DOUBLE SUCCESS FOR CHELMSFORD

All conquering Division two Champions Chelmsford A made it a double cause for celebration by winning the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Two-Down Knock Out Cup Final with a 5-1 win over Hatfield Peverel. All three Chelmsford players picked up singles wins with Bradley Hudgell beating Peter Brownlow 2- 11, 11-6, 11-7, 12-10, Peter Barrett getting the better of John Gagg 11-9, 11- 4, 11-4 and Waseem Qureshi beating John Parodi 12-10, 11-8, 11-3. Brownlow and Parodi hit back by defeating Peter Barrett and Bradley Hudgell 7-11, 12-10, 12- 10, 11-8 in the middle doubles but this turned out to be a short reprieve and Bradley Hudgell sealed victory for the Chelmsford side by battling hard to get the better of John Parodi 3-11, 13-11, 13-11, 11-4.

ECC retained the Veterans Knock-Out Cup, their third win in four years by beating Excalibur 5-1. A hard-fought opening 3-2 doubles win for Steve Kerns and Keith Spicer over Nigel Lamb and George Pavitt turned out to be important as Gary Baker hit back well in the second singles by beating Lucy Wang 13-11, 7- 11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7. However, Excalibur were unable to build on this success as Steve Kerns defeated Nigel Lamb 3-0 and Keith Spicer added a vital 10-12, 11- 4, 11-7, 11-6 win over George Pavitt. Excalibur were on the back foot and despite a promising start they also missed out in the middle doubles. Lucy Wang and Steve Kerns came through to beat Gary Baker and Nigel Lamb 11-13, 11-8, 11- 4, 11-8. It was left to George Pavitt to try and rescue the game against the hard-hitting Lucy Wang. It turned out to be a tall order. George all but matched Lucy in the first two games but after missing out narrowly in both ends he couldn’t hold on in the third game. Lucy ran out a 11-9, 12-10, 11-6 winner.

There was more success for ECC who retained the Mixed Knock-Out Cup. Their Final opponents were Chelmsford B who had excelled by getting the better of Chelmsford A 5-1 in their Semi-Final with Alastair Piper scoring a superb 7-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-6, 13-11 victory over Bradley Hudgell. Hannah Pitt played her part by defeating Stevie Pell 6-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-2 and Adrian Pitt wrapped up the Chelmsford B victory by defeating Stevie Pell 11-8, 11-4, 12-10.

ECC won the Final 5-1, a score which flattered them as only Lucy Wang’s expected victory over Claire Austin was by a 3-0 margin. Steve Kerns had to battle back from 2-1 down to get the better of Ray Lawrence 7-11, 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 11-8 and Adrian Pitt was on target as he beat ECC's Gary Brignall 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 12-10. Chelmsford needed to win the middle doubles to really make their mark in the match but it was Gary Brignall/Steve Kerns who sealed victory 8-11, 11-3, 14-12, 11-9 against Adrian Pitt/Ray Lawrence. Lucy Wang sealed the ECC victory with a fluctuating 6-11, 11-6, 11-1, 11-8 win over Ray Lawrence.

Danbury excelled in the Six-Down Knock-Out Cup. They beat the Division Six Champions Excalibur 5-3 in a hotly contested Semi-Final. Graham Briggs was their match-winner as he beat Keith Fitz-John 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 and he sealed his side’s victory by beating Steve Cheesman 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9. Briggs was also involved in an equally important middle doubles success when he teamed up with Le McHugh to get the better of Steve Cheesman and Craig McGarrigle 11-3, 12-10, 11-4. Danbury made no mistake in the Final and their side of Graham Briggs, Lee McHugh and John Skuse gave the OCs F side of Charles Eaton, Dave Burke and Dave Newman no chance as they blazed their way to a 5-0 success.

All players and Officials are reminded that the League's Annual General Meeting takes place on Thursday 28 May 2009 at Writtle Sports & Social Club, Paradise Road, Writtle at 20.00 hours.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League