THE Isle of Wight Table Tennis League is reaching an exciting climax with all to play for in the top division.
With the league almost over, Ryde A head the Division 1 table by nine points from Shanklin Piranhas, who have caught up their postponed matches.
The Piranhas’ final match is against Newport Vics A, which promises to be a thriller — Shanklin needing to be in top form to gain the points needed to be crowned champions.
Division Three had a full complement of matches in the penultimate week of the season.
Ryde Rockers lead the table by 12 points, despite losing 6-4 to the Ryde Rebels, who featured 12-year-old twins Joe and Ethan Millward, who both won a match as they continue to develop.
In the battle for second, Newport Vics D overcame the youngsters of Ryde Rookies — but Rookie, Joe Chapman, 13, was player of the match, having won all his games.
Vics won the doubles to give them a 6-4 victory and now look favourites to stay second.
In other matches, newcomer Neil Hedges, recently drafted into Ryde Rapscallions, had a clean sweep of wins against Ryde Rockets to help them win 8-2, while Ryde Revellers beat Ryde Rustics 6-4 in an exciting encounter, with Rustics player Alan Hopkins winning all his games.
In the quarter-finals of the Men’s Singles Championship at Smallbrook, there was a high entry, with an excellent standard of play.
John Cornforth was beaten in three sets by Alex Rorke, while Martin Johnstone lost out to Don Hobbs.
The semi-finals will be Alex Rorke v Hugh Idle and Don Hobbs v Lee Orton, which will be played on Finals Night, at the same venue on Monday, April 29.
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