RYDE A are crowned champions of Division One of the Isle of Wight Table Tennis League with still two weeks to go to the end of the season.
The 'A' team remain unbeatable at the top with 100 points, with two games in hand over their nearest rivals, Ryde C, with 84 points.
Ryde teams remain dominant in the division this season, taking up the top four places, although Newport Vics A and Shanklin Warriors are both in with a chance to move up the table, with Shanklin in the stronger position.
Vics and Shanklin met this week, with the Warriors coming out on top with a 7-3 win.
But Vics' Anna Joyce, soon to be playing in the Island Games in Guernsey, was in good form with two wins, including a five-set victory over top-rated Don Hobbs.
Player of the match was Shanklin’s unbeaten Michael Bulpitt.
Shanklin Skuas, who lie eighth in the table, had an unexpected 8-2 win over third-placed Ryde B, with Paul Rainford and Graham Evans won their three matches, which included a doubles victory.
In Division Two, Newport Vics B were also confirmed as champions — an incredible 30 points clear of second placed Ryde Rascals.
Third and fourth placed Ryde Rockets and Ryde Relatives, respectively, met in a topsy-turvy match, full of long games and exciting play.
The Rockets' Trevor Percival was player of the match — but he only just overcame the Relatives' junior, Joseph Millward, at deuce in the fifth set.
Joseph’s twin, Ethan, won two games and was successful playing with grandad, Martin Dove, in the doubles — another five-set thriller which ended 6-4 to the Rockets.
The bottom two teams, Ryde Rangers and Newport Vics C, met in another thriller, with Ryde’s junior, Zak Holbrook, the player of the match and unbeaten.
Bottom of the table Vics, however, were more than happy with a draw after Paul Lewis and Chris Gordine were successful, up against Ryde’s Holbrook and his team-mate, Marlene Irving.
Shorwell’s two teams both played in close matches this week, with fourth placed Shorwell Saints holding Division Three leaders St Lawrence Lizards to a draw.
Second placed Shorwell Spinners managed a win against lower placed Ryde Retailers, after a long, closely fought match, which concluded with a doubles win for Shorwell at deuce in the fifth set.
The Lizards are favourites to win the Division Three title, but Shorwell Spinners can still overtake them with two matches left to play.
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