Sunday 18 October 2009

A strong Elmtree Graphics A team were this week’s big winners in the first division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League, beating Old Chelmfordians 8-2. County Junior star Matthew Mulley led the way by winning his three singles, which included a fine 11-4, 4-11, 13-11, 12-10 victory over Braintree Mens Singles Champion Paul Davison. It wasn’t all gloom and doom for Davison either who won his team’s two singles, beating both Paul Sayer and Reagan Nettleingham. Promoted Chelmsford A also impressed and their 8-2 win over Danbury A means Danbury have a real fight on their hands to avoid relegation. Colchester Mens Singles Champion Greg Green who should make a real difference to the fortunes of the Chelmsford side stayed undefeated as did Chelmsford Under 21 Singles Champion Bradley Hudgell. New first division leaders Rawreth & Hullbridge made it three wins out of three as they beat ECC A 7-3. Adam Brewer, John Poysden and Kevin Caldon all won twice. With a massive squad of 10 players to choose from it will be interesting to see which members of this all-star team play in which games.

There was a major reversal of form in division two when struggling Hatfield Peverel B met their colleagues from their C side. It was the B team led by an undefeated Neil Freeman who led his team to a very welcome 8-2 victory. Neil had his work cut out to get the better of Peter Mynard but he eventually pulled through 11-9, 11-9, 13-15, 11-4. ECC B saw off Hatfield Peverel 7-3, with Trevor Collin and Keith Spicer both bagging hat-tricks whilst Danbury B emerged as 6-4 winners against Chelmsford C. Glen Laing and Nicky Reece-Ford both win twice for the Danbury side but neither of them could get the better of an inform Duncan Elloy. Relegated Writtle A, many people’s tips to win this division showed why this is the case as they beat a two-man Chelmsford C 9-1. Paul Cuming and Kevin Worthington both won their three singles, whilst Sam Clarke made his mark with an excellent five-set win over Gary Ward.

ECC C are the early leaders in division three and they did well to beat ECC D 7-3. James Hicks who won his three singles was the difference between the teams and this included a 11-2, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9 victory over Simon Webber, the best of the ECC D players. Writtle B had Matthew Brown to thank as they beat Bocking B 6-4. Brown’s hat-trick of victories included a hard-fought 6-11, 10-12, 11- 4, 11-6, 11-4 victory over Richard Jennings, the most successful of the Bocking players.

Chelmsford D were the week’s big winners in division four, romping home 9-1 against Writtle C. The doubles was the Chelmsford side’s only set-back as John Barrett, Gordon Fairchild and Dave Parker won all nine singles. Excalibur C take over at the head of this division after beating Elmtree Graphics B 7-3, good going as Colchester first division player Phil Smith won his three singles for the Widford based-side. Team-work was the winner as Danbury F beat Danbury E 6-4, after Richard Allen, John Robinson and Dave Marsh had all won twice. Danbury F were involved in another closely fought match against Chelmsford E, which finished as 5-5. Chelmsford’s Adam Pitt and James Austin and Danbury’s Dave Marsh and Richard Allen all won twice. The last two games were nail- biters. Dave Marsh just got the better of James Austin 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 12- 10,13-11 and Adam Pitt pipped Dave Hancox 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 8-11, 13-11.

It is early days in division five and no team appears to have taken charge of the division just yet. This week Excalibur D impressed most, beating early leaders ECC G 7-3. Steve Cheesman picked up all three singles and Tony Hallet bagged two wins. Bottom side Danbury G rocketed up the table by beating Chelmsford F 9-1 with Dave Goody and Dave Powell winning their three singles. Chelmsford to their credit kept battling away and Matt Davis came good in the last game by beating Brian Ellis 8-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 to pick up their solitary win. The match between EPHQ and Chelmsford F was fiercely contested and finished as a 5-5 draw. No single player stayed undefeated and Ian Hockley and Calvin Wright (EPHQ) and Matt Davis and Eleni Manolitsaki (Chelmsford) all won twice. Matt Davis scored an excellent 14-12, 11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8 win over Ian Hockley. Danbury K just shaded the match against Danbury J 6-4. Lee McHugh was the best player on view, and he stayed undefeated. McHugh secured victory for his side by beating Kevin Willis 7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 12-10 in the last game of the evening. ECC G were also 6-4 winners beating Hatfield Peverel D 6-4 despite the fact that Peverel’s Mike Bard stayed unbeaten. Arthur Clark and David Gatherall both won twice, with Clark doing well to beat Andy Simmonds 5-11, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10, 12-10. David Gatherall was also involved in a cliff- hanger and he narrowly came out on top 11-2, 16-14.10-12, 4-11, 13-11 against Geoff Ward.

The division six match between Hylands School B and Excalibur E finished as a 5-5 draw. Hylands fielded a four-man team - Jamie Dowsett, Bradley Sheridan, Thomas Barker and Phil Bigland and all four players contributed to their victory. Philip Bigland impressed by beating Keith Pallett 11-8, 11-5, 11-5. Excalibur E were involved in a second 5-5 draw, with Chelmsford G. Seb Larwill was the outstanding player on view winning his three singles. He completed his hat-trick by getting the better of Craig Hiskey 15-17, 11-5, 6-11, 14-12, 11- 6. The Old Chelmsfordians derby match between the F and G sides went pretty much to form with the F side shading the match 6-4. Charles Eaton and Dave Newman both won twice for the F side although neither player was able to get the better of Mick Parkhurst. Chelmsford H had Paul Nicol to thank as they came out on top against Writtle D. It was his third win that earned them their 6-4 victory and team-mate Jack Osbourne won twice.

OCs H made their mark in the CLICK League by beating Chelmsford K 4-1. Their team of Fred Martin, Hassan Ahmed and George Martin won all four singles but missed out in the doubles 9-11, 8-11, 6-11 against Callum Webster and Ryan Gooday. Chelmsford L also ran out 4-1 winners, beating Chelmsford M. Oliver Hicks won both of his singles which included a last-gasp 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 9- 11, 11-9 victory against Joe Land. Black Notley also won 4-1, beating Chelmsford N. George Wallace (two singles wins) and Warren Baines (one singles win) being the successful players on this occasion. Josh Watts was on target for Chelmsford N with his victory over Warren Baines.

Occasional ECC A player Sarra Wang, aged 19, currently ranked no. 14 in England will be representing England at the English Open at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield on Thursday 29 October 2009 when she lines up in the Under 21 Ladies Singles against a top-class International field from all five Continents. Sarra, a former English Junior Champion and a Semi-Finalist in the Ladies Singles in the English Closed Championships in 2008 played for ECC A last year with her Mum, Lucy when she was home from Birmingham University.

Report written by Steve Kerns
Press Officer for Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League