RYDE ‘A’ ARE ISLE OF WIGHT TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONS

Ryde ‘A’ have been confirmed clear winners of Division 1 of the 2021/22 IWTTA Winter League.

At the end of the season, there was an 18-point gap between Ryde ‘A’ and 2nd-placed Shanklin Warriors, with Ryde Royals coming 3rd.

There were some close matches in the final full week, with Shanklin Warriors and Ryde Royals battling it out over a very long evening, with the match culminating in a draw.  The Royal’s Hugh Idle was player of the match despite only just holding on to win 12-10 in his 5th set against Shanklin’s Don Hobbs.

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Newport Vics A and Ryde Raiders were involved in an even longer match this week. The Raider’s Timothy Giles was player of the match but was taken to 5 sets by Vics’ Dave Hilliam and Anna Joyce.  Hilliam and Joyce then teamed up to win a close doubles against Giles and team mate Mike Prior for the match to end in a draw.

Top of the players averages for the season is Ryde A’s Scott Lawson, who is unbeaten, whilst Ryde Raider’s Alex Rorke lies 2nd with a 93% win average, and Ryde Royal’s Hugh Idle is 3rd on 90%.

Division 1 Results

Division 1 Table

In Division 2 …

With all matches completed in Division 2, Havenstreet Locos are confirmed champions, with a 20-point lead over second placed Shanklin Skuas, whilst Ryde Rascals are third.

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Both Havenstreet and Shanklin showed their domination this week with 9-1 victories over Ryde Red Kites and Undercliff Belters respectively.

Match of the week was a battle between 2 teams at the bottom of the table, Ryde Rangers and St Lawrence Lizards. The Ranger’s junior player Ross Holme was player of the match but had to work hard to beat St Lawrence’s Derek Pittard in 5 sets. At the end of a long night, Pittard joined up with Tom Flood to take the doubles against Holme and teammate Marlene Irving, but Rangers won the match 6-4.

Division 2 Table

In Division 3 …

Newport Vics C are the clear winners of Division 3 with a 3- point gap over 2nd-placed Shorwell A, whilst Ryde Rustics lie 3rd.

Vics and Shorwell ended their seasons with emphatic wins against Ryde Rustics and Ryde Rockets respectively, whilst Albert Lee of bottom placed Ryde Regals won all his games in their close match against Ryde Rockets.

Junior Ryan Cates of Ryde Rookies heads the averages table for the season with a 97% win average, having lost only once, to the Rustic’s nonagenarian Bert Paice.  Newport Vics’ Paul Lewis lies 2nd with 91%, and Ryde Rocket’s Stephen Gibbons is in 3rd with 89%.

Division 3 Results

Division 3 Table

In the Knowles Cup …

The team handicap event which has been running all season and is competed for between teams from all divisions, culminated in Shanklin Warriors of Division One beating Ryde Relics of Division 2 in the final on 1st April.