WHETHER defeat to Devon & Exeter III last week had knocked some of the stuffing out of them or not, Division One leaders Paignton found local rivals Newton Abbot in no mood for charity at Clennon Valley on Tuesday night.

Paignton had to beat the Marsh Road boys to have a realistic hope of staving off the challenge of D&E's two games in hand, but it was Newton who came out on top 3-2 (16-10).

Yet it all started so well for Paignton.

Austin Turley and Paul Butler opened with wins over Steve Davey and Nick Richards.

Turley won in three and Butler edged out Richards in five, taking the decider 11/7.

When Peter Reeve led Tom Haysom 2-1, Paignton were clear favourites.

But Haysom took the last two games 11/5, 11/5, and suddenly the balance shifted towards Newton with Nigel Bell and Lee Curtis to come.

Paignton's Martin Glover gave everything he had against Bell at No.2, but the veteran Newton skipper came through 8/11, 11/4, 11/5, 10/12, 12/10 after a marathon battle.

Curtis settled it, beating Mark Bowey 11/3, 11/8, 12/10.

It was a different story for Newton II at Exeter Golf & Country Club III.

Kevin Smart and Steve Morrall both won at the bottom of the order, beating Nick Rimmer 3-2 and Andrew Foster 3-0, but the top order all lost.

Rob Muddiman could not cope with the accuracy of Betty Blair, losing in four.

Rob Salmon went down in three to Chris Gaite and Andy Maker to Keith Parnell in four.

Stand-in No.1 Steve Lewis beat Chris Marriott 3-1, including a 15/14 first game, to clinch a 3-2 win for Newton III over already-promoted Sidmouth.

Reserve Barry Knight won 3-1 and Tim Dickinson in five, hauling himself back to win the decider 17/15.

In between, Ian Davies pulled up with injury and Shaun Mutton played below his best in defeat.

Newton IV completed a week's 'double' over Paignton, beating their Fourth team 3-2 at Clennon Valley.

But Newton V lost 4-1 to Torquay VI, with James Cooper claiming the sole win in five against Luke Tanner.

Paul Lennox, Claire Simmonds, Matt Thomas and Ed Lloyd all lost, although Lloyd held match-point at 14/9 in his fourth game against Dominic Phillips.

Newton Ladies lost their Devon Cup match 3-1 to Devon & Exeter — D&E had only four players.

Julie Stevens won, but Emma Thomas, Anne Scott and Claire Simmonds all lost.

The Second team was given a walkover by Exeter University Ladies.