THE only division one match in the Okehampton and district Table Tennis League played this week was Dartmoor Fringe at home to The J Team, who raced into a 4-0 lead.

Ian Smith saved the whitewash when he beat Frank Cockburn in straight sets. Naomi Jackson and John Down both scored maximums and won the doubles against Ian and Keith Smith to win the match 9-1 and to take top place in the league table.

In division two Anchorage C were at home to Okehampton B, Dave Daspher beat Cath Smith in a thrilling five set first game; Dave took the first two games 11-6, 11-4 but Cath fought back to win the next two 5-11, 5-11 but Dave won the last 12-10. Dick Randell won the next to level at 1-1, Anchorage then stepped up a gear winning the next six singles for a 7-1 lead. Okehampton won the last two singles and the doubles, Anchorage won their first match 7-3 with Barry Williams scoring his first maximum.

In the next match, Milton Abbot against Anchorage B, Gareth Hedges lost to Roger Gilbert in the first but Ian Osborne levelled for Milton Abbot in the second game and went on to complete his second maximum of the season to level at 2-2. Max Williams did well to take Dave Wilson to a fifth leg decider just losing out 4-11, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 9-11 and also lost out to Roger Gilbert 11-9, 4-11, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11. Dave Wilson won the last singles against Gareth Hedges to put Anchorage 6-3 ahead and then joined Roger Gilbert to win the doubles against Gareth and Max for a 7-3 win.

Okehampton B were at home to Academy A in the next match, young Tom Pearce did well to beat Maureen Venton in the first winning 14-12 in the third leg. John Howick lost to Tom Pengelly in a hard fought fifth leg game 14-12, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11 to put the Academy side 2-0 up. Cath Smith pulled one back beating Wayne Pearce in four legs, John lost another thrilling fifth leg game against Tom Pearce 13-11, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 3-11 before he had better luck against Wayne winning 12-10 also in the fifth to put Okehampton 4-3 in front. Tom Pearce levelled at 4-4 when he beat Cath, Maureen put Okehampton 5-4 up against Tom Pengelly and then joined Cath to win the doubles in four legs against Tom and Tom for a 6-4 win.

The Young Ones had two good games to take them six points clear of division two. The first against Anchorage B who they beat 7-3; George Haskell scored a fine maximum, his third of the season, ably support by his brother Edward and Sarah Jackson. Roger Gilbert did well to beat Sarah in the first game to put Anchorage ahead. The Young Ones took the next six singles, Roger won the next and joined Dave Wilson in the doubles beating Sarah and Edward 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7, 4-11 for a 7-3 win for The Young Ones.

For the next game they travelled to Moretonhampstead, in another exciting and hard fought match the scores were level at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, Moreton went 5-4 in the last singles; Ken Underhill beating George Haskell for his third maximum. Ken and Richard Underhill lost to George and Sarah Jackson for a honourable 5-5 draw.

Division one P W D L Pts

The J Team 6 4 1 1 44

Tavistock A 4 3 0 1 35

Okehampton A 4 4 0 0 29

Bridestowe 4 2 1 1 26

Tavistock B 5 2 0 3 24

Dartmoor Fringe 5 1 0 4 17

North Wyke 4 0 0 4 2

Anchorage A 2 0 0 2 0

Division two P W D L Pts

The Young Ones 5 4 1 0 36

Okehampton B 5 3 1 1 28

Academy A 5 3 0 2 27

Anchorage B 5 2 0 3 26

Moretonham'd 5 2 1 2 23

Anchorage C 4 1 0 3 15

Milton Abbot 5 0 1 4 15