MALDON B - THE TEAM TO WATCH NEXT YEAR ?

Maldon B gave a glimpse that they could be the team to beat in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League next Season by beating third-placed Elmtree Graphics A 8-2. With two former Chelmsford League Mens Singles Champions - 2002 Winner Cris Sladden and 2008 Champion Neil Charles in their line-up that wasn‘t altogether surprising. Fourth-placed ECC A did well to beat OCs A 6-4 in a match which featured some top-class Ladies Table Tennis. Lucy Wang beat Nikki Kennard after a superb game 14-12, 14-12, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8 whilst Sarra Wang beat Nikki 11-4, 16-14, 11-3. The hard-hitting Steve Northcott impressed for the Old Boys side by getting the better of Sarra Wang 11-7, 11-5, 11-9. Champions Bocking A returned to winning ways by beating Writtle A 6-4 with Rik James taking his three singles. Writtle‘s inform Paul Cumming did well to get the better of Kevin Gowlett over five games. Writtle fared less well against Maldon A, losing 10-0. Paul Stephens, Peter Ballard and Lee Prentice were all undefeated for Maldon.

Division two Champions Chelmsford A completed their fixtures by beating Danbury B 7-3. Bradley Hudgell celebrated their return to the first division by winning his three singles whilst Dave Richardson showed up well for the losers. He beat both Peter Barrett (11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 11-8) and Waseem Qureshi (11-6, 11-13, 11-5, 11-8). Hatfield Peverel A had few problems beating Excalibur B 9-1. John Webber (two wins), John Parodi (three wins) and John Gagg (three wins) dominated the action. A four player Chelmsford B side were also successful against Excalibur B, winning 6-4. Excalibur’s Richard Hiskey took his three singles to restrict the margin of the Chelmsford team’s victory. Chelmsford’s Duncan Elloy excelled by getting the better of Bill Smith 11-4, 11-13, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10.

OCs C’s hopes of avoiding relegation from division three were dealt a major blow as they were well beaten 9-1 by Hatfield Peverel C. Clive Allenby and Peter Mynard were both undefeated for Hatfield Peverel. Danbury D just shaded their match, 6-4 against Excalibur C after Danbury’s Neil Want and Glen Laing and Exclaibur‘s Michael Rostoft and Dave Moles had all won two singles. Leaders Writtle B will have to wait and see if they have done enough to secure promotion. They drew with Hatfield Peverel C, which gives them a total of 99 points although both ECC E and Danbury D (both who have 95 points with a game in hand ) could realistically overhaul them. Writtle’s top player Matthew Brown won his three singles.

Rawreth B were the week’s surprise package in division four, beating Danbury F 9-1. Mike Worship and Paul Churn were both undefeated. Bocking B gave themselves fresh hope of finishing second as they beat OCs D 9-1, after David Edwards and Richard Jennings had dominated the action. Mick Hayes was the sole winner for OCs, fighting back from 2-1 down to beat Garry Fryatt 9-11, 11-5, 5- 11, 11-8, 11-9. Danbury G’s 6-4 success against OCs D was a triumph for team- work as Dave Marsh, Richard Allen and John Robinson all won twice to counter Roy Moore’s hat-trick of victories.

ECC G are relegated from division five, although they had the satisfaction of going down fighting. Cecil Butcher (two wins) and Mohammed Mohseni (two wins) were instrumental in enabling them to beat Hatfield Peverel E 6-4. Cecil Butcher made his mark by getting the better of Andy Simmonds 11-6, 12-10, 3-11, 7-11, 16-14 as well as Colin Powell 10-12, 11-13, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7.

OCs F scored a fine 7-3 victory over the higher-placed Great Baddow side in division six. Charles Eaton led the way by staying undefeated whilst Dave Burke and Dave Newman both won twice. Dave Burke’s opening game victory over Tony Hallett (11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 10-12, 11-7) looks to have given the Old Boys team an early lift - one they did not relinquish. Chelmsford J just shaded their match against Chelmsford H. Patrick Whelpdale stayed undefeated for the J side which included a 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8 victory over Mike Pitt. Jacqui Smith impressed for Chelmsford H by getting the better of Robert Shrimpton 11-9, 9- 11, 11-6, 13-11.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League