ECC A CANNOT TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE

The unpredictable nature of this year's Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League first division was illustrated again this week, with results just not going to form. ECC A faced a two man Elmtree Graphics A side and must have fancied their chances of scoring a convincing victory. However, with Ev Lucas beating David Cole 3-2 (one of the biggest upsets of the Season so far !) ECC found themselves restricted to a 7-3 win. Cole hit back in his second singles by beating John Holland 3-0, but ECC's chances of scoring a really convincing win had gone begging. Second placed Bocking also found themselves pushed to see off second to bottom placed Excalibur A. All three Bocking players - Rik James, Peter Hayden and Kevin Gowlett won twice with Glenn Johnson beating both Peter Hayden and Kevin Gowlett and Gary Young scoring a superb win over Rik James. Bocking just shaded the match 6-4. ECC A will have conceded that they are unlikely to get amongst the honours this year when they lost 6-4 to early leaders Rawreth A. David Cole missed this match (someone asked it he had been dropped !) and Rawreth won all three games that were decided in the fifth end as Stuart Gibbs took his three singles. Gibbs's match with current England Junior International Sarra Wang proved to be the most compelling of the evening with Stuart scraping home 11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10.

Division two by comparison is turning into a one horse race as Writtle A just can't seem to put a foot (or a forehand loop !) wrong. Their team of Kevin Worthington, Paul Cuming and Trevor Carter beat ECC B 9-1 whilst second placed Hatfield Peverel A fell further behind when they could only draw with ECC B. This match was one of those closely fought affairs where no single player went home without securing at least one victory. Keith Spicer and Trevor Collin won twice for ECC B and John Gagg won twice for Hatfield Peverel. Greg Green was to the fore again and he scored yet another maximum as Hatfield Peverel B beat Chelmsford D 6-4. Dad Martyn couldn't quite replicate hs son's feat but he won twice just missing out against Dean Andrews 7-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 14-16. Greg Green's magnificent run finally came to an end against Chelmsford B when he lost 12-14, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11 against Alistair Piper and he also missed out 10-12, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11 against Julie Vansertima. Martyn Green won twice on this occasion and this included excellent wins over both Alistair Piper and Julie Vansertima. Chelmsford B shaded the match 6-4. In the Melbourne Derby Chelmsford D lost 6-4 against Chelmsford C in another match which was dominated by a Junior player, this time, the up-and-coming Bradley Hudgell. Bradley was also involved in a real cliff-hanger with the inform Dean Andrews which he just won 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9.   

Division three leaders OCs B added seven points to their tally as they beat ECC C 7-3. Adrian North won his three singles with Gus Heath (two wins) faring best of the ECC players. Second-placed Bocking B fell back and they lost 6-4 against ECC D. Peter Layzell with three wins was ECC's match-winner. Excalibur C had to rely on a good all-roubd team performance to beat Rawreth B 6-4. Michael Rostoft, Steve Mundy and Dave Moles all won twice although none of their players were able to get the better of Mile Worship. The match beetween ECC E and Writtle B also had that familiar 6-4 scoreline with ECC E taking the honours. Bryn Thomas won his three singles which included a "back-from the brink" 7-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-5, 11-1 victory over Matthew Brown. And in yet another match which was decided 6-4 Excalibur B  were 6-4 winners against Bocking B. Richard Hiskey was involved in two five-setters, missing out 16-14, 7-11, 13-15, 15-13, 4-11 against David Edwards but hitting back by beating Richard Jennings 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 3-11, 11-7.

Two good results for Hatfield Peverel D have seen them jump into contention in Division four. Keith Cullen was their best player and he won his six singles as Peverel beat Writtle C 7-3 and Chelmsford E 8-2. Writtle's Tony Lambert provided him  with his stiffest test and he just pulled through 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 3-11, 11-9. Chelmsford E had the fortune to face high-flying Elmtree Graphics B when they were a player short, and, they took full advantage, winning 6-4. Elmtree's Rod Maclennan came close to taking a hat-trick and after having beaten Steve Back and Frank Neill he just missed out 11-8, 5-11, 10-12, 12-10, 7-11 against Bill Wall. The match between Writtle C and Chelmsfiord E was notable for a different reason, it was one of the shortest matches on record. All but one of the games were decided three-straight, yet the game still finished as a 5-5 draw. Writtle's Hector Rogers with three short and sharp victories was the best performer on the Night.

In Division five Hatfield Peverel E did well to beat the higher-placed ECC G 7-3. Kevin Gilbank and Mike Bard both remained undefeated.Chelmsford J were also 7-3 winners as they beat Chelmsford H with Haydyn Upson (three wins), Richard Upson (two wins) and Sam Pitt (two wins) all contributing. Haydn Upson wrapped up proceedings by beating Adam Pitt 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 1-11, 11-9 in the last game of the evening. Kings Road A showed that they are a force to be reckoned with and even with a player short they managed to beat Chelmsford G 7-3. Rob Hayne and Martin Eyles were both unbeaten.

Division six is closely fought at present with a mere five points covering the top five teams, and any side who puts a successful run together will surely find themselves in contention for honours. Fifth placed Hylands School A did welt to beat sixth placed Excalibur E 8-2 with their up-and-coming duo of Brandon Crouchman and Scott Dowsett both winning their three singles. This result contrasts with the victory achieved by the leaders Excalibur D who were hard pushed to beat Chelmsford L 6-4. The very experienced Craig McGarrigle took his three singles to give Excalibur the edge. Great Baddow are going to have some influence on matters if their better player turn our regularly and they beat Kings Road B 8-2. Jim McCarthy stayed undefeated, and, he looks to have had plenty in reserve in doing so. There was no luck for a two-man Kings Road B in their clash with Chelmsford M and they were well beaten 9-1. Adrian Cheek, Chris High and Fred Henwood all played their part in the Chelmsford M victory.  

In the CLICK League OCs F just saw off their colleagues OCs F 3-2 in a match where Danesh Dewan took his two singles. Dewan had quite a battle against Tom Adam and although he won 3-0 it could hardly have been closer. The scores tell their own story - 14-12, 18-16, 11-9. Chelmsford O complete this week's results and they currently top this division after having beaten Chelmsford Q 5-0. Michael Whelpdale and Robert Shrimpton were both undefeated. Whelpdale did well to avenge a heavy first set defeat as he came back to beat Jack Crook 5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League