By Isle of Wight Observer
By Debbie Yates
Division One
Ryde C 9 v Newport Vics A 1, Havenstreet A 10 v Newport Vics B 0, Ryde A 6 v Ryde B 4, Ryde B 5 v Havenstreet A 5
As the season draws near its end, teams have been catching up on matches, and Havenstreet A were in action twice. After a 10-0 whitewash of Newport Vics B, they had a much harder match against Ryde B. Ryde’s Alex Rorke was unbeaten, but only after a hard five set contest against Havenstreet’s Roger Hookey, who had to work hard to beat Ryde’s Bryce Wilson in five sets. His team-mate, Mike Turner, was on form, winning two. The doubles was an easy win for Ryde’s Rorke, and team- mate, Tim Giles, and the match ended in a draw.
Ryde B were also in action against Ryde A which proved to be another close match. The A team’s Scott Lawson was largely untroubled, as he won all three without dropping a set, whilst team-mate, Mark Turner, won two.
Turner and Lawson played in the doubles, which they won in three sets and the match ended 6-4 to the A team.
Ryde C lead the table with a 16-point gap over Ryde Rankers, with four matches remaining.
Division Two
Newport Vics C 5 v Ryde Rascals 5, Ryde Revellers 5 v Ryde Quintet 5, Ryde Detonators 4 v Ryde Quintet 6, Shorwell Spinners 8 v Newport Vics D 2
Leaders, Ryde Revellers, were held to a draw this week by Ryde Quintet. There were some exciting contests, particularly between the Quintet’s Alan Dennis and the Revellers’ Dave Batten, which Dennis took at 16-14 in the fifth set.
Newport Vics C played Ryde Rascals in another close match, with Newport’s Dave Newnham player-of-the-match and unbeaten, despite being taken to five sets by the Rascals’ Martin Dove. The doubles was an easy win for the Rascals’ Dove, and partner, Alan Burch, and the match ended in a draw.
In a bottom of the table clash, Shorwell Spinners put an end to Newport Vics D’s bid to stay in Division Two, beating them 8-2 and confirming their relegation. Shorwell’s Peter Burger was player of the match and unbeaten.
Division Three
St Lawrence Lizards 0 v Ryde Retailers 10, Wroxall Warriors 10 v Ryde Frogs 0, St Lawrence Lizards 7 v Ryde Rustics 3, Ryde Retailers 9 v Shorwell Saints 1, Ryde Frogs 8 v Wroxall Warriors 2
St Lawrence Lizards played twice and had contrasting fortunes, as they were beaten 10-0 by the team of the moment, Ryde Retailers. The Lizards had a better night against Ryde Rustics, winning 7-3.
Ryde Frogs and Wroxall Warriors met twice, and there were bizarrely different outcomes to the matches, with the Frogs losing 10-0 in the first meeting, owing to fielding a depleted team, and then winning 8-2 in the second, playing with their strongest team .
Ryde Retailers are looking unbeatable at the top with just a few matches left to play, whilst Wroxall Warriors lie in second place.
Isle of Wight Junior and Cadet Championships
The junior and cadet championships were held on Friday. Cadets are under-15 years of age, whilst juniors are under 19. There was also an under-11s tournament held. The finals of the cadet and junior championships will be played on Finals Night on April 30, whilst the under-11s championship was played to a close and won by Ollie Lewis who plays in the Third Division of the IWTTA League.
The finalists in the cadet championships are Jye Lock and Theo Lewis, who both play in Division Two. The junior championship will be decided between Division One players, Ryan Cates and Lewis Johnstone, who also represent the Island playing for the IW in the Senior British Club League.