Newton Abbot batmen hold on to top spot over the Christmas break

The pre-Christmas matches in the Acacia Blinds 2011-12 South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League saw Newton Abbot Batmen retain their slight lead at the top in Division 1 with big wins over fellow Newton teams, Battlers and Academicals, whilst this season's challengers Brixham Gulls continue to push the reigning champions with a fine 9-1 home win against struggling Taverners who are nested at the foot of the division.

Batmen executed a 10-0 whitewash over Battlers even though Battlers' Helen Parton pushed Tony Halse and Mike Dummett to five legs, whilst Peter Nicholson did the same against Halse, just losing out 11-9 in the last leg.

Batmen's Dennis Gibbs took a maximum over the Academicals' players, but this time the whitewash was halted by Academicals' Jim McIvor who came from two sets down to beat Mike Dummett 11-9 in the fifth and was able to ease past Tony Halse in three straight.

Brixham Gulls' Stamatis Kioufis continues his 100% record, with David White overtaking Dennis Gibbs in the rankings with another maximum, his sixth of the season, against Taverners' Nick Williamson, Geoff Read and Richard Jessop, although the game against Read was anything but straightforward having to win the last two sets 12-10, 12-10.

The loss against Batmen continued Newton Abbot Battlers slide down the table, although they managed to salvage three important points against Halwell, when at 7-1 down, won the last two games of the match in close five setters to keep them hovering above Dawlish Aces and Taverners.

In Division 2, the big meeting between the top two teams, Dalwish Diamonds and Brixham Sharks ended in a crucial away win for Sharks 6-4 to bring Sharks within a point of the Division leaders.

Brian Pengelly continued his 100% record, but Mike Coxhead and Colin Platt were able to win their games against father-and-daughter duo Richard and Jazmin Johns to win their four points. Diamonds were close to forcing the draw, but narrowly lost the doubles game 13-11, 11-13, 8-11, 11-9, 9-11 to lose the match and keep the title challenge from Sharks alive and well.

Tykes and Marldon stay in touch with 10-0 wins over Brixham Swallows and The Badgers respectively. Tykes' demolition of Swallows was pretty conclusive, however The Badgers were close to turning around the tie to a draw, losing narrowly on five occasions in the fifth, with Simon Hern being the unluckiest player that night in his games against the victorious Graham Holmes, George Breyley and John Oatley.

In Division 3, Hasbeens continue their march at the top continuing their unbeaten run with wins over Brixham Pirates and Torre Torrnadoes 7-3 and 6-4 respectively.

Dave Alexander, Richard Fitzgerald, Gerry Bennett and Mike Wickens all took wins over the two matches although Fitzgerald was beaten for the first time this season by Torrnadoes' Sam Perkins. Going down in the first set, Perkins came good to win the second and just squeak the next two 12-10, 16-14 two break the Fitzgerald stranglehold on the Division 3 rankings.

Perkins however was unable to come at all close against Chris Meah, John Graham and Zach Stevenson of Brixham Panthers as they lost 9-1 at home, with only Torrnadoes' Rhys Lush able to win the point to avoid the whitewash, by beating Graham 11-9 in the fifth set.

The battle for second spot was brought alive as Panthers engineered a fantastic 7-3 home win against rivals Dawlish Drifters, a match in which Chris Meah continued his winning form to beat Drifters' Bruce Freeman, Matt Reed and Don Beesley. The win brings the two teams level on points and 13 points ahead of fourth positioned Brixham Rebels.

The league is very saddened to report the death of league player Derek Mothersele. Derek played up until last season for Dawlish Diamonds in Division 2. Derek died suddenly on New Year's Eve. His funeral will take place at St.Andrew's Methodist Church, Ipplepen at 10am on Wednesday 18th January. The league expresses its sympathy with Derek's family and friends.

For more information about the Acacia Blinds South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League, see www. sdt-tabletennisleague.co.uk.

Report by Alan Maynard, results secretary.