TORBAY QUIZ LEAGUE

REPORT AND RESULTS

25:11:2009

Grenville Division: Royal A 48 (39), Paignton Sea Anglers D 38 (15); Paignton Sea Anglers A 38 (13), Crown & Sceptre 35 (33); Castle Inn 50 (15), Royal C 39 (40).

Hawkins Division: Preston Con Club 44 (24), Devonport B 45 (22); Devonport A 34 (25), Bickley Mill 40 (20); Churston Golf Club Wytookays 29 (12), Torquay Rugby Club 51 (15).

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The top v second clash in Grenville resulted in a boost for divisional leaders Royal A when they comfortably beat Paignton Sea Anglers D by ten points, and extended their advantage to four match points. Royal C might have hoped to close the gap on the leading two but they lost to Castle Inn in a free-scoring game. Castle took the lead in the opening round and remained ahead throughout. The win took them level on match points with their opponents, but still behind on points accrued. At Paignton Sea Anglers A the home team's defeat of three-strong Crown & Sceptre was their first win in five weeks, and sent the Torquay side to the bottom of the table.

Devonport B, unbeaten leaders of Hawkins Division, nearly suffered a first defeat of the season at Preston Con Club. The visitors took a six-point lead out of opening conferring, but the hosts whittled the advantage down to two points with four rounds gone. Dev B pushed their lead to four by the start of the last section but Con Club came back again, and it was only two prime points for late replacement Claire Reed on the very last question of the evening, that gave Dev B their 45-44 win. Second-placed Bickley Mill spent the first half of their match at Devonport A playing catch-up after the opening round was shared seven-all. Bickley Mill took the lead in round four and extended it with every round, taking the game 40-34 and opening up a gap in the table between themselves and their defeated hosts. Torquay Rugby Club racked up the biggest score of the night in their 51-29 victory over Churston Golf Club Wytookays. They were helped by a Golfing blank on botany and had the points sewn up well before the end of second conferring. The win took them up to fourth in the table, with Preston Con Club moving in the downward direction.

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Grenville has turned, once again, into a two-horse race with the usual suspects fighting it out for the Divisional title. Royal C - Devon Dumpling in a previous incarnation - notched up an impressive score of 40 at Castle Inn, protecting their lead very effectively, with the game over and done with before round four started. Not to be entirely outdone, second-placed Royal A outclassed Paignton Sea Anglers D 39-15, in another match that did not need the last round for a result. Crown & Sceptre had a full complement of players by the time the Sport quiz started, and they disposed of Paignton Sea Anglers A 33-13. The win took them above D Anglers on points accrued.

Devonport A's perfect record at the top of Hawkins remained intact for another week, following their 25-20 defeat of Bickley Mill. The Devvy edged each of the first three rounds, and hung in there to share the last round six-all and slap one hand on the divisional title. They were assisted in their task by Preston Con Club, who inflicted only the second defeat of the season on second-placed Devonport B. Indeed, Dev B had a three-point lead going into the last section but could only muster a single bonus on Autumn 2009. With two questions left Dev B were one point ahead, but Con Club No. 4 Jim Bagwell then opened his scoring for the night, picking up a bonus, and answering his own question correctly to reverse the GK scenario and give his team a 24-22 victory.

League action takes a rest next week, with teams gathering instead at the Royal in Babbacombe for the Christmas Charity Quiz. Proceeds will take the customary route to the Louisa Carey ward at Torbay Hospital, where staff will purchase toys and games suitable for the children in their temporary care.

The last set of League matches before the Christmas break will take place the following Wednesday, 9 December.