RUNAWAY Isle of Wight Table Tennis League leaders Ryde A, had a shock in their Division 1 match against seventh-placed Shanklin Skuas, who proved to be much trickier opponents than envisaged. 

Shanklin’s Paul Rainford was player of the match, winning all three games, while team-mate, Graham Evans won two. 

With Ryde leading 5-4 going into the doubles, it became the most exciting game of the match — a five-set thriller, which Ryde’s Mark Turner and Rob Smith edge past Rainford and Evans to earn a draw.

Ryde’s C and B teams also contested a close match, with the C team’s Alex Rorke unbeaten in the singles, while the B team’s junior, Joe Chapman, won two. 

The C team easily won the doubles to take the match 6-4 and lie second in the table.

Meanwhile, in Division 2, Ryde Rascals, lying second, easily beat the Ryde Wight Knights, with Steve Gibbons and Brian Voller unbeaten.

In Division 3, the St Lawrence Lizards — firm favourites for the title — beat the Ryde Rustics 9-1.