NEWTON Abbot Buzzards made a strong start to the new season as they look to take a fourth consecutive title.

Facing club colleagues NA Eagles, Herbie Sage and new addition Dennis Gibbs chipped in with maximums for a 9-1 victory.

Last season’s runners-up, Brixham Sharks, also started well, an Aarish Maharjan maximum helping them see off Torbay Academy 1, 7-3.

Brixham Trawlers, Division Two champions last season, struggled in their first match in the top-flight going down 9-1 to an inspired NA Condors. Bob Parkins and Mike Kiff were unbeaten for the newly formed Condors.

In the second division, a Dan Barnett maximum for Torbay Academy 2 got their season off to a good start with a 7-3 victory over Brixham Gulls.

Torbay Academy 3 didn’t fare so well as they were well beaten by Torre Vikings whose Bill Keywood and Ed Crawford were unbeaten as the Vikings strolled to a 9-1 victory.

Grove Tigers were runaway champions of the fourth division last season and stepping up a division they have started life in Division Three well with an 8-2 victory over Torbay Academy 5. Nigel Langley with a maximum for the Tigers.

The points were shared in an all-Newton Abbot encounter between NA Kestrels and NA Harriers, the Kestrels’ skipper Rob Williams with a maximum.

Two matches and two 8-2 victories for NA Ospreys in the fourth division has seen them get off to a flying start. Firstly, they saw off their clubmates NA Hawks and then defeated Torbay Academy 8. Rob Ferguson with maximums in both matches, Rachel Boss, during her debut week in the league, won five out of her six singles matches.

A Marco Pilloni maximum helped Torbay Academy 7 get off to a winning start as they defeated Brixham Seals 6-4.

An excellent Attila Usztics maximum in his first match for NA Hawks were the only points the Hawks managed as they went down 7-3 to NA Merlins.