lavery and Elliott Glasser were too powerful for the Vultures sitting at the bottom of the table. Jeff Cornish and Francis Daly were unbeaten as Grove Tigers defeated NA Merlins 7-3.