With the leaders of the first division, Torbay Academy 1, having the week off the gap between the leaders and second place NA Batmen closed to 10 points following the Batmen’s 8-2 victory over Halwell B, writes Tony Halse.

Dennis and Shaun Gibbs were undefeated for the Batmen.

NA Buzzards, helped by another fine maximum from Herbie Sage, saw off the challenge from clubmates NA Eagles 7-3. The battle at the basement was won by the NA Condors who defeated Halwell A 6-4.

The Shipley twins, Nicholas and Stuart, had to be at their best to gain their maximums for Torbay Academy 2 and increase the lead at the top of the second division by beating second placed Torre Titans 6-4.

Dawlish Aces were held to a 5-5 draw by NA Falcons despite an excellent maximum from the Aces David Davies. A Paul Hine maximum helped his NA Raptors team to an 8-2 victory over the struggling Taverners.

In the third division, unbeaten and now just four points behind the leaders, Totnes’s The Grove continue to impress. David Pearson and Derek Bowerman were unbeaten as they eased to an 8-2 victory over NA Harriers.

NA Kestrels kept their hopes of challenging the top sides with a comfortable 8-2 victory over Torre Tornadoes. Andy Millman and Bruce Freeman with maximums for the Newton Abbot side.

The Experienced fourth division leaders, Torbay Academy 6, whitewashed the youngsters from NA Vultures. Jean Neafcy, Jerry Hollings and Anne-Marie Gibbs only dropping one game in their 10-0 victory.

An excellent Ken Ramsden maximum for NA Ospreys was not quite enough for victory as the points were shared with NA Merlins.

Results:

Division One: NA Eagles 3 (M Burridge 2, Broad 1, Yarde-Buller 0), NA Buzzards 7 (Sage 3, Nicholls 2, Ryland 1, Dbls); Halwell B 2 (Sugden 0, Wadling 0, Symons 0, Awarded 2), NA Batmen 8 (D Gibbs 3, S Gibbs 3, Tushingham 1, Dbls); NA Condors 6 (Webster-Hall 2, McIvor 2, Thompson 1, Dbls), Halwell A 4 (Mercer 2, Smith 1, Dunn 1).

Division Two: Dawlish Aces 5 (Davies 3, Sharratt 1, Bellham 1), NA Falcons 5 (McIvor 2, Scriven 2, Dummett 0, Dbls); Torre Titans 4 (Lush 1, Garner 1, Crawdford 1, Dbls), Torbay Academy II 6 (S Shipley 3, N Shipley 3, Perry 0); NA Raptors 8 (Hine 3, Tyler 2, Darch 2, Dbls), Taverners 2 (Dilkes 1, Harrop 1, Read 0).

Division Three: NA Kestrels 8 (Freeman 3, Millman 3, Shears 1, Dbls), Torre Tornadoes 2 (Keywood 1, James 1, Morris 0); NA Harriers 2 (Haslam 1, Fabian 1, Copley 0), The Grove 8 (Pearson 3, Bowerman 3, Cornish 1, Dbls).

Division Four: NA Vultures 0 (Wilson 0, Thain 0, Humphreys 0), Torbay Academy IIIIII 10 (Neafcy 3, Gibbs 3, Holland 3, Dbls); NA Merlins 5 (Kitchen 2, Olver 1, Abu Ali 1, Dbls), NA Ospreys 5 (Ramsden 3, Ferguson 2, Dulling 0).