DOUBLE PROMOTION FOR CHELMSFORD TEAMS

Chelmsford B have duplicated the efforts of their A team by gaining promotion to division one of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League for next Season. They achieved this in style by beating Chelmsford C 9-1 with Ray Lawrence and Alastair Piper both remaining undefeated. Ryan Pitt won the C team’s sole game with a fine 11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 12-10 victory over Adrian Pitt (no relation !). Hatfield Peverel B, led by 2009 Colchester League Mens Singles Champion Greg Green will probably finish third and they scored a convincing 8-2 win over relegated Excalibur B. Greg and Martyn Green both stayed undefeated.

ECC B (Trevor Collin, Gary Brignall and Keith Spicer) were also clear-cut 8-2 winners as they beat OCs B 8-2. Robert Burton impressed for the losers by beating Trevor Collin 11-9, 12-10, 11-9. Liberal B did well to beat Hatfield Peverel A 6-4. The inform Barry Pritchard led the way and his hat-trick included an excellent 13-11, 5-11, 11-5, 7-11, 13-11 victory over Peter Brownlow.

First division Champions Bocking A haven’t been the same force in recent weeks without 2009 Chelmsford Mens Singles Champion David Cole, who is absent following a temporary overseas Work placement. Although Rik James won his three singles they were no match for a strong OCs A side of Ryan Savill, Nikki Kennard and Paul Davison who all won twice. Nikki did well to beat Kevin Gowlett 12-10, 11-9, 2-11, 7-11, 13-11. OCs A were also involved in a fiercely fought draw with Elmtree Graphics A. This time Nikki Kennard excelled by beating Matt Mulley 12-10, 11-7, 11-5 whilst Matt got the better of Ryan Savill 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4. Paul Davison scored a fine hat-trick of wins which included an 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 13-11, 13-11 success against John Holland and an even better 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9 victory over Reagan Nettleingham. The match between second placed Rawreth A and ECC A also finished all-square after Lucy Wang had scored two very notable victories. She beat both Duncan Taylor (11-8, 11-7, 11-9) and Kevin Read (11-7, 14-16, 11-7, 11-6).

Division three is one of the closest on record and incredibly a mere 25 points cover the top and bottom places. ECC E jumped into second place by beating OCs C 7-3, after Bryn Thomas had won his three singles. Hatfield Peverel C, who are fourth beat Excalibur C 6-4 in a match where all three of their players - Peter Mynard, Clive Allenby and Steve Buer won twice. Buer did well to beat Michael Rostoft 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8. Further down the table seventh placed ECC D beat fifth placers ECC C 7-3. Trevor Roberts remained unbeaten and this included a last-gasp 5-11, 11-4, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9 victory over James Hicks. Bottom-placed Kings Road, who have been fighting really hard in recent weeks may have saved themselves from demotion. They did well to beat ECC D 6-4 courtesy of a Martin Eyles hat-trick. Eyles completed his evening’s work in style by getting the better of Trevor Roberts 11-3, 11-7, 11-9. However, Kings Road didn’t fare so well against promotion-chasing Writtle B who won 7-3. Matthew Brown and Hector Rogers were both undefeated for Writtle.

Bocking B went a long way to ensuring that they finish second in division four and by beating Chelmsford D 9-1 they have a seven point lead over fourth-placed Elmtree Graphics B with just one more match to be played. Richard Jennings and David Edwards were both undefeated in this success. Elmtree Graphics B made no mistake by beating OCs D 8-2. Their leading player Phil Smith won his three singles whilst Tony Vassallo and Rod Maclennan both won twice. Maclennan just missed out against Roy Moore 6-11, 11-4, 13-11, 10-12, 11-13 in his last singles. Elmtree Graphics B were unable to field their strongest side against the Champions - Hylands School A and as such they were well beaten 10-0. Terry Dowsett, Scott Dowsett and Brandon Crouchman were all undefeated as Hylands School notched up their seventeenth win of the Season. Elsewhere, third-placed Hatfield Peverel D (Neil Freeman, Gareth Davies and Keith Cullen) completed their fixtures in style by getting the better of Danbury F 10-0. Keith Cullen’s 9-11, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12, 11-8 success against Dave Goody was the best match of the night.

Division five Champions ECC F ran out 6-4 winners against EPHQ with Malcolm Storey and Malcolm Sorey both staying undefeated. Mick excelled in his three games beating Ian Hockley (12-10, 11-9, 11-3), Francis Whitbread 6-11, 4-11, 11- 7, 11-8, 11-8) and Calvin Wright (11-8, 11-8, 11-8) - an excellent hat-trick of victories. EPHQ experienced few difficulties beating Hatfield Peverel E 10-0 with the same trio of players - Wright, Hockley and Whitbread having things pretty much their own way. Chelmsford E were also comfortable winners as they beat Chelmsford G 9-1 with Bob Francis (three wins), Adam Pitt (three wins) and Richard Upson (two wins) all on target. Ian Austin was Chelmsford G’s only winner with an opening game 15-13, 6-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6 success over Adam Pitt. Chelmsford F’s match with their G team was altogether closer fought and Tom Lee’s trio of wins meant that the F team shaded it 6-4. Matt Skeoch won twice for the G team and this included a 12-10, 11-13, 11-9, 4-11, 11-5 success against Paul Nicol.

Division six Champions Excalibur D celebrated their success by notching up a resounding 10-0 win over Writtle D. Things went to form and Steve Cheesman, Craig McGarrigle and Keith Fitzjohn all stayed undefeated. Craig McGarrigle was the only Exclaibur player to come under pressure and he had to fight back from 0-2 down to get the better of Dan Meah 7-11, 7-11,11-8, 11-9, 11-7. Writtle D in turn did well to beat OCs E 6-4. Dan Meah won his three single as the Writtle team excelled by winning four of the five games decided in the fifth end. Dan Meah just saw off Jack Preston 12-14, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9. OCs F ran out 7-3 winners against Excalibur E, courtesy of a good all-round team performance. Dave Burke (two wins), Dave Newman (three wins) and Paul Burke (one win) all played a part in this success.

CLICK Leaders Hylands School B (Jamie Dowsett and Philip Bigland) had few problems beating Chelmsford L 5-0, a victory that gives them a nine point lead over Chelmsford M.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League