AFTER the Christmas and New Year break, the South Devon & Torbay Table Tennis League season resumed with a terrific encounter between the two unbeaten teams in the first division.

Division leaders and current champions, NA Buzzards, defeated a strong NA Batmen side 7-3. Simon James secured an excellent maximum for the Buzzards in a superb hard-hitting match with many excellent rallies that could’ve gone either way.

The Brixham Sharks’ team of Aarish Maharjan, Clive Banham and Chris Harper whitewashed NA Owls and moved up the table to second place.

In another Brixham vs Newton Abbot clash, the scores were reversed when the Brixham Trawlers came up against NA Condors, but Curtis Sage, Bob and Terry Parkins had to work hard for their 10-0 victory with many close-fought sets.

Grove Guerrillas have taken control at the top of the second division following their impressive 9-1 victory over Brixham Pirates.

Colin Butterworth and Andrew Gilhespy were unbeaten as the Guerrillas opened up a 14-point lead at the top of the table.

NA Ravens are trying to stay in touch with the leaders, with games in hand they are still unbeaten, their latest victory, a 7-3 win over Dawlish Aces included an excellent maximum from Mike Dummett.

Taverners, with the help of a Martin Dilkes maximum, picked up their first win of the season with an excellent 7-3 victory over Torbay Academy 2. A Mark Smith maximum helped Halwell B to a narrow 6-4 victory over NA Falcons.

A 9-1 victory by the NA Kestrels team of Jackie Whitehorn, Fred Wakefield and Richard Hathaway, over Torbay Academy 5, has moved them to the top of the third division.

Their stay at the top is likely to be short-lived as Torre Vikings, also with a 9-1 victory, are just five points behind with two games in hand. The Vikings have won all six of their matches, their latest against NA Harriers, Chris Garner and Bill Keywood again with maximums.

An excellent maximum by James Kitchen helped NA Kites to a share of the points against Brixham Gulls. Similarly, Pete Chadwick’s maximum for Dawlish Renegades against Torbay Academy 3 also resulted in a 5-5 draw.

Torre Spartans have taken over at the top of the fourth division, Lewis Lavery with another maximum for the Spartans as they drew with Torbay Academy 7.

Hot on their heels are the Grove Tigers, just two points behind with a game in hand, the Tigers’ latest victory 7-3 over NA Merlins included maximums from both Jeff Cornish and Francis Daly.

A David Sanders maximum was not enough for Dawlish Delinquents as they lost out 6-4 to Brixham Seals. Torbay Academy 6 edged their 6-4 victory over NA Vultures despite a fine maximum from the Vultures’ Albie Andrews.

There were also a couple of very close handicap doubles cup matches played which saw victories for Dawlish Delinquents and Torbay Academy 4.

The Delinquents team of Debi Curl, Hayden Boatman and Kevin Northcott taking the final set 4-0 to defeat NA Ravens 20-16. Torbay Academy 4, Matt Laws, Kevin Payne and Ionel Ichim, held a two-point lead going into the final set which they drew 2-2 giving them a 19-17 victory over Torre Vikings.