The first division is firmly back in the spotlight this week in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League. There were a number of strong performances and 14-year-old Daniel Young led the way.

He won all three singles as Danbury B lost 3-7 to Danbury A. He was clearly on good form as he beat Steve Whiteley 3-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-7) and he fought back from 2-0 down to get the better of Dave Richardson 13-15, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7. A good performance was about to become a great one. In his third singles he beat his dad Gary 3-1 (11-8, 2-11, 11-9, 13-11).

Champions Maldon A have set such a high standard that when they lose games it makes interesting reading. Chelmsford B’s Simon Jarvis beat both Trevor Lloyd 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 11-8) and Colin Stallwood 3-2 (10-12, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6) in his side’s 2-8 defeat.

Chelmsford A beat Writtle A 8-2. Wal Bada and newcomer Ugur Saglik both won their three singles. Saglik, the highest nationally ranked player in the league, did not drop a game and there is no doubt that a Chelmsford side featuring Bada, Saglik and Eddie Ogbebor will give Maldon a real run for their money.

Rawreth also won 8-2. Kim Shead and Liam Squirrel were both undefeated against Chelmsford B.

OCs B lead the way in Division Two. It will be a big surprise if they don’t stay in pole position. With four times Chelmsford Men’s Singles champion David Cole in their line-up they ran out 8-2 winners against Writtle C. Kevin Worthington joined Cole in staying undefeated and he beat Gary Ward 3-1 (10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8).

Maldon B are expected to challenge for honours but they met their match against Maldon C who beat them 6-4. John Holland led the way with a hat-trick and this included a quick-fire 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-4) victory against Ciaran Whelan. Dawn Baldry won twice which included a last gasp 3-2 (10-12, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11) win over Steve Scholz.

Danbury D are fourth and Sam Lowman dominated as they beat Hatfield Peverel B 7-3. Guy McKenzie showed up well for the losers with a 3-0 (13-11, 11-7, 11-9) win over Dan Anderson.

Chelmsford C won 7-3 against OCs C. Waseem Qureshi dominated proceedings with a hat-trick and Graham Playle won twice.

It was honours even when Danbury E faced Danbury C. No one player stayed undefeated and Danbury E’s David Gatheral and Ken Sheard and Danbury C’s Neil Want all won twice. Gatheral secured the draw for his side by getting the better of Glen Laing 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-6) in the last game of the evening.

Chelmsford D (30 points) made it four wins out of four in Division Three. However, it was a close-run thing against Writtle D. Jarek Pietraszuk and Keith Martin both won twice. With the scores poised at 4-4 Martin beat Andy Fox 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-6) and Pietraszuk defeated Trevor Collin 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7) to secure their 6-4 win.

OCs D have also started well with four wins and they have 28 points. Mick Hayes and Gareth Joice were both undefeated as they beat Writtle E 8-2. No fewer than eight games were decided in four ends but surprisingly not one game went to a decider.

Maldon D won 8-2 against a two-man OCs E. Thomas Page was undefeated and this included a roller-coaster 3-2 (3-11, 7-11, 13-11, 11-4, 12-10) win over Richard Baxter. Maldon D also beat OCs D 6-4. Mervyn Perriman won his three singles without dropping an end. Four games were decided 7-3.

Teamwork (two wins for Allan Steel, Luca Bailey and Eamon Hall) gave Danbury H the edge against OCs F despite the fact that Ashton Parker was undefeated for the OCs side.

Dave Goody and Kevin Willis both bagged hat-tricks as Danbury J beat Danbury K whilst Nicky Reece-Ford and Mo Hardy were both undefeated as Danbury G defeated OCs F. Reece-Ford notched up a second hat-trick in his side’s victory over Danbury F. This included a 3-1 (10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8) win over Dave Marsh, the best of the Danbury F players.

10-0 wins have been few and far between this year but Hatfield Peverel C achieved a clean sweep in their win over Highwood B in Division Four. Martin Archie, Keith Flowers and Nick Duce carried all before them.

Writtle F, led by a full-house from David Meah, ran out 8-2 winners against Highwood A. Meah completed his hat-trick with a last gasp 3-2 (9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9) win over Melanie Bonnett.

Sue Hickman was the difference between the sides when OCs G beat Chelmsford F 6-4. Hickman fought back strongly to beat Amanda Hogger 3-2 (9-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-1, 11-7) in the last game of the night – a win that sealed her side’s victory.

It was honours shared when Galleywood B faced Chelmsford E. Colin Blore was unbeaten for Galleywood.

Galleywood C lead the way in Division Five and they looked the part as they ran out 10-0 winners against Hatfield Peverel E. Gary Copsey, Mark Glenister and Charlie Craig were relatively untroubled.

The other three games were much closer fought affairs. Chelmsford G (with Ian Austin and Andy Swales both winning their three singles) beat Chelmsford H 6-4. Austin secured their victory with a really hard fought 3-2 (7-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10) win over Michael Whelpdale in the last game of the night.

It was honours even when Maldon E drew with OCs H. Denis Crapnell won his three singles for the Maldon side.

Hatfield Peverel D did well to beat Chelmsford J 6-4 -good going as Taku Nerutanga won his three singles for the Chelmsford side. Andy Simmonds beat Peter Davenport 3-2 (11-8, 11-3, 9-11, 6-11, 13-11) in the closest game of the night.

There was an early shock in CLICK division 1A where Chelmsford Leopards (Cleon Fernandes and Cameron Waite) were narrow 3-2 winners against the leaders Chelmsford Jaguars. Fernandes beat both Melinda Abraham Victor (11-7, 14-12, 11-7) and Annabel Sweeney (11-13, 11-3, 11-4, 11-8).

Chelmsford Jaguars returned to winning ways against Chelmsford Cougars, winning 3-2. Nyree Marsh won twice beating both Al Lane (11-9, 11-7, 11-5) and Harry Chivers (11-5, 11-7, 11-8).

Chelmsford Cougars (Sudheep Kamma and Harry Chivers) were in turn 5-0 winners against Buttsbury Bears. Chivers fought back strongly from 2-0 down to beat Aidan Tucker 3-2 (7-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-1, 11-8).

Danbury Dragons also won 5-0 against Danbury Demons. Ewan Hynd and Ben Porter carried all before them on this occasion.

Chelmsford Pumas beat Chelmsford Leopards 4-1. Joachim Mapes was involved in two five setters. He beat Cleon Fernandes( 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3) but missed out against Cameron Waite (11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 10-12).

OCs Lions (nine points from two matches) are the early leaders in CLICK division 1B. Josh Peasgood and Jake Iliffe carried all before them against Danbury Griffins.

Chelmsford Tigers also won 5-0. Nicholas Grice and Josh Bickles dominated against Chelmsford Panthers although Grice was stretched against Theo Griffiths before he eased home in five ends (6-11, 10-12, 11-8, 13-11, 11-5).

Chelmsford Rhinos made it two wins out of two. They scored a 3-2 success against Chelmsford Panthers after Daniel Wise had won his two singles and they also beat Chelmsford Wildcats 4-1. Daniel Wise again dominated proceedings.

The match between Chelmsford Wildcats and Buttsbury Bulldogs couldn’t have been closer. Max Samuels and George Standish clinched a 3-2 victory for the Buttsbury side by beating Alesha Ellis-Austin and Georgina Riches 3-2 (12-14, 8-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-9) in an epic doubles finale.