SUPERB DISPLAY BY BRANDON CROUCHMAN

Hylands School A went a long way to securing victory in division four of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League and in a match which could quite conceivably have been played in the Braintree League first Division Hylands beat Bocking B 7-3. Terry Dowsett predictably won his three singles and Brandon Crouchman backed him up magnificently. 2008 Chelmsford Under 16 Champion Brandon stayed undefeated and his hat-tick of wins included a superb 7-11, 12- 10, 11-7, 11-13, 14-12 victory over Richard Jennings. Hylands lead Bocking by four points and have a game in hand.

It was a bad week for the teams at the bottom of the first division. Writtle A felt the full force of a very strong Rawreth line-up of Kevin Caldon, Kevin Read and John Poysden and were hammered 10-0, a result that moves Rawreth into second place. Danbury A struggled against Elmtree Graphics A. John Holland and Reagan Nettleingham were both undefeated as Elmtree won 9-1. Excalibur A who found the going tough last year are faring much better this Season and they drew with third-placed ECC A for the second time. Excalibur’s Gary Young won his three singles and he received excellent support from Gary Baker, a five game winner over Sarra Wang - and Nigel Lamb, who beat Lucy Wang in five games.

Leaders Bocking A avenged their only defeat of the Season by beating Maldon B 6- 4. It was a close fought affair and Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion Neil Charles again dominated. He retained his unbeaten record with five game victories over Dave Cole and Rik James, and he will be a strong favourite to retain his title at the Chelmsford Closed Tournament at the end of January.

However, it was Kelly Skeggs, on vacation from Norwich University who scored the upset win of the evening and she excelled by beating three times Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion David Cole 14-12, 11-9, 11-8.

Liberals have been something of a surprise package in division two and they moved into fourth place by beating Hatfield Peverel A 6-4. This was a hard- fought game with no single player dominating. Robin Armstrong sealed the Liberals victory at the end of the evening by getting the better of John Gagg 13-11, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, a fitting end to a well contested match. Liberals picked up another four points against runaway leaders Chelmsford A although they were assisted by the fact that Chelmsford were a player short. Steve Elmes excelled by getting the better of Peter Barrett over four ends. Danbury B’s mini revival faltered against ECC B when they could only field two players. ECC’s Trevor Collin stayed undefeated to ensure that ECC won 8-2. Collin just came out on top 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 12-10 in a hard-fought game against Paul Richardson whilst Richardson tasted fifth game glory himself. Richardson prevailed 11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-2, 12-10 against Gary Brignall.

ECC D, second to bottom in division three, turned the table on it’s head as they beat third-placed Hatfield Peverel C 7-3. Bolstered by the inclusion of Alistair Hill they made a good start and never looked like losing. Hill took his three singles and he received good support from team-mates Peter Layzell and John Wickens who both won twice.

Rawreth B were comfortable winners in division four, beating Danbury H 9-1. Paul Churn and Mike Worship were both undefeated whilst Peter Sun won Danbury’s sole singles, an opening game success against Stan Owen.

ECC F pulled further away from their rivals in division five, by beating Danbury J 8-2. Richard Storey and Malcolm Storey were both unbeaten and crucially ECC won the three games decided in a fifth end. Richard completed his hat-trick with an uncomfortable looking 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7 victory over Roger Tiffin in the last game of the night. Further down the table Chelmsford E did well to hold third-placed EPHQ to a draw. No single player stayed undefeated, and Calvin Wright and Francis Whitbread (EPHQ) and Bob Francis (Chelmsford) all won twice. Francis excelled in the last game of the evening by getting the better of Ian Hockley 8-11, 11-6, 13-15, 11-7, 14-12.

Elsewhere, Chelmsford F did well by holding Writtle C to a draw, courtesy of a Stevie Pell maximum. Stevie was tested most by Tony Lambert and she had to retrieve a two game deficit before winning 5-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9. Bottom team ECC G will be heartened after recording their third win of the Season, a 6-4 success over a two man Chelmsford G team. However, it was the Chelmsford side who actually came out on top in the singles exchanges with Matt Skeoch and James Austin both winning twice.

Chelmsford J ran out narrow 6-4 winners against OCs in the middle of the table battle in division six. Patrick Whelpdale dominated the action by staying undefeated and he won his three singles in some style, beating all three OCs players - Matt Newton, Richard Newton and Tom Adam three straight.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League