MCEWAN OPENING GAME VICTORY GIVES RAYNE THE EDGE

Rayne are this year's Central Essex Summer Table Tennis League first division Champions and they clinched the title in style by beating second-placed Hullbridge Fat Boys 4-1. The opening game between Essex Junior  star Andrew McEwan (the Braintree League Mens Doubles Champion) and Nigel Lamb proved to be the best of the night with the hard-hitting McEwan coming out on top over five fiercely contested ends 11-7, 13-11, 11-13, 12-14, 11-8.  Danbury A jumped above Ramsden Raiders into second place courtesy of their 4-1 win with Dave Calleja leading the way. Calleja hit form beating both Dave Carter and John Parodi.

Bradley Hudgell wouldn't expect to lose too many games in division two but he wouldn't necessarily have expected to have come up against 2007 Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion Arthur Rybakas when his team ECC met Elmtree Graphics. Arthur won both of his singles but it wasn't quite enough and the ECC side of Bradley Hudgell and Holly Stubbings shaded the match 3-2.  Elsewhere, Duncan Elloy was on top form for Chelmsford A who beat Ramsden Rovers 4-1 and he looked really impressive beating both Colin Powell and Neil Freeman 3-0.

Brandon  Crouchman took on a starring role but it wasn't quite enough to enable Hylands Flingers to get the better of the leaders Chelmsford B in their division three clash. Crouchman beat Robin Armstrong and Frank Neill but Chelmsford edged the match 3-2. Fambridge consolidated second place by beating Elmtree Graphics B 4-1. Steve Buer stayed undefeated and he impressed greatly as he beat Phil Smith convincingly 11-5, 11-5, 11-9.

Further down the table Danbury C recorded their first victory of the Summer as they beat Excalibur International 3-2. Neither Ken Sheard or Dave Hancox were able to beat Michael Rostoft but they secured their victory by getting the better of Eleni Manolitsaki and Michael Rostoft 11-4, 10-12, 10-12, 15-13, 11-3 in a fluctuating Doubles encounter.

ECC C with 18 points out of a possible 25 are the fourth division Winners and they clinched the title by beating OCs C 4-1 and by missing out 3-2 against Danbury D. Richard Storey was undefeated against OCs C and although he was unable to beat Danbury's Dave Goody his side's 3-2 defeat meant they finished two points ahead of their Danbury rivals. Goody's match with Richard Storey could hardly have been closer with Dave coming out on top 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9. Danbury's chances of winning the title evaporated after they lost 4-1 against South Woodham Ferrers. Chris Hancox played his part by getting the better of John Skuse over five fluctuating games. The scoreline is one of the most unusual of the Summer : 11-9, 8-11, 11-1, 3-11, 13-11. Hancox also did well to beat Tony Reece-Ford over five ends :

13-15, 11-8, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6.

 

Steve Kerns - Press Officer

Central Essex Summer Table Tennis League