by Debbie Yates

Division One

Ryde Rankers 5 v Ryde C 5, Ryde B 5 v Havenstreet A 5

Only two matches were played in Division One this week, with the top two teams meeting in a match of high quality table tennis. Ryde C’s Paul Rainford extended his run of nine matches unbeaten, despite Ryde Rankers’ Hugh Idle taking him to five sets and losing only on deuce in the final set. Idle was on particularly good form winning both his other games, including a fine win against the Island’s top junior player, Ryan Cates. The C team’s Joe Chapman was the unluckiest player of the night, losing two five-set games against the Rankers’ Graham Evans and Lewis Johnstone. The match ended in a draw after an easy win for the Rankers’ Idle and Johnstone.

In another close match, Ryde B met Havenstreet A, with Ryde’s Alex Rorke player of the match and unbeaten, despite a five-set struggle against Havenstreet’s Roger Hookey. Rorke’s team-mate, Tim Giles, had an equally close contest against Havenstreet’s Tom Johnson, winning on deuce in the final set. With Giles and Rorke winning the doubles easily for Ryde, the match ended in a draw.

Ryde C are firm favourites to take the title, with a 14 point gap between them and second placed Ryde Rankers.

Division Two

Ryde Rising Stars 4 v Ryde Revellers 6, Havenstreet B 6 v Ryde Rascals 4, Ryde Detonators 8 v Shorwell Spinners 2, Ryde Rockets 5 v Ryde Quintet 5

Ryde Revellers are confirmed as Divison Two champions with just one match remaining, but second place is being contested between Havenstreet B, Ryde Detonators and Ryde Rising Stars. With everything resting on the final match, the Detonators and the Rising Stars will meet each other, leaving Havenstreet the possible favourites for the runners-up position if they can achieve a good win in their final match against Ryde Quintet.

Match-of-the-week was between the youngsters of Rising Stars and champions, Ryde Revellers, with the Rising Stars’ cadet, Jye Lock, winning two against Nicky Dando and Gourav Shah, and just losing a five-set encounter against Spike Hughes. Fellow cadet, Theo Lewis, beat Dando, whilst the doubles went to the Revellers in five sets, and they won the match 6-4.

Division Three

St Lawrence Lizards 7 v Shorwell Saints 3, Ryde Rustics 2 v Wroxall Warriors 8

In Division Three, Wroxall Warriors have gone back to the top of the table, after an 8-2 win against Ryde Rustics.

However, with favourites Ryde Retailers having games in hand, it will be a fight for Wroxall to stay in the top spot with just two matches remaining, with everything resting on their match against the Retailers next week.