MORE "BAKER DAYS" PLEASE !

Excalibur A, who are determined to retain their Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League first Division status recorded an important 7-3 victory over fellow relegation strugglers Billericay Sports, in one of those games that the football pundits call a "six-pointer". Newcomer Gary Baker was their hero with three excellent wins and he received good support from Gary Young and Nigel Lamb who both won twice. Leaders Bocking are on a good run and they made no mistake by beating Maldon A 8-2. Rik James and Peter Hayden were both undefeated and both players beat former County star Paul Sayer decisively 3-0. Maldon B are also in good form at present and they beat Elmtree Graphics A 7-3 with Paul Davison and Neil Charles taking their three singles. Davison's tussle with John Holland was the closest of the match with Paul coming out on top 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 15-13. ECC A retained their position just behind the leaders and they did well to beat OCs A 7-3. Dave Cole's clash with Ryan Savill was the best of the night and Cole's explosive forehand saw him home in the fifth end of a compelling game. Cole won 11-5, 12-14, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8. Savill's three singles wins in turn helped OCs A draw with Maldon A whilst Nikki Kennard added an excellent victory against Hamish Innes and Steve Northcott came up trumps by beating Lee Prentice.

Chelmsford B were the surprise package in Division two and they beat second-placed Hatfield Peverel A 6-4. Waseem Qureshi's hat-trick shaped their victory whilst John Parodi did well for Peverel beating both Julie Vansertima and Alistair Piper. Third-placed Danbury A took full advantage and by beating E2V 7-3 they have moved above their rivals Hatfield Peverel A. Ian Whiteside led the way by winning his three singles, with his opening game 11-4, 11-9, 14-12 victory over Dave Richardson proving to be the pick of his trio of wins.  ECC B also impressed and they produced an excellent team-performance to beat Hatfield Peverel B 8-2. Keith Spicer won his three singles and he received back-up from Gary Brignall (two wins) and Trevor Collin (two wins). Greg Green was responsible for the Peverel response.

Excalibur B extended their lead at the top of Division three by beating bottom side Rawreth B 9-1. Richard Hiskey and Linda Murray were both undefeated and Bill Smith won twice. Matt Rolfe was on target for Rawreth beating Bill Smith 11-6, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-6. The mid-table clash between Bocking B and Excalibur C finshed as a 5-5 draw after Richard Jennings had won his three singles for the Braintree team. Steve Munday and Dave Moles hit back and they both won twice for Excalibur. In another drawn match Hatfield Peverel C's Clive Allenby remained undefeated as they finished level with Excalibur C. Dave Moles won twice for Excalibur and this included a 11-4, 6-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9 victory over Lorrie Austin. Elsewhere, it was Adrian North who was to the fore as OCs B beat ECC D 7-3. North beat all three ECC players - Trevor Roberts, Peter Layzell and John Wickens.

Joint leaders Hatfield Peverel D beat Danbury E 7-3 in Division four with Peter Mynard winning his three singles. Danbury started the better and raced into a 3-1 lead but Peverel's Keith Cullen stopped the rot by beating Brian Ellis and Hatfield Peverel eventually ran out relieved winners. Elmtree Graphics B have slipped back to fourth place and this week they were held to a draw by Danbury F. Dave Marsh won his three singles for Danbury and this included an excellent 11-6, 11-3, 10-12, 12-10 victory over Plil Smith.

Kings Road A are the inform team in Division five and there was no stopping them as they hammered ECC G 10-0. Rob Hayne, Alison Gurner and Martin Eyles were all undefeated as Kings Road called the shots. Alistair Hill's battle with Alison Gurner was the best of the evening with Alison shading it 7-11, 11-4, 11-8, 12-14, 13-11. ECC F moved into third place as they beat Danbury H 7-3, after Colin Barham had won his three singles. ECC's Richard Storey won twice and he just missed out 13-11, 2-11, 11-7, 6-11, 12-14 against Robert Kneale. Elsewhere, Hatfield Peverel D beat Chelmsford H 8-2 with Mike Bard (two wins), Dave Fillery (three wins) and Andy Simmonds (two wins) all turning in strong performances. James Austin won twice for Chelmsford H.

In Division six the two leading sides both won 8-2 with Danbury J beating Excalibur E and Hylands School A beating Excalibur D. OCs' Trevor Palmer and Hylands up-and-coming Juniors Scott Dowsett and Brandon Crouchman were all undefeated. Keith Fitzjohn was also in winning form as Excalibur D were held to a draw by Excalibur E, and his three wins included a hard-fought 7-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8 success against James Higgs.

The match in the CLICK League between Chelmsford P and Excalibur Knights went pretty much to form with Chelmsford winning 4-1. Mitchell Carter was undefeated for Chelmsford with Michael Salter getting the better of Ryan Carter 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 to record Excalibur's victory.

 

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League