North Devon Table Tennis League 2019/20 (week eight) round-up

HOLSWORTHY A’s three-match winning run came to an end last Monday night as they lost 8-2 at Instow-based leaders Smugglers.

Although Mark Beaumont defeated Peter Hedge in the opening match of the night and defeated the impressive Matthew Thomas to make it 2-2, the hosts won the final eight games.

Czech Martin Babulik was the star of the show in winning all three, even withstanding a storming comeback from Beaumont to take the decider.

Hedge and Thomas had no such trouble in defeating Dave Salisbury and Owen Salisbury.

Bridgerule are down to fourth, ten points off the top, after being held to a 5-5 draw at mid-table Balls of Fury.

Steve Cragg led from the front for the visitors with three excellent wins, and was ably supported by Pete Freeburn who got the better of Lee Farrant and Wim Faassen in matches which went the distance.

Following two whitewashes, Holsworthy D at least picked up some points, but lost 7-3 against third-placed Blazing Paddles at Sutcombe Village Hall.

North Devon champion Ben Taylor was unbeaten all evening but did have to fight back from 2-1 down to beat Ashley Taylor, who beat Steve Richardson.

David Sillifant beat Richardson and Tim Cooke in straight ends for a brace.

Holsworthy C put in a much-improved performance before losing 6-4 at home to mid-table Despicables in Division Two.

Sumiyo Berkeley managed a brace while Bob Montague and Ezra Jukes defeated Sue Jackson.

But Richard Nicholls’ treble coupled with Michael Hill’s double meant they went into the end of night doubles with a slender advantage.

Nicholls and Hill then just edged the doubles in four close games to take the spoils back to Instow.

Holsworthy B lost by the same scoreline as their C team in their rearranged clash with West Buckland.

Although Doug Genini was in superb form to claim a treble, Barry Stearman was the only other home player to record a point.

Mike Ware and Alan Briggs both recorded a brace as well as combining to win the doubles, while Dave Moore beat Jeremy Rickman.

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