WITH Newton Abbot Buzzards already crowned champions of the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League first division, it was the runners-up spot that was still to be decided, reports Tony Halse.

Brixham Sharks, having completed their fixtures, held a nine-point lead over NA Eagles which meant the Eagles in their final match needed a 10-0 victory over their club rivals NA Batmen to claim second place.

The NA Batmen, struggling with availability issues in the second half of the season, managed to get a couple of their players out, along with just one reserve, to face the Eagles and deny them that second spot. The match finished all square at 5-5, Rory Harries with a maximum for the Batmen.

NA Buzzards’ Herbie Sage ended the season at the top of the first division averages with 96%.

Although clear favourites for most of the season, the Totnes-based Grove Guerrillas had to wait for their last game to clinch the second-division title.

It came with a 7-3 victory over NA Falcons, Colin Butterworth with his eleventh maximum of the season was again the main man and he also claimed the top average award with 91%.

Runners-up, and unbeaten throughout the season, NA Ravens completed their programme with an 8-2 victory over Brixham Pirates followed by a 5-5 draw with Torbay Academy 2. The Ravens’ Mitch Nash had a maximum against the Pirates and Mike Dummett had maximums in both matches.

Paul Hine was unbeaten as he helped NA Raptors to a narrow 6-4 victory over the Taverners.

There were just a couple of Division Three fixtures to wrap up the season, not affecting the top or bottom of the division.

NA Kestrels lost out 6-4 to a Peter Chadwick-inspired Dawlish Renegades but picked up enough points in defeat to secure third spot in the table. Torbay Academy 3, Peter Moretta, John Fowler and Andy Harris, had a whitewash 10-0 victory over NA Harriers to finish in fourth place.

Torre Vikings topped the third division 22 points clear of Torbay Academy 4 in second place with the Vikings’ Chris Garner claiming the top of the averages award with 95%.

Torre Spartans’ Robert Excell, Lewis Lavery, Dylan Sadler and Elliott Glasser, the Division Four champions, finished 14 points ahead of the Grove Tigers. The Spartans’ Lewis Lavery topped the averages with 94%.

The Grove Tigers finished their campaign with an 8-2 victory over Dawlish Delinquents, the Tigers’ Jeff Cornish and Francis Daly with maximums. A Sacha Edwards maximum were the only points Brixham Seals picked up from their visit to Torbay Academy 7, losing 7-3.

There were two hotly contested cup semi-finals played. The match between Torre Spartans and NA Falcons in the team handicap singles ended 18-18 with the Spartans’ team progressing to the final on the handicap points ruling where they will face NA Kites.

The Doubles final could be between the same two sides although the Taverners stand in the way of Torre Spartans. NA Kites, Nick Kitchen, James Kitchen and Fin Humphreys progressed to their second final with a narrow 21-15 victory over NA Owls.

With the league season all but over, thoughts turn to the Annual Closed Tournament taking place at the Torbay Leisure Centre on Sunday, April 20, then to the League’s Finals and Awards night at Stover School on Tuesday, April 22.