After nearly a season of trying, the teams at the bottom of divisions one and three of the Braintree Table Tennis League have both recorded their first win. Rayne C got the better of Black Notley A while Rayne I overcame Notley’s H team.

In one of his occasional division one appearances, Dean Andrews held the C team together, beating both Victor Chan and Guy McKenzie. Paul Wellington and Dave Punt also beat McKenzie and in the absence of a third player that was enough for a 7-3 victory.

Rayne’s I team also faced only two players and in their case it was Alex Morgan who remained undefeated in their 8-2 victory.

Rayne C’s win means they move closer to Notley B in the struggle to avoid relegation. But Notley B were in reasonable form of their own, taking three points from Netts C.

Gordon Fairchild won two and Patrice Elonge one, but Nikki Davison’s unbeaten evening was the deciding factor.

At the top, Rayne A dropped back after being held to a draw by Netts A. Adam Buxton won his three singles.

As a result, Liberal A moved three points further ahead after their 8-2 win over their own B team where Mike Johnston and Andrew Huckson scored creditable wins over Scott Dowsett.

In the other first division match, Colin Bennett was unbeaten as Netts B drew with Rayne B.

The top two in division three kept pace with each other with 8-2 wins, Notley F over Rayne G and Netts E against Notley G.

Declan Baines was unbeaten for Notley F and Peter Lewis for Netts E where Jim Davy will be pleased with his 3-2 (6-11, 5-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9) win over Clive Forster, only Forster’s third defeat of the season.

Notley I and Rayne F are still not out of the hunt and it was Notley who came out on top when the two met.

Peter Pond won his usual three sets for Notley but it is Elliot Game who continues to impress. He took two singles and his defeat to Brian How – fourth in the division’s averages – came only at 3-2 (6-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6).