Maldon take the title with convincing 9-1 win

Maldon A are the 2009-10 Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League first division Champions and they won the title in style, racing to a convincing 9-1 win over third-placed Rawreth & Hullbridge. Their leading player, Neil Charles was again undefeated and he received excellent support from Minda Sinkus (three wins) and Keiran Lally (two wins). Keiran’s four game defeat against Kevin Read was their only set-back. Bocking A ensured that they will finish a comfortable second by also beating Rawreth & Hullbridge, in their case, 7-3. David Cole was their match-winner although he only just beat Charles Sweeney (4-11, 8-11, 11- 4, 11-6, 14-12) as well as Duncan Taylor (6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9). Excalibur A have been busy lately and although they have avoided relegation they have done so largely on the strength of good results earlier in the Season. They lost 7-3 to relegated Chelmsford A, in a match where Excalibur’s Gary Young won his three singles. Waseem Qureshi, Greg Green and Adrian Pitt all won twice for the Chelmsford side. Excalibur also lost 7-3 to OCs A after Old Chelmsfordians’ Paul Davison had won his three singles and Steve Northcott had scored excellent wins over Gary Baker and Nigel Lamb. Finally, Excalibur drew with a two-man ECC A. ECC’s excellent new signing David Evans was involved in two cliff-hangers. He beat Gary Young (11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10) but he missed out against Mike Wright (8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 10-12).

Chelmsford B scored two vital wins in division two to ease away from the relegation zone. Adrian Pitt won his three singles as they beat OCs B 7-3, and this included a five-game win over 2010 M&G Investments Chelmsford Closed Tournament two-down Singles Champion Robert Burton. They also beat ECC B 7-2 in a match where both teams were a player short. Adrian Pitt and Alistair Piper were both undefeated. Third-placed Liberal turned in a strong performance to beat OCs B 7-3. Steve Elmes (three wins) and Barry Pritchard (two wins) stayed in charge.

Hylands School A, runaway winners of division three could afford the luxury of resting their leading player Terry Dowsett and still beating ECCD 7-3. Brandon Crouchman and Scott Dowsett, two of the League’s most improved players dominated the action, although Scott had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Allan Thompson 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 12-10.

Excalibur C ensured that they will finish second in division four by beating Danbury E 7-3. Their leading player Richard Hiskey won his three singles and Steve Mundy picked up two wins. Third-placed Rawreth also completed their Season with a victory, getting the better of Danbury F 6-4. Mike Worship and Paul Churn both won twice but neither of them were able to get the better of Dave Marsh. “Relegated but determined to go down in style” appears to have been the intention of Writtle C who beat Chelmsford E 6-4. Frank Neill, Colin Griffiths and Tony Lambert all won twice although they all came up short against James Austin.

ECC G produced a strong performance in division five to beat Chelmsford F 8-2, to ensure that they finish above their opponents. Peter Sun and Mohammed Mohseni both stayed undefeated. Second-placed Danbury G added another seven points to their total by beating EPHQ 7-3. It was a triumph for team-work with Dave Goody, Brian Ellis and Dave Powell all winning twice.

Hylands School B were impressive 8-2 winners over Chelmsford G in division six. Thomas Barker won his three singles whilst Jack Crook and Philip Bigland both picked up two wins apiece. Bigland’s win over Chris Denyer went all the way to the wire before Philip won 11-6, 9-11, 10-12, 13-11, 13-11.

Steve Kerns

Press & Publicity Officer

Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League