WITH just four league matches to go for the leaders in Division One of the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League, it’s going to be difficult for anyone to prevent Newton Abbot Buzzards from collecting back to back league titles, reports Tony Halse.

The Buzzards have an 11-point lead at the top following their 9-1 victory over Halwell A, Kevin Nicholls and Simon James with maximums for the leaders. NA Eagles move up into second place, Mark Burridge and Paul Davey being unbeaten as they defeated club-mates NA Condors and NA Owls both 9-1 this week.

Also catching up with their fixtures and going well were NA Batmen, the team of Naomi Jackson, George and Emily Haskell first defeated Brixham Trawlers 10-0 and then beat NA Condors 9-1 to move up the table into third place still with games in hand over their rivals.

Totnes-based Grove Guerrillas maintained their seven point lead at the top of the second division table with an 8-2 victory over Taverners, David Pearson and Colin Butterworth were unbeaten for the Guerrillas.

A Mitch Nash-maximum helped NA Ravens, in the runners-up spot, to an 8-2 win over NA Falcons. A Martin Sharp maximum for Brixham Pirates was not enough for victory as they lost out 6-4 to NA Raptors.

Torbay Academy 2 picked up their first win of the season with a fine 7-3 victory over Dawlish Aces, Ed Damanskas with a man of the match performance for the Academy alongside Peter Moretta and Nev Cregan.

Torre Vikings stretched their lead at the top of the third division to nine points with a 9-1 victory over Dawlish Renegades, Chris Garner and Bill Keywood with maximums for the Vikings.

Second placed NA Kestrels were heavily beaten by club-mates NA Kites 9-1, Fin Humphreys and Nick Kitchen were undefeated for the fast-improving Kites. Another Matt Laws maximum helped Torbay Academy 4 to a narrow 6-4 victory over Brixham Gulls.

At the foot of the table, Torbay Academy 5 avoided defeat for the first time holding NA Harriers to a 5-5 draw.

In the fourth division, Torre Spartans look set to be crowned as champions earlier than most as their 8-2 victory over the Dawlish Delinquents gives them a fifteen-point lead at the top with a game in hand over second placed NA Merlins. Lewis Lavery, still undefeated, and Robert Excell with maximums for the Spartans.

NA Merlins moved into second place with a 7-3 win over Torbay Academy 7, helped by a Lee Raymond maximum. A Sacha Edwards maximum for Brixham Seals wasn’t quite enough for victory over NA Ospreys as they shared the points 5-5.

Division One full results:

NA Eagles 9 (M Burridge 2, Davey 2, Gaston 1, Awarded 3, Dbls) NA Condors 1 (B Parkins 1, Sage 0).

NA Buzzards 9 (Nicholls 3, James 3, Ryland 2, Dbls) Halwell A 1 (Wadling 1, Symons 0, Dunn 0).

NA Owls 1 (McIvor 1, Thompson 0, Nash 0) NA Eagles 9 (M Burridge 3, Davey 3, Broad 2, Dbls).

NA Batmen 10 (Jackson 3, G Haskell 3, E Haskell 3, Dbls) Brixham Trawlers 0 (Maynard 0, S Shipley 0, N Shipley 0).

NA Batmen 9 (Jackson 3, G Haskell 3, E Haskell 2, Dbls) NA Condors 1 (T Parkins 1, B Parkins 0, Cyron 0).