Press Report

Bocking were unable to field their top two players in their most recent Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League first division encounters but they still managed to produce two excellent performances. With Kevin Gowlett remaining undefeated they scored a fine 6-4 win over Baddow Village A and they also managed to hold Excalibur A to a draw. None of their players were able to get the better of the inform Nigel Lamb but reserve Robin Armstrong scored two superb wins as he beat both George Pavitt and Kevin Smart. Robin's success over Pavitt was certainly earned the hard way as he came back from two nil down to win 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 15-13. A "giant step" forward for Armstrong without any question !.

It was business as usual for the leading three sides this week. Reigning Champions ECC A took another step closer towards retaining their title as they beat third-placed Maldon A 7-3. Their leading player - British League Premier division star Neil Charles retained his 100 % Singles record although he had to come back from 2-0 down before he finally saw off a dogged Peter Ballard. Neil came through to win 7-11, 6-11, 16-14, 11-6, 11-6. Maldon returned to winning ways against Baddow Village A where they ran out 9-1 winners. Lee Prentice and Dave Bowles were both undefeated although Neil Gooday's fine 3-1 victory over Hamish Innes also stands out. Second-placed Elmtree Graphics A took a step closer to holding onto the runners-up position as they hammered Writtle A 10-0. Ev Lucas joined his more illustrious team-mates - Vytas Rybakas and John Holland in remaining undefeated. Fourth placed Rawreth notched up their seventh win of the season as they beat Danbury B 7-3. Unbeaten performances from Charles Sweeney and George Reeves fashioned a competent Rawreth display.

Division two leaders Danbury C produced another strong performance to clock up their fourteenth win of the season, as they beat third-placed Hatfield Peverel A 7-3. Dave Calleja, a definite contender for the most improved Player of the Season Award carried on in the same rich vein of form as he notched up three more impressive wins. Fourth placed Baddow Village B were comfortable 8-2 winners over Bocking B as Ray Lawrence, another player who has shown a marked improvement this season again stayed undefeated. Bocking's County Junior First team-star Kelly Skeggs made her mark with impressive wins over Adrian Pitt and Alastair Piper. Bottom side Excalibur B did well to hold ECC C to a draw. Ken James took his three singles but on this occasion neither of his team-mates - Simon Webber or Alastair Hill were able to provide any significant support. Somewhat surprisingly Linda Murray and Richard Hiskey took all four singles off of the ECC top-spinners. ECC C were also held to a draw by E2V Technologies. Dave Richardson was unbeaten but the ECC side hit back courtesy of the fact that Gary Brignall and Simon Webber both won twice. Without Richardson in their line-up E2V were less impressive and they missed out against ECC B 8-2 as Bryn Thomas won his three singles.

Second-placed Hatfield Peverel B were the week's biggest winners in division three as they disposed of Danbury D 9-1. Herbie Smith who beat Neil Freeman was Danbury's only winner as the Peverel trio of Freeman and Greg and Martyn Green all played well. The leaders OCs A also impressed and they had Steve Northcott and Robert Burton remaining undefeated as they won 8-2 against Excalibur C. Elsewhere, the match between Baddow Village D and Baddow Village C finished all square.An unbeaten Steve Muth was the best player on view and after a hard-fought opening game against Mike Johnston he cruised through his other singles against Duncan Elloy and Ryan Pitt. Baddow Village C fared less well against ECC D losing 8-2. Trevor Roberts and Peter Layzell both kept clean sheets for the County Council side.

Division four leaders ECC E were made to struggle by ECC F. Russell Forde took his three singles which ensured that ECC E came through to win 6-4 although Jeff Lewington who beat both Neil Thompson and Andy Hanlon made sure that the win wasn't plain sailing. ECC F also missed out 6-4 against Hatfield Peverel C. This time John Webber was their chief tormentor as he won his three singles. Webber was equally assured as his team beat Danbury F 8-2. Jon Fieldsend with two victories provided excellent support and this included a fine comeback success against Richard Allen where he came back to win 4-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9. Bradley Hudgell looks very capable of performing at a higher level and he was again undefeated as Baddow Village E beat ECC E 6-4. However, he had to really work for his three wins and he had a real tussle with Gus Heath before he finally emerged as a 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10 winner.

Runaway division five leaders ECC G came through a tough examination from lowly placed ECC H, although their 7-3 victory was never really in doubt. Richard Storey, Mick Storey and Colin Barham all won twice with Dacre Pell producing the best response from the H team. He scored fine wins over Richard Storey and Colin Barham. Elsewhere Baddow Village G did well to beat Writtle D 7-3. Phil Twite scored three excellent wins whilst Colin Gooday also remained undefeated. The match between Hatfield Peverel D and Excalibur D finished all square. Excalibur's Ian Butler won his three singles whilst Peverel hit back through a double from Colin Powell and single successes for Dave Bridge and Andy Simmonds. Peverel in turn added another six points to their tally when they beat Baddow Village G 6-4. Powell again won twice and this time Dave Fillery provided the best support as he also picked up two wins.

ECC J's thumping 10-0 win over OCs F in division six has moved them to within two points of second-placed Baddow Village L. Stevie Pell's 11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 12-10 victory over James Stapley was the most dramatic of the night as she joined her brother Dacre and William O'Donnell in remaining undefeated. Elsewhere the mid-table clash between Baddow Village J and Baddow Village H finished level as the experienced Ron Arthur again came through his singles unscathed. Arthur completed his trio of successes with a hard-fought 13-11, 4-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7 victory over Ian Austin. The match between Ingatestone Excalibur and Baddow Village K also finished level after Jamie Cheesman had dominated the action. Alex Stone offered him the most resistance but Cheesman came through to win safely 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8.

In the CLICK League second placed Baddow Village M dropped a point in beating bottom side Excalibur Knights 4-1. Craig Hiskey picked up Excalibur's win as he emerged as a five-game winner over Matthew Davis by a 3-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-4, 11-7 margin. There were no shocks in the clashes between Baddow Village O and Baddow Village N and OCs H and Ingatestone Boys Club. Both matches produced decisive 5-0 wins with Baddow Village O and Ingatestone Boys Club taking the honours. The Ingatestone duo of Kane Lambert and Alex Law and the Baddow Village O pairing of Claire and James Austin were all unbeaten.