Last week was a busy one for the Ottery St Mary Table Tennis Club, with the A team playing two matches in the Exeter and District League First Division in quick succession.

First up on Tuesday was an away fixture against West Exe B, which saw fine maximums of three wins from Mark and Tim Burridge with Ian Callard contributing two wins. After having also won the doubles game, the team secured a 9-1 win, with Mark Burridge named Man of the Match.

Thursday saw the arrival of Okehampton A for a home fixture, with Okehampton’s top player, Mike Hugh, running out a comfortable man of the match. However, the Ottery A team still managed a 6-4 win, with Mark Burridge and Ian Callard winning two games each and Tim Burridge one, and the father and son pairing of Tim and Mark winning the doubles.

The A team currently lie five points behind Tiverton with a match in hand and are well placed to finish the season in second place.

The B team also played two matches in the week, gaining a creditable 6-4 victory away to the Met Office Tornadoes, with Ian Callard, deputising for the sick Jeremy Broad, stepping in to take 3 victories and Man of the Match. Guillaume Gaston and Marian Vasile also contributed a win apiece. A rare doubles victory was also secured by Guillaume and Ian, their experience in the South Devon pairs earlier in the season having paid off.

A tough home fixture on the Thursday saw the B team pitched against Coaver B. However, Guillaume Gaston produced his best performance of the season to secure three victories and a deserved Man of the Match award.

Marian Vasile had some very close matches, taking two of the Coaver players to five sets. Ian Callard again deputised, playing in two matches on the same night and managing a hard-fought win. Sadly, the doubles did not produce any points but a 6-4 defeat was a creditable performance.

The B team have now moved off the bottom of the 1st Division and, with a number of games in hand, should climb further up the table.

Meanwhile, the Ottery C team remain bottom of the 3rd Division, but with a game in hand, should gain one or two places.