VERY MIXED RESULTS FOR EXCALIBUR

Excalibur A are proving to be something of a surprise package in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League first Division and by using a large squad of players they have produced some eye-catching results. Fielding the very strong team of Suffolk County players - Andy Warner, Nigel Hodder and Gary Young they played superbly to beat Maldon B 7-3, with all three Maldon successes coming from Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion Neil Charles. However, with none of their top players available their side of Gary Baker, Richard Hiskey and Nigel Lamb were well beaten 9-1 by Danbury A (Eric Green, Ian Whiteside and Jon Hill).

Bocking A moved further ahead by beating Writtle A 10-0. The Champions-elect (Kevin Gowlett, Rik James and David Cole) carried all before them on this occasion. A new look Elmtree Graphics A (Reagan Nettleingham, John Holland and Matt Mulley) also impressed and they did well to beat OCs A 8-2. John Holland produced a storming performance and his hat-trick of wins included an excellent 11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 11-3 victory against Paul Davison.

There is no stopping division two leaders Chelmsford A, and they impressed again as they notched up an 8-2 win over Hatfield Peverel A. Waseem Qureshi and Peter Barrett both stayed undefeated whilst Peverel’s new signing Ray Eldridge made his mark by getting the better of Bradley Hudgell over four ends. The ever- improving Greg Green was also on sharp form and he took his three singles as Hatfield Peverel B drew with Chelmsford B. Ray Lawrence went down fighting and he only succumbed to Green 4-11, 11-6, 6-11, 8-11, 9-11. Steve Northcott, stepped down to the second division and he picked up two singles although he could not prevent OCs B losing 6-4 to Liberals. The Braintree based side of Robin Armstrong, Barry Pritchard and Steve Pennell all won twice. The hard- hitting Northcott impressed greatly with his 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 victory over 2006 Braintree League Mens Singles Champion - Steve Pennell.

Division three leaders Writtle B scored their third win of the Season as they beat ECC E 7-3. Hector Rogers led the way by staying undefeated and this included a fine 11-7, 6-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-7 victory over Bryn Thomas. Brian Cook who won once, had to work hard for his success and he scraped through 8- 11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-3, 12-10 against Colin Blore. Danbury D moved into second place by beating Hatfield Peverel C 6-4. Glen Laing led the way with a hat- trick of wins.

In division four Danbury F just shaded their match 6-4, by beating Rawreth & Hullbridge B. Brian Ellis won his three singles. He completed his hat-trick by getting the better of Gordon Swan 11-13, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 and Dave Goody sealed the victory for his team by getting the better of Stan Owen 11-4, 11-7, 5-11,11-8 in the last game. Danbury G took full advantage of the their opponents - Hatfield Peverel D only having two players and Richard Allen, Dave Hancox and Dave Marsh ran out 7-3 winners.

Writtle C stay top in division five and they had both Tony Lambert and Colin Griffiths on top form as they beat ECC G 8-2. Mohammed Mohseni picked up ECC’s sole singles victory by getting the better of Andy Fox 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9. It was honours even in a hard-fought match between Chelmsford F and Danbury K. No single player stayed undefeated and Tom Lee (Chelmsford) and Trevor Palmer and John Knights (Danbury) all won twice.

Second-placed Danbury L (Chris Hancox, Lee McHugh and Graham Briggs) were the week’s big winners in division six, and they made no mistake as they brushed OCs E aside 10-0. Chis Hancox’s opening game 8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 win over Tom Adams seemed to give his side the ascendancy and they made no mistake as they picked up all ten points. Great Baddow moved into third place by beating OCs F 8-2 after Tony Hallett and Jim McCarthy both won their three singles. McCarthy’s victory against Dave Newman (an excellent name in Chelmsford Table Tennis circles !) by a 4-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 margin appears to have been the pick of the action. Team-work shone through as Chelmsford H pipped Writtle D 6-4. Eric Clift, Chris High and Jacqui Smith all won twice and Clift sealed the victory by getting the better of Owen Jordan 11- 2, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9 in the last game of the night. However, Excalibur D look odds-on favourites to win this division, and their new signing - Dave Birkett will be well known to older players. The 1986 Chelmsford Mens Doubles Champion (paired with current Southend Football Club Manager Steve Tilson on that occasion) took his three singles as they beat second-placed Danbury L 6-4. Graham Briggs made his mark for the losers by beating both Steve Cheesman and Keith Fitzjohn - two excellent wins.

Chelmsford L (Jack Crook and Max Allen) were 5-0 winners against Club colleagues - Chelmsford N in the CLICK League whilst Chelmsford M (Bradley Sullivan and Sebastian Lerwill) showed a clean pair of heels to Chelmsford O, also winning 5-0. Chelmsford M (26 points) lead the way from Hylands School B (21 points) although Hylands have two games in hand.