A full strength Newton Abbot first team clinched the Division One title to return to the Premier Division at the first attempt, after a hard fought 3-2 win at closest rivals Sidmouth.
The east Devon side made sure the visitors did not have things all their own way as the top two strings both won, though the match had already gone to Newton Abbot by that stage. Matt Hunt, at five, moved one step nearer a clean sweep for the season with his 19th successive win, and in doing so inflicted a first defeat of the season on his opponent, ex-Warwickshire county player Mike Taylor, with a 9-2 5-9 10-9 10-8 win.
Fourth string Oliver Morrall was not stretched as he beat Mark Trafford 9-2 9-0 9-0. Kevin Appleby, at three, clinched the match for Newton Abbot with an impressive 3-1 win over Chris Woodruff.
Paul Britton also seemed to be on the road to victory as he led Phil Borrett 9-6 9-6, but Britton's fitness was matched by that of the home player who recovered to take the next three games. Borrett's brother Glen, Sidmouth's top string, avenged a defeat earlier in the season by beating Newton's number one Lee Curtis in straignt sets.
The Newton Abbot 1st team was honoured later in the week at the annual Teignbridge Council Sports Personality of the Year Awards as they came joint second behind Teignmouth AFC in the senior team section.
Following the success of the first team, it was downhill for the rest of the teams this week, though all Newton teams were all up against tough opposition.
The seconds travelled to Exeter to take on the University first team, currently top of division two, and lost 1-4. The only success on the night for the visitors was at five where the ever-improving Tom Haysom recovered from losing the first game to beat Charlie Hoare 6-9 10-9 9-6 9-6. Kevin Smart's tie was the reverse, after taking the first game from Sam Byron Evans 6-9, he was well beaten in the rest 9-2 9-1 9-0.
Third string Carlo Lemba went one better in taking the first two games, both 9-7 against Rob Fortune only to lose the next three 9-0 9-0 9-2. Both Nick Richards and Dave Brown were pitted against strong opposition, Richards losing 9-4 9-7 9-4 to Luke Doddington and Brown going down 9-0 9-0 9-7 to Tom Robinson, a player who would not be out of his depth in the Premier Division.
The third team played host to Torquay 4ths without regular top string Tom Wilson. This meant the top three all playing up and a team squash debut for Shaun Mutton at four.
Mutton overcame early nerves, losing the first game 1-9, by taking the next two 9-6 9-2. Malcolm Haywood for the visitors showed his experience as he fought back in a long match to take the next two 9-3 9-4. Fifth string Paul Lennox lost a seesaw tie 5-9- 9-6 7-9 1-9 to Stuart Lundston. At three, Brian Avery took a closely contested first game 10-9 from Peter Hamlett, but the Torquay player then won the next three.
Top two Rob Muddiman and Steve Morrall both were involved in five setters, Muddiman leading 1-0 and 2-1 against Nigel Ball, finally losing 9-6 6-9 9-7 5-9 6-9. Morrall lost his first game with Barney Carter 4-9 then claimed the next two 9-4 9-6, his mixture of flighted lobs and accurate drops putting him temporarily on top. However, Carter upped the pace and then dominated the final two games as Morrall tired, taking them 4-9 3-9. The Fourths were also at home, tackling Fort Stamford's third team.
There were 0-3 defeats for Paul Avery and Steve Reynolds at the hands of Tom Legg and Mark Horwell, both home players taking just seven points each. Fourth string Kelvin White lost in four to Marc Alford and Ian Davies went to five with Katrina Davis, losing the decider 2-9.
There was some success for the Marsh Road club as Mark Hedge had a stylish 9-5 9-7 10-8 victory over Gary Chapman.
The Ladies finished their home season on a losing note against a strong Dartington five. Reserve Kathy Bissell had a comprehensive 9-0 9-1 9-4 win over Emma Gardner, and at four Emma Thomas battled bravely with Alison Samuel before the Dartington player won 9-4 7-9 9-3 9-1.
Third string Sharon Brown also lost in four, 2-9 1-9 9-7 4-9 to Camilla Deboo. Anne Scott levelled the match in a hard fought five setter against Cathy Kilburn, not daunted by her opponent's 'killer' epithet, Scott won 2-9 4-9 9-3 9-5 9-2.
The result of the match rested with top strings Claire Simmonds and Helen Paley for the visitors. Simmonds took a close first game 10-9, but was outplayed in the next two 1-9 2-9. The fourth, although closer, also went to Paley, 9-6.
As well as the league action, the Veteran's competition reached its climax as Nick Richard's retained his title against five times winner Steve Morrall.
Previous holder Morrall started well and led 5-2 in the first game, but Richards rallied to take it 9-6. The defending champion stepped up the pace in the next two games to take them 2-9 1-9 and comfortably retain his title.
The trophy will be presented at the Marsh Road Club's dinner and dance, to be held at Dainton Golf Club.