TOUGH GOING FOR JUNIOR FIRST TEAM

With a New Coach (Hill Dowsett), a new Junior Match Secretary (Arthur Clark) and three new players (Mark Mulley, Reece Tan and Stevie Pell) it proved to be a difficult weekend for the County Junior first team in the Premier Division of the County Championships held at Cippenham TTC in the last weekend of October.

The side produced their best performance in their opening match against Devon where they did really well to earn a draw. Stevie Pell with two wins excelled as she fought back from two sets down to beat the higher ranked Vicki Smith 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 as well as Laura McLeod 11-6, 11-9, 11-8. Emran Hussain contributed a 3-0 win over Mike Griffiths whilst Mark Mulley was an excellent 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10 winner over Freddie Cutler. Reece Tan added the vital fifth game with a hard-fought if edgy 14-12, 11-8, 11-9 victory over Griffiths. It was Devon's top boy Chris Smith who caused Essex most problems and he beat both Mark Mulley (3-1) and Emran Husain (again 3-1).

On the Sunday morning Essex had Holly Stubbings available and went into their clash with Sussex in confident mood. However, they met a team which was vastly superior to their current rankings and it was only Emran Hussain with two wins who had the beating of both of his opponents. Essex were well beaten 7-3. Emran ran out a 11-9, 11-1, 14-12 winner against Stephen Eckford and a 3-1 winner against Ashley Miles. A battling Reece Tan was responsible for Essex's third win  when he came out on top over five sets against Stephen Eckford. For the Sussex side Stephen Denman, Sally Hughes and Sarah Russo were all undefeated.

Essex's final opponents were Derbyshire, a team consisting of three top class boys - Liam Pitchford, Sean Cullen and Daniel Lowe (ranked
respectively 11, 20 and 22 in England) but no girls. Whether such a line-up of players should be allowed to constitute a valid team remains debatable but it was Derbyshire who came through to win 6-4.  Emran missed out over five pulsating ends against Sean Cullen with Sean hitting three outright winners to seal victory from 8-8 in the fifth end and Reece Tan also had his chances against Sean when he was 6-1 up in the fifth end. Alas, it wasn't to be and after calling a "Time-Out" (clearly a very inspired one) Sean recovered. That was as close as Essex came to winning a game and they were eventually beaten 6-4.

Essex now stand one position off the bottom of the table with a single point, equal with Hertfordshire, but ahead on games difference. With the two top teams still to play - Hampshire and Lincolnshire it is going to take a massive effort to avoid relegation.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Essex County Table Tennis Association