Whilst there should have been two Honiton Netball League top division matches played, it was unfortunate that once again Signs South West were unable to fulfil a fixture for the third time this season and so forfeited the game to Sidmouth Toucan Chicks, writes Graham Ingram.

The result is therefore recorded as 10-0 to Chicks and SSW lose another three points putting them on a total now of minus five for the season.

The one top flight game that was played was between Otters and Howden Hawks and it resulted in a comfortable 39-14 win for Otters.

The first quarter had been close, but with Denise Meyers in good shooting form the Otters were too strong for Hawks despite some good work for Howden by Lauren Hunt.

The top four sides in Division Two were all in action and it has left the top two positions in the table now being keenly contested by three teams!

One of those is Blackdown who moved to within a point of the top two thanks to their 26-12 victory over Otter Valley.

The first two quarters were close with Sarah Broom playing well for the Valley and Lucy Bekinska doing well for Blackdown, at halfway it was 13-9 to Blackdown.

In the third quarter the lead was increased so that going into the final period it was 23-12 to Blackdown.

In the final period the weather conditions forced the abandonment of the game at 26-12, but the result stands as the game had passed the mid point.

The other game was a keenly contested event between the top two teams in the division, namely Sidmouth Toucans and Tip Top Trees.

At the end of the first period Toucans had the edge by 5-4, and at half way they still held a single goal lead at 10-9.

With Meg Goodhall doing well for 3Ts they moved 17-15 up in the third period before Anna Rowson inspired Toucans to fight back to produce that rarest of netball results, a 24-all draw.

Latest tables

Division One P GD Pts

Flamingos 10 240 28

Hi Q 10 215 28

Sidmouth Toucan Chicks 10 132 24

Otters 10 47 21

HNC Hot Shots 10 -48 20

Ford &Pentecost Panthers 10 -69 15

Howden Hawks 10 -320 2

Signs South West * 10 -197 -5

*SSW deducted 9 points for not fulfilling three fixtures

Division Two P GD Pts

Sidmouth Toucans 11 107 30

Tip Top Trees 11 54 30

Blackdown 11 111 29

Otter Valley 11 40 20

JD Tyres 11 39 18

Beer Blazers 11 -70 14

Pixies 11 -118 12

Swaggermamas 11 -163 11