Newton Abbot men's first team picked up 18 valuable points in a 4-1 win over Devon and Exeter 1 as they try to keep pace with the top two in the Devon Premier League.
The only reverse came at five, where Kevin Appleby went down 1-3 to Simon Riley. Nigel Bell then won in three though the first two games were close at 10/8 apiece. Phil Borrett and captain Lee Curtis sealed victory as both players won 3-1 leaving top string Lewys Hurst to round off a successful evening with a comfortable 3-0 win over Jon Densham.
The men's second team recorded a much-needed win with a 3-2 (16-7) home success over fellow division one strugglers, Dartington 1.
The foundation for the win was laid at four and five as Tom Wilson and Steve Davey both completed 3-0 wins, over Guy Salmon and Tim Bowker respectively.
Third string Nick Richards is slowly returning to match fitness but Martin Judge for the visitors proved too strong, winning in four.
Playing at two, captain Dave Brown secured the win for his side, recovering from the loss of the opening game to take the next three against George Copeland and top string Matt Hunt had an indifferent game at the top of the order, losing the first game to Dominic Fenton 2/9, then playing some absolutely sublime squash to race through the second 9/0 to level the tie. Hunt then struggled in the next two, both going to Fenton.
In a top versus bottom clash in division two, Newton Abbot Thirds, at the wrong end of the table, should have taken the points against second placed Riverside.
Steve Morrall and Rob Salmon both achieved 3-0 wins and Rob Muddeman and Richard Salmon both led 2-0 in their respective games before the wheels fell off their wagon.
Muddeman's first two games were close 9/7 wins while the third went to his opponent by the same score.
The Newton man then injured his back at the start of the fourth but still managed to take the lead though he was unable to hold on to it, losing it 8/10. Not wishing to risk further injury, Muddeman did not enter the ring for the decider.
Salmon's game was even more disappointing. After taking the first two games 9/2 10/9, he held a respectable 8/1 lead in the third, serving for the game several times, but a series of mistakes and some inspired play from his opponent, Mark Crocker, saw the lead slowly disappear and as it did, Salmon's play became more anxious. Crocker saved the game by winning it 10/8 then continued to play well to take the next two.
Top string Aiden Hyland was also unable to clinch victory for the thirds as he lost in four, giving Riverside a narrow 14-11 win.
The fourths travelled in the opposite direction, against D & E 8 and lost 4-1 (18-5).
The sole victory came at five, where Brian Avery won 3-1. The other points came from top string Luke Ruderham, losing in five. Sandwiched in between were 0-3 defeats for Steve Lewis, Ian Davies and Barry Knight.
The fifths still prop up division three and still seek their first win of the winter.
The home match against a youthful Torquay 4 was always going to be a difficult tie in which to open their account, and so it proved. Claire Simmonds, at five, led Rich Rendle 2-1 but lost the last two then Dan Gough lost in three to Dom Philips.
Andrew Maker did record a win for the home side as he overcame the visitors' token oldie, Stuart Vallance, in a long five set match.
It was then back to 3-0 as Les Lachenicht was made to run several marathons against Luke Tanner and despite giving his usual 100 per cent performance, lost 6/9 7/9 4/9. Kev Smart was up against Andy Robb and competed well for two games but youth succeeded in the end, Robb winning 3-1.