SUPERB TEAM PERFORMANCE FROM MALDON A

10-0 wins are pretty rare in the first division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League but Maldon A hit the jack-pot against OCs A when they produced a top-class display to take all ten games. Keiran Lally, Paul Sayer and Peter Ballard were all undefeated and even OC’s Paul Davison was left without a win to his name. Paul Sayer completed his maximum with a very hard- fought 11-13, 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 win over Davison. Maldon A added another eight points to their total by beating Writtle A 8-2. Paul Sayer was again undefeated whilst Paul Cuming fared best of the Writtle players. He excelled as he won two very close five enders. Cuming beat Lee Prentice 11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9 as well as Paul Stephens 4-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9. Maldon B moved into fourth place by beating Danbury A 7-3. Neil Charles was predictably Maldon’s best player and he stayed undefeated. However, Danbury gave a good account of themselves and Babul Mcleod and Dave Calleja both scored fine wins over Chris Jacob.

Chelmsford B stayed in second position in division two by beating Excalibur B 7-3. An undefeated Alastair Piper led the way whilst Adrian Pitt just beat Richard Hiskey 12-10, 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10 in the closest game of the evening. Elsewhere Chelmsford C excelled by beating OCs B 8-2. Duncan Elloy remained undefeated and he completed his hat-trick by beating John Watts after struggling badly in the first two ends. The scores tell their own story as Elloy ran out a 2-11, 4-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-9 winner.

In division three Danbury D edged out Writtle B 6-4 in the top of the table clash, a result that gives Danbury a narrow two point lead after ten games. Glen Laing led the way by winning his three singles and he received good support from Tim Pulham who won twice. Danbury D had also played well to beat Excalibur C 8-2. Laing was again undefeated and he received excellent support from Neil Want and Tim Pulham who both won twice. On this showing you would not have expected Excalibur C to get too much out of their match against Writtle B, but, this game did not go to plan at all. Michael Rostoft led the way with an excellent hat-trick of wins whilst Dave Moles won twice as Excalibur ran out 7-3 winners. Rostoft (clearly on good form this week) completed his hat-trick with considerable aplomb by getting the better of Writtle’s top player - Matthew Brown 11-5, 11-9, 11-1. Further down the table an 8-2 defeat for Kings Road leaves them in bottom position after they found the going tough against ECC C. James Hicks was undefeated for ECC C whilst Alison Gurner won twice for the School team. Alison did well to beat Neil Thompson 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4.

In division four a two-man Bocking B did well to beat OCs D 7-3, good going as they only had two players. David Edwards and Richard Jennings were both unbeaten although Edwards had to pull out all the stops against Mick Hayes. Edwards came through to win 15-13, 11-2, 9-11,10-12,11-8. Chelmsford D did well to hold the higher-placed Danbury E to a draw, winning three of the four games decided in the fifth end. Sam Pit won his three singles which included a hard-fought 4-11, 7-11, 15-13, 11-3, 13-11 victory against Alan Dadswell.

Division six leaders Excalibur D (Steve Cheesman, Keith Fitzjohn and Craig McGarrigle) had few problems beating team-mates Excalibur 10-0, a result that gives them a massive 13 point lead over Danbury L. Second placed Danbury L also won, and they had Graham Briggs firing on all cylinders as they beat Writtle D 7-3. Owen Jordan won twice for Writtle beating both Chris Hancox and Lee McHugh.

Fans of top-class Table Tennis should note that the third round of British League Premier Division matches will take place on Sunday 18 January 2009 at 11.00 am at BATTS Team Peniel Table Tennis Club, The Norman Booth Centre, Elderfield, Mulberry Green, Harlow, CM17 0EY. Afternoon games kick off at 15.00 hours. Admission is free. Past and present Chelmsford League Mens Singles Champions - Lorestas Trumpauskas (Ellenborough I) and Neil Charles (Fusion I) are amongst the players who might be competing. Runaway leaders Drumchapel Glasgow I face an interesting morning encounter against Ellenborough. Local stars BATTS Team Peniel I are currently in third place and their Sunday afternoon fixture against Middlesbrough giants Ormesby I should be one of the highlights of the weekend. Expect BATTS to pick their team from a squad of Wang Zheng, Craig Bryant, Shuying Xu, John Holland, Ritchie Venner and Clive Carthy.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League