Last year’s Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League first division champions Bocking are having to make do without an injured Rik James at present but they are still very much in contention for honours.

Former Chelmsford Men’s Singles champions Dave Cole (four times) and Keiran Lally (once) were both undefeated as they romped home 9-1 against Galleywood A. 15 year-old super-quick left-hander Sam Hume – making his debut in the Chelmsford League – won twice, beating Gary Brignall (3-0) and Steve Kerns (3-1) but he met his match against ace-defender John Holland. In the best game of the night Holland prevailed over four fiercely contested ends 13-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11- 9.

Danbury A stay top and they beat Maldon A 8-2. Alex Abbot inflicted the first defeats of the season on Ben Warner and Minda Sinkus but he couldn’t contain 2015 Southend Men’s Singles champion Tony Halling who powered through to win 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-5). If the free-flowing Halling plays regularly then on this showing Danbury A will be very difficult to beat.

OCs A overcame Danbury C 6-4, with Terry Dowsett and Brandon Crouchman both remaining undefeated. Dowsett had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Eric Green 3-2 (11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8).

The top two sides met this week in Division Two and it was the leaders Liberal who came out on top 6-4 against Danbury D. Liberal’s Steve Pennell led the way with a hard-fought hat-trick of wins. He beat Matthew Brown 3-0 (16-14, 12-10, 11-4) and then Steve Buer 3-2 (4-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10) and he completed an excellent evening’s work by getting the better of Chris Buer 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 11-6).

Danbury D in turn returned to winning ways against Rawreth winning 8-2. Chris Buer and Lewis Ewers were both unbeaten although Rawreth may well have felt hard done by as they lost all three five-enders. Lewis Ewers had to battle back from 2-0 down to get the better of Simon Jacob 8-11, 2-11, 11-9, 14-12, 13-11 in the closest game of the evening.

Bryn Thomas – twice the Chelmsford Division Two Down Singles champion (and as far back as 1995 – just in case you check your League handbooks) was on top form as Galleywood B scored a very impressive 7-3 win over Hatfield Peverel B. Bryn beat Gary Ward 3-1 (6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6) and then John Parodi also in four (4-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-7) and he rounded off a very impressive trio of wins by downing the challenge of John Gagg 3-0 (11-3, 12-10, 11-7).

In Division Three, OCs D recorded their second win of the season by defeating Maldon C 8-2. They were abetted considerably by taking three of the four fifth-setters and Nat Ravlic led the way with a hat-trick of wins, whilst Tom Barker won twice and he only just missed out against Mervyn Perriman 14-12, 3-11, 11- 7, 4-11, 9-11.

It was honours shared between Maldon B and Chelmsford B. No single player dominated and Maldon’s Brian Riedling and Tom Elder and Chelmsford’s Robert Shrimpton and Alastair Piper all won twice. Brian Riedling earned Maldon their share of the points by getting the better of Robert Shrimpton 3-2 (6-11, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 16-14) in what can only be described as a “marathon” last game of the evening.

Danbury H were the big winners in Division Four this week as Nicky Ford (three wins), Maurice Hardy (three wins) and Norman Smith (two wins) beat Hatfield Peverel D 9-1. Hatfield Peverel D also lost 6-4 to Danbury K in match where Barry Evans won twice and the Danbury duo of Alan Dadswell and Eamon Hall also picked up two wins. Dadswell came very close to making it a hat-trick. He beat Brian Howe in five (12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 5-11, 11-9) in his opening game and be saw off Barry Evans 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 12-10) in his second encounter. In his last game he just fell short against the ever-determined Alastair Brown, missing out narrowly 3-2 (11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 6-11, 8-11).

The match between Elmtree Excalibur D and Chelmsford D had a 5-5 scoreline written all over it. The first four games were decided in the fifth end and no single player won all three singles. The game between Keith Fitzjohn and Jason Clark was the closest of the season so far.

Fitzjohn eventually scraped home 3-2 (5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 19-17).

Galleywood C had David Gatherall to thank as they beat Chelmsford E 6-4. He beat all three Chelmsford players – Richard Upson, Richard Baxter and Adam Pitt. Chelmsford E also lost 6-4 to OCs F although Richard Baxter won his three games for the Chelmsford side. His opening encounter proved to be the trickiest. He just overcame Dave Newman 3-2 (6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10).

Writtle lead the way in Division Five and this week they consolidated that position with a convincing 9-1 victory over OCs H. Frank Neill (three wins), Brian Steward (two wins) and Andy Fox (three wins) all played their part in what was a strong performance. Tejas Kotwal worked extremely hard to defeat Steward 3-2 (9-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-9) for the Old Chelmsfordians’ sole win.

Elmtree Excalibur E did well to draw 5-5 with the higher-placed Highwood. Melanie Bonnett made a great start to the season scoring three good wins over Russell Downton (3-1), Martin Goddard (3-0) and Kevin Barber (3-2).

Galleywood D emerged as 6-4 winners against Hatfield Peverel E. Galleywood’s Roger Wilson won his three singles whilst Aaron Cracknall won twice for the losers.

Galleywood D also won 6-4 against Chelmsford F. Mark Glenister who is yet to taste defeat won his three singles for the Galleywood side with Harry Isaacs (two wins) replying for the Chelmsford team.