CHARLES INSPIRES MALDON B TO  VICTORY OVER LEADERS BOCKING

This year's Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League First Division looks like being one of the most competitive on record, and after seven rounds of matches a mere 22 points cover the top and bottom-placed teams. No team has managed to stamp their authority on proceedings. Bocking have taken over as the new leaders but they suffered defeat this week, as they lost out 6-4 against Maldon B. British League Premier Division star Neil Charles (the player with arguably the largest range of shots we have seen in this League in modern times) was undefeated for Maldon, but elsewhere there were shocks galore. Maldon B's John Cleasby scored superb wins over Peter Hayden and Steve Edmonds whilst Edmonds hit back for Bocking by securing an outstanding five game win over Paul Davison (one of the best wins of the year). Rik James won twice for Bocking beating both Davison and Cleasby. Maldon B added ten welcome points to their total the following week (one of the few 10-0 results this Season) by hammering OCs A as their team of Paul Davison, Neil Charles and Chris Jacob carried all before them. Second-to-bottom Billericay also came good, and they scored a convincing 9-1 victory over a below-strength Chelmsford A. Matthew Fasanya and Mark Mulley were both undefeated. Bottom-placed Excalibur will be disappointed with their showing against OCs A, as an 8-2 defeat was not what they had been hoping for. Nevertheless, it was an excellent all-round performance from the OCs side with Robbie Burton (two wins), Steve Northcott (two wins) and Ryan Savill (three wins) all contributing. Maldon A also added a victory to their Season's tally as they beat Elmtree Graphics A 7-3. Keiran Lally was Maldon's match-winner with three excellent singles wins. His opening game win over John Holland went all the way "to the wire" before former Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion Lally edged home 11-6, 12-10, 2-11, 8-11, 11-9.

Runaway leaders Writtle A scored another convincing win in Division two, hammering a two-man E2V Technologies 9-1. Trevor Carter and Kevin Worthington were both undefeated whilst Pip French secured E2V's sole victory with an excellent 11-8, 11-6, 13-11 victory over Gary Ward. It looks like being a tricky season for E2V and they fared only marginally better against Hatfiedl Peverel A. John Gagg and Dave Carter both scored hat-tricks as Peverel ran out 8-2 winners.

Division three leaders OCs B had Nat Ravlic to thank for their 7-3 victory over Excalibur C as he took his three singles in style, his 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 win over Michael Rostoft looking particularly impressive. John Watts with two wins offered excellent support. Excalibur B jumped into second place by beating Hatfield Peverel C 6-4, as Richard Hiskey took his three singles and Bill Smith won twice.  Further down the table bottom side Rawreth B picked up their first win of the Season, a good one - 6-4 against ECC C. Their victory owed a lot to team-work with Mike Worship (two wins), Ken Field (one win) and Mike Nunn (two wins) all contributing, although none of their players were able to get the better of Gus Heath. 

All Division four results involve Danbury sides and Danbury E featured in two of these matches. They lost 6-4 against Writlle C and by the same scoreline against OCs C.

Writtle C's victory was a triumph for team-work as Malcolm Henstock (one win), Hector Rogers (two  wins) and Andy Fox (two wins) all contributed whilst OCs had Mark Boham to thank for their victory. He won his three singles with his opening game 11-8, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8 success against Dave Goody being his closest of the night.

Danbury D did well to hold second-placed Elmtree Graphics B to a draw. Phil Smith predictably won his three singles for the Elmtree side but Paul Durrands, Mick Robinson and Ken Sheard all added wins for Danbury D. Mick Robinson was involved in two hard-fought five setters, just missing out 9-11,.9-11, 13-11, 14-12, 8-11 against Melanie Bonnett but getting the better of Rod Maclennan 2-11, 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9.  

Kings Road A have taken over as Divsion five leaders and their 10-0 victory over Chelmsford H establishes them as genuine title contenders. Martin Eyles, Rob Hayne and Alison Gurner were all undefeated in what was a very impressive showing. Danbury G also scored a convincing win, beating their H side 8-2. Gordon Gatherall and Peter Sun were both undefeated.

In Division six Danbury J beat OCs D 7-3, with Trevor Palmer, John Knights and Martin Knights all winning twice. All three Danbury players had hard-fought battles against former first Division player Micky Parkhurst with John Knights coming closest to winning. Knights just missed out 11-7, 10-12, 11-5, 4-11, 8-11. Chelmsford K were also successful against OCs D and this time Parkhurst did taste defeat when he was beaten 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 8-11 (a unique scoreline !!) by Tom Lee who took his three singles for Chelmsford K.

The teams in the CLICK (Introductory) League appear to be of differing standards although pleasingly some of the matches which have finished in 5-0 scorelines have been closer fought than might have been envisaged. OCs E ran out 5-0 winners against Chelmsford P and Chelmsford N with Danish Dewan (both matches), Matt Newton (both matches) and Richard Newton (versus Chelmsford P) all staying undefeated whilst Chelmsford N were 5-0 winners against Chelmsford Q. Rebecca Skeoch and Sarah Austin were undefeated on this occasion. OCs F joined the not so exclusive  "5-0 Club"  as they beat Hylands B 5-0 as Tom Adam and Jack Preston kept a clean-sheet whilst Chelmsford N complete this week's results as they beat Excalibur Knights 4-1. Sarah Austin was again undefeated.  

It is always a real pleasure to watch the Essex Senior first team in action, and last weekend it was especially pleasing to see the County's top side beat both Berkshire I (8-2) and Leicestershire I (7-3)  although they just missed out 6-4 against old rivals Middlesex I. Former Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion Vytas Rybakas (now studying at Bristol Sports Academy) was Essex's best player winning five out of his six singles. Amongst Vytas's victims were such notable players as England no. 33 Martin Adams (Berkshire), former England top ten star Chris Rogers (Leicestershire), England no.35 Neil Charles (the afore-mentioned Middlesex star) and best of all after a dazzling display - England no. 26 Tommy Cutler (Middlesex). ECC's Sarra Wang, the England no. two Junior ranked girl was also a member of this team and she won four of her six singles. Sarra also came within a point of pulling off one of the best wins of the weekend, when she just missed out 13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 6-11, 10-12 against Middlesex's England no. six ranked lady - Egle Adomelyte. With three times former Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion - the powerful Lorestas Trumpauskas hopefully available for the next round of matches in March expect this team to be challenging for honours.  

All players should note that the League's M & G Closed Tournament takes place over the weekend of Friday 01 February 2008 to Sunday 03 February 2008 at the excellent new venue - Anglia Ruskin University. Bishops Hall Lane, Rivermead Campus, Chelmsford. Entries close on Monday 03 December 2007 and Entry forms (which are available in the League handbook) should be sent via Club Secretaries or directly to the Tournament Organiser - Arthur Clark, 2 Top Road, Woodham Walter, Essex, CM9 6RQ.

 

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League