By Isle of Wight Observer
By Debbie Yates
Division One
Ryde A 8 v Newport Vics A 2, Ryde B 2 v Ryde C 8, Ryde Goshawks 3 v Havenstreet A 7, Newport Vics B 0 v Ryde Rankers 10.
Havenstreet A moved up to fourth place this week, after a well-deserved win over Ryde Goshawks.
Havenstreet’s Mike Turner, Michael Bulpitt and Roger Hookey were all on form, but none could come close to Ryde’s Steve Mills, who won all his games in three sets. However, Havenstreet won all their other games and finished with an easy doubles win to take the match 7-3.
Ryde Rankers moved two points nearer the top-of-the-table, after their 10-0 win over Newport Vics B, with league leaders, Ryde C, dropping two against Ryde B. Alex Rorke was on great form for the B team, with two wins over the C team’s Paul Rainford and Joe Chapman, and a narrow five set defeat to highly-ranked junior, Ryan Cates.
Division Two
Havenstreet B 3 v Ryde Rising Stars 7, Newport Vics D 3 v Ryde Rascals 7, Ryde Detonators 7 v Newport Vics C 3, Ryde Rockets 6 v Shorwell Spinners 4, Ryde Quintet 5 v Ryde Revellers 5.
Top-of-the-table Ryde Revellers were unexpectedly held to a draw this week by lower-ranked Ryde Quintet, with the Quintet’s Julie Thorn player-of-the-match, winning all three without dropping a leg. Team-mates, William Paul and Alan Dennis, won one each, whilst the Revellers took the doubles, and the match ended 5-5.
Second-placed Ryde Detonators are now only one point behind the Revellers after their 7-3 win over Newport Vics C, although Newport’s Paul Lewis was unbeaten and player-of-the-match.
Ryde Rascals usually finish near the top of the table, but have struggled a little this season, so were pleased with their 7-3 win over Newport Vics D, with Peter Clarke unbeaten and player-of-the-match.
Division Three
Shorwell Saints 3 v Ryde Frogs 7, Wroxall Warriors 6 v St Lawrence Lizards 4, Ryde Rustics 1 v Ryde Retailers 9.
The standard of play in Division Three has risen, with new players joining Ryde Frogs and a new team, Wroxall Warriors, proving hard to beat, along with the well-established Ryde Retailers who just missed out on promotion last season, and St Lawrence Lizards who were relegated from Division Two.
This week, Wroxall Warriors beat St Lawrence Lizards by 6 games to 4 in a thrilling match, with some close games, and knocked St Lawrence off the top spot. However, Ryde Retailers leap-frogged up the table, after an excellent 9-1 win over Ryde Rustics, and are now leading the table, with Wroxall in second place.