LAMB CHOPPED !

 

Central Essex Summer League Division One Champions Rayne were brought crashing down to earth by Hullbridge A in the last week of the season. Both teams turned out strong sides and after the closest match of the season it was Hullbridge who emerged as 4-1 winners. Four games were decided at 11-9 in the fifth end or closer and it was Nigel Lamb (who took the Chelmsford first division by storm last season) who came out on top. Lamb set the tone for the evening with an opening 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 12-10 victory over Ian Whiteside and he added a second excellent 11-6, 11-7, 13-15, 11-7 victory over Steve Pennell. It just wasn't Rayne's night and all they had to show for their efforts was the redoubtable Ian Whiteside's 9-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 success over George Pavitt. However, it wasn't all gloom for the Rayne side either and the sole point they picked up was enough to ensure that no team would be in a position to overhaul them.

 

Hullbridge A were even more dominant against Baddow Village A as their duo of George Pavitt and Nigel Lamb carried all before them whilst Danbury A picked up their first win of the season. They achieved this in style by beating Baddow Village A 4-1. Gordon Gatherall led the way by winning twice although Frank Neill hit back for Baddow with an excellent 3-1 win over Ivan Chaplin. Hullbridge B were also 4-1 winners, in a match where Tim Pang was twice involved in games which went to "the wire". Pang came through 11-13, 11-6, 5-11, 14-12, 11-9 against Keith Spicer but he missed out 11-4, 8-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-13 against Dave Calleja. Paul Grant took his two singles to ensure that Hullbridge stayed in charge.

 

Excalibur Locals took full advantage of the two matches they had in hand against  the lower-placed sides in division two. Two comprehensive 5-0 wins means they have topped the division by a decsive five points. It wasn't all one way traffic, but it was Richard Hiskey and Dave Moles who dominated the action and they didn't drop any games against Danbury C and Baddow Village C. Dave Moles in particular found things very much to his liking taking his four singles 3-0. Baddow Village B missed out on second spot by losing 3-2 to West Maldon. Graham Turner took his two singles but try as he did Bradley Hudgell couldn't fathom out a way past his defensive opponents. And in a competitive final doubles -Turner and Hudgell missed out 9-11, 11-1, 6-11, 9-11 against Glenn Laing and Tim Huxtable, a result that almost certainly ensures that the runners-Up medals will be going to West Maldon. SETTS did well to beat West Maldon 3-2, in what was another very hard fought match. Glen Laing was a comfortable 11-2, 11-4, 11-6 winner over Paul Reed but he missed out 10-12, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3, 10-12 after a real tussle with Matt Perham. The West Maldon pairing of Laing and Huxtable hit back well with a come-from-behind 10-12, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 victory over Reed and Perham in the doubles. Elsewhere Danbury C "upset the applecart" by beating their B team colleagues 3-2. The wily Norman Hayes shows no sign of slowing down and he did well to beat both Brian Ellis and John Knights. Danbury B and Excalibur International fought out a real battle in their mid-table clash. Danbury did well to come out on top as 3-2 Excalibur were bolstered by the inclusion of the hard-hitting Bill Smith in their line-up. Bill eased past both Paul Oliver (3-0) and Brian Ellis (3-1).      

 

In the third division it is Excalibur Butlers (24 points) and OCs B (23 points) who have come out on top. The Butlers had to rely on the experienced Ian as they beat Excalibur 6 Champs 3-2. Ian was responsible for their three wins as he beat both Craig McGarrigle (3-1) and Keith Fitzjohn (3-1). Best of all Ian and Chris Butler combined excellently to win the deciding doubles 11-3, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8, a superb way to complete their season. Further down the table Baddow Village E did well to beat Danbury D 3-2. The improving Rykki Vansertima was involved in two epic battles. Rykki missed out over five well-contested ends 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 6-11, 8-11 to David Gatherall but he hit back well to beat Peter Sun 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 7-11, 11-7 in his second singles. Bottom-placed side Baddow Village F scored their first win of the season, beating the higher-placed Baddow Village D 3-2. Four games went to a fifth end, with Stewart Hiskey coming from behind to beat Matthew Skeoch 4-11, 11-13, 12-10, 11-5, 15-13 after a really determined fight-back. Jacqueline Smith also came through against Skeoch, eventually wiinning 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-4.