UNBEATEN RETURN FOR RYAN

Promoted OCs A made a successful start to their campaign in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League First Division by beating Chelmsford A 6-4. Former Junior International and County First Team star Ryan Savill, returning to the League after a lengthy absence showed that he will be a force to reckon with as the Season progresses as he won his three singles. Ryan's team-mate,  County player Nikki Kennard made an excellent First Division debut as she beat both Neil Gooday and Peter Barrett. Sleeping Giants Rawreth A have never really fulfilled their potential in the Chelmsford First Division as their players all play regularly in other Leagues. One suspects that if their best players committed themselves to the Chelmsford League they would be very capable of finishing first or second. Perhaps this could be the case this year as they blitzed Billericay 10-0. The very strong trio of George Reeves, Kevin Reed and Duncan Taylor were all undefeated.

Division Two Favourites Writtle A made a successful start to the Season, beating a strong Chelmsford B side 7-3. No single player stayed undefeated and Chelmsford's Alastair Piper made his mark with superb wins over Kevin Worthington and Trevor Carter whilst Carter excelled by beating Waseem Qureshi. In the last game of the evening Qureshi "bucked the trend" by getting the better of Writtle's Gary Ward 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8. Hatfield Peverel A, another team who are capable of challenging for honours were 8-2 winners over Chelmsford D, as John Webber won his three singles. John Parodi beat Barry Pritchard 9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 in the closest game of the evening. E2V also made a successful start to their campaign and with the hard-hitting Dave Richardson winning his three games they beat Danbury B 6-4 whilst Hatfield Peverel B turned in an excellent performance as they beat Chelmsford C 9-1. Five games went to a fifth end and a determined Peverel won four of them. It was a good evening for the Green family with father and son duo Martin and Greg both staying undefeated.

Early results received suggest that Division three is going to be very evenly contested with two games finishing as draws and the other match being decided 6-4. The improving Michael Rostoft was on target as Excalibur C held Excalibur B to a draw. Michael's opening 11-4, 4-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6 victory over Richard Hiskey was the pick of his trio of wins. ECC C had Gary Copsey to thank as they held Bocking B to a draw, and Gary completed his hat-trick of wins with an excellent 3-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 victory over Richard Jennings. ECC E are the early leaders of this Division, and they had an undefeated Bryn Thomas to thank as he took his three singles quite comfortably as they beat Hatfield Peverel C 6-4.

Danbury C's fine 8-2 win over Chelmsford E was the pick of the action in Division Four and Neil Want and Glen Lang were both undefeated. Want completed an excellent evening's work with a 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 victory over Bill Wall. Hatfield Peverel D also made a successful start and with Martin Green in their line-up perhaps that wasn't altogether surprising. In a game which would grace Division Two never mind Division Four, Green came out on top 12-10, 11-4, 11-8 against Dacre Pell. OCs C were convincing 9-1 Winners against a two-man Writtle C as Mark Bohan, Tony Cohen and David Porter moved to the top of the Table.

With just one result in for Division Five Hatfield Peverel E are the early leaders as they edged out Chelmsford G 6-4. Keith Cullen led the way with three wins which included a hard-fought 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8 victory over County Junior player Stevie Pell.

Chelmsford L, this week's only 10-0 Winners had Mick Pitt, Zak D'Vees and Roland Johnson on target as they beat Kings Road B 10-0, whilst Excalibur D take second place as they beat Chelmsford M 8-2 with Hill Dowsett and Keith Fitz-John both staying undefeated. Chelmsford M's Jacquie Smith was her side's only Singles Winner and she came through a tight five ender against Craig Hiskey 10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7. OCs D just shaded it 6-4 against a two-man Great Baddow side. Mick Hayes was the best player on view, with two-straight wins over both Great Baddow players - Lewis Templeton and Jim McCarthy.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League