Great display from Peter Brownlow

It wasn’t a good week for all conquering Writtle A in division two of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League. The runaway leaders were held to a draw by second-placed Hatfield Peverel A. An impressive Peter Brownlow (a former Hertfordshire Senior County player of considerable note) was the main architect of this upset and he scored three excellent wins over the usually impregnable Writtle trio of Gary Ward, Kevin Worthington and Paul Cuming. Hatfield Peverel B had Neil Freeman to thank as they beat OCs B 6-4 whilst Hatfield Peverel C relied on team-work as they beat Chelmford B 7-3. Peter Mynard, Steve Buer and Chris Buer all won twice although none of them could get the better of Adrian Pitt. Chris Buer came closest and Adrian had to pull out all the stops to win 11-6, 16-18, 11-5, 6-11, 13-11. Gary Brignall enjoyed a good night as EC B drew 5-5 with OCs B. He completed his hat-trick with a 11- 8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-2 victory over John Watts.

Elmtree Graphics A had Paul Sayer and Matthew Mulley on unbeatable form as they defeated Maldon B 7-3 in their first division clash. Hamish Innes gave a good showing against Sayer before missing out 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 12-10, 6-11.

Leaders Writtle B were the week’s big winners in division three. Matthew Brown and Trevor Carter both stayed undefeated whilst Mark Bohan picked up OCs’ sole win, getting the better of Hector Rogers 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-2. Hylands School A remain very much on target to win this division as they have two games in hand on Writtle B, and Brandon Crouchman and Terry Dowsett were both undefeated as they beat Danbury C 7-3. The match between Pip French and Scott Dowsett was the closest of the night with Pip surviving a fierce come-back from Scott before he pulled through 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 12-14, 11-9. Third-placed ECC C beat OCs C 7-3 as James Hicks and Gus Heath both won their three singles whilst the match between ECC D and Danbury D went largely with the form-book as Danbury D won 7-3. Danbury’s Peter Hance stayed undefeated.

Bottom-placed Writtle C produced the big shock in division four, beating OCs D 7-3, although the Old Chelmsfordians side wasn’t at full strength. Frank Neill won his three singles and he received excellent support from Frank Neill and Andy Fox who both won twice. The match between Chelmsford D and Club colleagues – Chelmsford E was keenly contested - so much so that no single player stayed undefeated. Tom Lee and Dave Parker both won twice for the D side whilst Bob Francis and James Austin both picked up two wins for the E side, as the E team came out on top 6-4. Danbury F were surprisingly clear-cut 8-2 winners over ECC F with John Robinson leading the way, with three wins. Perhaps significantly, Danbury won all four games that were decided in the fifth end. Third-placed Raweth B also won and their 7-3 victory over OCs B was fashioned by Paul Churn and Mike Worship who both won their three singles.

Division five leaders Danbury K turned in a top-class performance, as they beat second-placed Danbury G 8-2. Graham Briggs won his three singles and Lee McHugh and Peter Orriss supported him with two wins apiece. Briggs completed an excellent hat-trick with an 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 victory over Dave Goody, Danbury G’s best player. Against fourth-placed EPHQ Danbury K produced arguably an even better performance and they ran out dazzling 9-1 winners. This time Lee McHugh and Graham Briggs both stayed undefeated and Peter Orriss won twice. Lee McHugh set the Danbury victory in motion by getting the better of Ian Hockley 5-11, 11-2, 3-11, 11-9, 11-9 in the first game of the night, and thereafter his team never looked back.
Further down the table third-placed Excalibur D ran out 8-2 winners against Danbury H. Steve Cheesman and John Marshall were both undefeated whilst Tony Hallett won twice. Hallett edged out Roger Tiffin 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 7-11,
13-11 in the closest game of the night.

Hatfield Peverel E returned to the top of the division six table by beating nearest rivals OCs F 7-3. Adam Carter and Dave Carter both stayed undefeated.
However, it was a close run thing, and Adam had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Charles Eaton 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 6-11, 13-11 in the first game. Elsewhere, third-placed Chelmsford J made no mistake against Excalibur E, and ran out convincing 9-1 winners. Robert Shrimpton and Ian Austin both won their three singles, and Jackie Smith won twice.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League