There was little to choose between Chelmsford A and Elmtree Graphics A in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Mixed Knock Out Cup Quarter Final, but, it is Chelmsford A who advance to the Semi-Final after winning 5-4. In a tense final Mixed Doubles encounter Peter Barrett and Julie Vansertima edged out Ev Lucas and Nicola Pippen 4-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9. With former Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion Reagan Nettleingham beating both Waseem Qureshi (3-0) and Peter Barrett (3-1) Chelmsford knew there was little margin for error and it was possibly in the first game of the night when they stole a march on their opponents. Waseem Qureshi and Julie Vansertima clinched an important 12-10, 11- 7, 11-8 victory over the all-action Nettleingham and the more disciplined Nicola Pippen.

Danbury are through to the Open Cup Semi-Final after beating Chelmsford B 5-2. Danbury made an excellent start, racing into a 4-0 lead and although Chelmsford hit back Ian Whiteside clinched victory (with his second win of the night) by getting the better of Ray Lawrence 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8. Alastair Piper came up trumps for Chelmsford by recording an excellent 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 13-11 victory over Eric Green.

The Open KO Cup match between Chelmsford C and ECC A was notable for a very different reason - there were no fewer than four ladies taking part. Previously barred from this event, this proves that there is real merit in allowing the girls to compete. ECC represented by Steve Kerns, Lucy Wang and Sarra Wang won 5-0 with Lucy looking particularly sharp as she beat Julie Vansertima 3-0. Stevie Pell gave a very creditable account of herself against England no. 12 Lady and Essex Senior first team regular Sarra Wang before losing 8-11, 11-9, 3- 11, 7-11.

Runaway Division two leaders Chelmsford A had few problems beating Danbury 5-1 in the Two-Down Knock-Out Cup. Peter Barrett, Bradley Hudgell and Waseem Qureshi were all unbeaten in the singles and their only set-back came in the Doubles where Barrett and Qureshi lost in five games to Paul Richardson and Ivan Chaplin. Chelmsford will be joined in the Semi-Finals by third-division Writtle who did well to beat OCs 5-2. Matthew Brown’s tight 2-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3, 14-12 victor over Nat Ravlic gave Writtle a 2-0 lead and they never looked back after that. Hector Rogers clinched their victory by beating John Watts 11-4, 12-10, 11-5. However, second-placed Chelmsford B failed to progress beyond the first round finding their progress blocked by ECC A, who won 5-4. Keith Spicer was the difference between the two sides, beating both Ray Lawrence and Julie Vansertima in his singles and sharing in doubles wins with Ken James and Gary Brignall. In a dramatic last game of the night Brignall and James prevailed against Julie Vansertima and Alastair Piper 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 12-14, 11-8. A round later and ECC found themselves ousted from the Competition, when they were well beaten 5-1 by Hatfield Peverel. A marathon opening Doubles success for Peter Brownlow and Dave Carter against Trevor Collin and Gary Brignall by a 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 17-15 margin set the scene for the evening and Hatfield Peverel never looked back. A determined John Gagg sealed their victory by defeating Gary Brignall 11-3, 6-11, 14-12, 11-9.

Holders ECC looked to be in deep trouble in the Veterans KO Cup first round against Maldon as they lost the first three games played. However, with Peter Ballard failing to turn up a vital win for Lucy Wang over Paul Stephens (11-7, 11-5, 11-8) was sufficient to secure their progress into the next round. Team- mates Keith Spicer and Steve Kerns both breathed a sigh of relief ! Excalibur (Nigel Lamb, Richard Hiskey and Bill Smith) also progressed in the Veterans Cup as they came back from 4-2 down to pip OCs 5-4. Bill Smith started the fight-back by getting the better of Nat Ravlic 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7 and Nigel Lamb levelled the scores when he beat Robert Burton 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11- 3. In a tense deciding doubles you sense that the Excalibur pairing of Richard Hiskey and Bill Smith really had the bit between their teeth as they beat Burton and John Watts 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4.

Chelmsford D are through to the Semi-Final of the Four-Down Cup after getting the better of Danbury C 5-3. James Austin scored two fine hard-fought wins : 12- 14, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9 against Bob Partridge and 13-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-5 against Martin Knights and this gave his side the edge. Matt Skeoch sealed their victory by beating Bob Partridge over another competitive five-ender : 6- 11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6. Writtle also progressed to the Semi-Final by beating EPHQ 6-3. Andy Fox made his presence felt by getting the better of Calvin Wright 14-12, 11-7, 11-7 and it was Fox who sealed his team’s victory when he beat Ian Hockley 11-7, 3-11, 11-9, 12-10. Frank Neill also won his two singles, getting the better of Ian Hockley 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8 as well as Francis Whitbread 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8.

The inform Hatfield Peverel A side who frequently give a good account of themselves in the Handicap KO Cup are through to the Semi-Finals again. Their side of John Gagg (69), Peter Brown low (66) and Dave Carter (66) were on dominant form against ECC B storming home 5-1. Andy Hanlon (60) with a 17-21, 21-19, 21-2 victory over Brownlow was ECC’s only winner. They will be joined by Writtle A who were led by Handicap specialist Gary Ward (70) who beat a two- man Chelmsford A 5-1. Ward was supported by Kevin Worthington (70) and Trevor Carter (69). Waseem Qureshi (70) with a 21-8, 17-21, 21-14 victory over Trevor Carter was the sole Chelmsford winner.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League