Press Report

Chelmsford's Junior first team finished as runners-up to a very strong Colchester side in the Eastern Region of the National Junior League played at the Rowhedge Club in Colchester. In the last round of matches the Chelmsford side held onto second place by finishing two points ahead of local rivals, Black Notley. When the two sides met the game fittingly finished level after a very hard-fought 3-3 draw. Dacre Pell came close to winning both of his singles, just failing to beat Black Notley no. one Andrew McEwan as he went down 9-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-13, 10-12. He nevertheless came back to beat Black Notley no.three Karan Baxi 11-13, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6. Bradley Hudgell gave further evidence of just how much he has improved this season by disposing of Simon Churchman 11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 11-9 as well as Andrew McEwan 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6.

The Chelmsford side met their match in the Champions Colchester where they lost 4-2. Bradley Hudgell again gave a great account of himself and he came very close to beating Greg Green (who also plays regularly in the Chelmsford League - for the Hatfield Peverel club) just succumbing 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 4-11, 9-11. Bradley also missed out 3-1 against the equally impressive Mike Shore as these two players guided the Colchester side through to victory. Dacre Pell and Richard Napper were both successful in beating Colchester's no. three Lawrence Wilcox with Napper in particularly doing very well, having been called in only as a last minute reserve. Chelmsford A made no mistake in defeating Chelmsford B 5-1. Bradley Hudgell and Richard Napper were both unbeaten and Dacre Pell only missed out once, when he was beaten 3-1 by Sam Pitt.

Chelmsford B were unfortunate to face a Colchester side who were on top form and Greg Green, Mike Shore and Lawrence Wilcox proved too strong winning comfortably 6-0. Chelmsford B in turn came into their own when they faced Chelmsford C and they ran out 5-1 winners. Hannah Pitt, Adam Pitt and Matthew Skeoch all played their part in their success. Stevie Pell proved to be the best of the C team as she beat Matthew Skeoch 11-4, 12-10, 11-5.

Chelmsford C were in the Competition primarily to gain experience and they not unexpectedly lost to both Chelmsford A and Black Notley 6-0. However, they put up a brave fight in both games and William O'Donnell did well to take the second game off Bradley Hudgell before Bradley stamped his mark on proceedings by winning 11-3, 12-14, 11-1, 11-4. Philip Twite gave a good account of himself against Haydn Upson before succumbing 9-11, 3-11, 11-6, 7-11. Colchester's Greg Green and Mike Shore, who both stayed undefeated throughout the season were understandably too strong for the Chelmsford C players but both Claire Austin and William O'Donnell fared much better against Colchester no. three Edward Rudge. Claire notched up her first success of the season winning 8-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-6, 12-10 whilst William was involved in an equally close finish, just missing out 11-13, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 10-12.