IT IS no wonder the Isle of Wight Table Tennis League is growing in popularity following another exciting set of games in all three divisions.

Ryde A, with a substantial lead at the top of Division 1, had an easy 8-2 win against Rookley Rhinos, with Lee Orton and Ollie Staniforth winning all of their games.

Shanklin Piranhas, who have two games in hand in second place, repeated last week’s 10-0 hammering of Ryde Run of the Mill by Ryde A the previous week.

Hugh Idle, of Ryde Royals, continued his good form of late by winning all of his games against Newport Vics A — the only singles victories for the Royals in the match, losing it 6-4.

However, the pairs match between Idle and Conal Howells and Vics’ Ricky Lock and Dave Hilliam, was a long, exciting and skilful game, with the Royals pair coming out on top in the fifth set.

Newport Vics B and Ryde Raiders also had a close match, with the Vics’ Danny Burns the star, winning all his games, with siblings Sean and Anna Joyce, each winning one each.

The Raiders’ Timothy Giles put in a good performance, beating the Joyces, with Mike Prior and Martin Johnstone with a victory apiece.

Burns and Anna Joyce joined together to win their pairs encounter to end the match in a 6-4 victory to Vics.

In Division 2, the match of the week was between second place contenders Ryde Peers and Shanklin B, with Ryde’s Ian Loosemore continuing his top form by winning all his games with relative ease.

Tom Waddell and Darol Wilson performed well for Shanklin, winning two each, with the match concluding with a very close pairs match, which saw Loosemore and Edward Purvey win it for the Peers in five sets to claim the 5-5 draw to hold onto second in the table over Shanklin B by a point.

In their match against Newport Vics C, Ryde Rascals’ John Featherstone was player of the match after he won all his games.

The Vics’ Trevor Percival performed well with two wins, but the Rascals proved to be too strong and won the match 7-3.

Havenstreet Hooters have now increased their lead at the top of the table to 21 points after their crushing 10-0 demolition of the St Lawrence Yo Yo Lizards.

Young talent Joseph Chapman was the player of the week in Division 3.

The 13-year-old Ryde Rookies player produced an exceptional performance in beating all of his opponents against top-of-the-table Ryde Rockers.

Joseph’s team-mate, Oliver Yelland, 15, won two games.

Chapman and Yelland played togetherto give the Rookies a brilliant 6-4 victory in their pairs match — a good night’s work which cemented their position in third place in the table.

Chapman now lies fourth in the players’ averages in his first season in league table tennis.

Ryde Rapscallions and Ryde Rustics had an exciting match, which ended in a 5-5 draw, with the Rapscallions’ Heather Wykes the player of the match following her trio of wins, plus a pairs success with Neil Hedges.

Ryde Revellers put the nightmare of the past two weeks behind them in a closely fought match against the Wootton Wolves, with Nicky Dando and Terence Henderson winning two games each in their 5-5 stalemate.

The Wolves’ Trevor Jones held all his games and gained victory in the pairs with Peter Green, which ensured they claimed the draw.

Newport Vics D have closed the gap at the top to only four points behind Ryde Rockers, with Ryde Rookies close on their heels.

                                                  ALL THE RESULTS

Division 1: Rookley Rhinos 2, Ryde A 8; Ryde Royals 4, Newport Vics A 6; Newport Vics B 6, Ryde Raiders 4; Ryde Run of the Mill 0, Shanklin Piranhas 10.

Division 2: Havenstreet Hooters 10, St Lawrence Yo Yo Lizards 0; Ryde Rascals 7, Newport Vics C 3, Ryde Peers 5, Shanklin B 5.

Division 3: Newport Vics D 10, Wootton Wombats 0; Wootton Wolves 5, Ryde Revellers 5; Ryde Rapscallions 5, Ryde Rustics 5; Ryde Rookies 6, Ryde Rockers 4.