Lewis Johnstone (Ryde Reprobates)Rydes table tennis teams made short work of Newport in Division 1 in the week ending 13th January. Newport Vics A suffered a 10-0 defeat by Ryde Reprobates, with player-of-the-match the Reprobates’ Hugh Idle, and Newport Vics B lost 8-2 to Ryde B, with only Barry Joyce and Rob Warren managing wins for Newport. A much closer match was the one between the 2 top teams in the League: Ryde C and Ryde A. The A team’s Scott Lawson, having lost only 1 match all season, was taken to 5 sets by the C team’s junior Ryan Cates, but Lawson ultimately took the match 11-9 in the final set. With Cates winning his 2 other singles and teammate Paul Rainford doing the same, the score going into the deciding doubles was 5-4 to the A team. However, Rainford and Cates made short work of Lawson and partner Rob Smith in 3 sets, and the match ended in a draw. Ryde C are now slight favourites to take the title, although Ryde A and Ryde Reprobates are close behind.
Newport Vics A
0
Ryde Reprobates
10
Ryde C
5
Ryde A
5
Ryde B
8
Newport Vics
2
In Division 2…
Division 2 matches proved interesting this week, with Ryde Revellers playing exceptionally well to beat Ryde Lizards by 9 games to 1. The Reveller’s Nicky Dando and Gourav Shah won all 3, whilst teammate Nicola Turner lost narrowly to the Lizard’s Tom Flood. Havenstreet Hooters also enjoyed a strong win over Wootton Wanderers by 8 games to 2, with Havenstreet’s Dave Rendle player of the match. Division 2 leaders Newport Vics C had a much closer match against 2nd-placed Ryde Rascals, with Lawrence Fo and Charlie Stapleley unbeaten for Newport, whilst the Rascal’s Stephen Gibbons won 2. The match ended 6-4 to Newport, and they stay top of the Division.
Ryde Lizards
1
Ryde Revellers
9
Havenstreet Hooters
8
Wootton Wanderers
2
Ryde Rockets
6
Ryde Allsorts
4
Newport Vics C
6
Ryde Rascals
4
In Division 3…
Shorwell teams have been giving Division Three leaders Newport Vics D a run for their money recently, and this week it was the Spinners’ turn to take Newport all the way, with the final result resting on the doubles. Shorwell’s Peter Burger and Robert Wendes won 2 each, but Newport’s Chris Gordine was unbeaten, and the match ended 6-4 to Newport.
