JUNIOR BRITISH LEAGUE

HELD AT THE ALDERSLEY LEISURE CENTRE, WOLVERHAMPTON 9/10 FEBRUARY 2008

Defeat in a match at 19-17 in the fifth meant that the Chelmsford Girls team must seek re-election and a possible preliminary play-off event if they wish to take part in next seasons Junior British League.

In fifth place of the six teams in Division 3 after the October round of matches they needed at least two wins to avoid relegation. Their first match was against the team in second place, St Andrews B who they lost 5-1 to previously. Abigail Moore won the opening set 11-6 against Sarah Dolan but lost the next three 9, 5, 7. The next match, Hannah Pitt v Chelsea Furnival, is one that Hannah may well remember for a while but would wish to forget. Losing the first set 11-3, then serving six times into the net on the way to a 10-9 lead and a further three after that whilst losing a further two set points and then the set 16-14. Three further net serves in the third set and the game lost. Stevie Pell then won a hard fought battle with Alison Beckingham, 170 points above her in the ETTA Ranking list, taking the first two sets 6, 6, losing the next to 0 and having two match points in the fourth only to lose 12-10. Always a point or two ahead in the fifth Stevie won 11-7 to put the team on the score sheet. Abigail then lost to Chelsea 3-0 and Stevie, following Hannah’s cue lost 8, 9, 8 with two serves into the net in each set. Hannah made the final score 2-4 with a 3-0 win over the higher ranked Alison.

In the next match against Uxbridge Hannah opened with a match against Sophie Neal, over 500 points above her. Surrendering an opening set 10-8 lead to lose 15-13, she played her best table tennis of the weekend and went on to win 8, 9 and a nail biting 11. Abigail lost 3-0 to Abbie Milwain and Stevie to Hannah Winfield 11-6, 16-14, 13-11. After Abigail lost 3-0 to Sophie, Hannah continued her good form with a 6, 7, 1 win over Uxbridge’s Hannah who is ranked 210 points above her. Alas Stevie was unable to achieve the draw losing 3-1 to Abbie but the 4-2 match result was better than the October score.

The last match on the Saturday was against Byng Hall, the team bottom of the table with which the Chelmsford team drew last time. Abigail’s opening match was against Amy Parkes, 31 ranking points above her, so a close match was anticipated. Winning the first set 11-4, unable to convert set points in the second to lose it 14-16, winning the third 11-5, a match point in the forth but lost 12-14led to the final set. 9-4 and 10-7 down she saved the three match points but eventually lost 15-13. Hannah then lost to their number 1 Jasmine Ould, a girl she had beaten in the Chesham Tournament at Christmas, 7, 9, 9. Two nil down it looked as though Byng Hall would climb above them in the table. However, Stevie beat Lydia Roberts 3, 9, 13, Abigail an excellent win over Jasmine, 200 ranking points above her, 7-11, 13-11 after being 10-7 up, 13-11 after 10-6 up, 3-11, 11-6. Stevie put the team 3-2 up by beating Amy 7, -8, 5, 6 and Hannah completed the win defeating Lydia 7, 2, 3. Could Chelmsford improve on their previous performances against the Sunday teams to avoid relegation.

Against Ellenborough Abigail opened up with a 11-1, 11-1, 11-7 win over home club mate Natasha Walsh but Hannah was no match for nine year old Tin Tin Ho losing 11-7, 13-11, 11-6 after leading 8-3 in the second set. Stevie came from behind in the first set of her match against Charlotte Binley to take it 12-10, lost the second to 4, but took the next two 3 and 8 for a 2-1 lead. Abigail lost to Tin Tin Ho 3-0 so the team needed to win the next two matches to still have a chance of avoiding the drop. What a seesawing match for Stevie against Natasha and the disappointing ending with spectators from adjacent tables engrossed in the spectacle. 11-7, 9-11, 15-13, put Stevie 2-1 up, but the fourth slipped away too quickly 5-11 and so to the decider. Stevie 2-5 down, 9-6 and 10-9 up couldn’t convert the match point or any of the subsequent match points she had to finally lose 17-19. Hannah’s match against Charlotte was another five setter, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 7-11 in the first four sets. Trailing 2-7 could the first Chelmsford Time Out of the weekend have the required effect. Although pulling the score back to 6-8 a final score of 7-11 meant a 4-2 defeat.

The weekend’s last match against Team Peniel B ended with a 6-0 defeat. Hannah lost to Evie Collier 8, 10, -10, 8 whilst Abigail lost to her 10, -9, 3, -8, 7 despite leading 5-2 at the change round in the fifth set. Bethany won her matches against Abigail and Stevie 3-1 whilst Hannah Hoskins only lost the opening set to Hannah Pitt in her two matches.

Although relegated it should be noted that there were only two players in the Divison who were ranked lower than the three Chelmsford players.

A full report on the Colchester team’s matches containing Greg Green ( Hatfield Peverel), Mike Shore and Phillip Lawson (NETTS) who finished as Runners Up in Division 4B will appear on the Colchester League website (use the link on this website).

Arthur Clark

Junior Match Secretary