There was a shock for Chelmsford A in the second division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League. Already crowned champions, they could not have expected to have lost 8-2 to Galleywood B.
This was an inspired performance from Galleywood for whom both Gary Brignall and James Hicks stayed undefeated. Brignall excelled to get the better of Waseem Qureshi 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11,
12-10) in the closest game of the evening.
Liberal have almost certainly secured second place although they were held to a 5-5 draw by OCs C. The ever-improving Daniel Berry, who is fast edging towards first division level, scored an excellent hat-trick of wins over Steve Pennell, Hector Rogers and Adam Buxton.
Danbury E had Chris Hancox to thank as they defeated Danbury D 6-4. Hancox scored a fine hat-trick of wins over Matthew Brown (3-0), Chris Buer (3-2) and Steve Buer (3-1).
Danbury C impressed in division one and they beat Danbury B 8-2. Eric Green (three wins), Dave Richardson (three wins) and Steve Whiteley (two wins) all played a part in this success. Richardson’s 3-1 (17-15, 14-16, 11-9, 13-11) victory over Glen Laing looks to have been the pick of the action.
There is no doubt at all about the result of the week in the third division. Third-placed Chelmsford C (Victor Chan, Bob Francis and Paul Nicol) played superbly to hammer Maldon B 10-0. Right from the first game when Bob Francis beat Tom Elder 3-2 (4-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8), it was Chelmsford who were calling the shots and they never let up.
Danbury G have finished fourth. They completed their fixtures by beating OCs D 8-2. Dan Anderson and Dan Richardson were both undefeated. Maldon C beat OCs E 6-4. Ciaran Whelan was the Maldon match-winner with three wins.
Second-placed Chelmsford B shaded a close match against the leaders Elmtree Excalibur C 6-4. Elmtree Excalibur’s Phil Smith (39 wins out of 39) retained his 100 % record for the season but Keith Martin (two wins), Alastair Piper (two wins) and Dave Parker (one win) combined to give the Chelmsford side the victory.
In division four, Danbury H consolidated second place by beating Danbury K 6-4. Nicky Reece-Ford and Mo Hardy both scored maximums. Galleywood C emerged as 6-4 winners over Chelmsford D, helped by the fact that Chelmsford were a player short. Galleywood’s David Gatherall beat both Jarek Pietrascuk and Jason Clark.
In division five, second-placed Danbury L have given themselves every chance of capturing the title. They leapfrogged over Writtle by beating them 9-1. Mick Robinson and Roger Tiffin were both undefeated whilst Norman Hayes won twice.
Danbury L trail Maldon D by two points but have a match in hand. Maldon D in turn won 8-2 against Hatfield Peverel E. Roger Hance was undefeated. Hatfield Peverel E, led by unbeaten returns from Paul Mulley and Andy Simmonds, were 8-2 winners over Highwood whilst Elmtree Excalibur E, led by an unbeaten performance from Melanie Bonnett, defeated OCs G 6-4. Bonnett completed her hat-trick by downing the challenge of Stuart Wintle 3-0 (13-11, 11-9, 11-5).
The match between Galleywood D and Elmtree Excalibur E finished tied at 5-5. Mark Glenister was undefeated for Galleywood and he came through in five ends against Melanie Bonnett, eventually winning narrowly in five (11-3, 11-13, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6).
In the CLICK League Competition, Black Notley did well to beat the higher placed Buttsbury B 4-1.
Lawrence Grantham won his two singles and Peter Hull won once.
In the CLICK Handicap Cup Competition, it is Chelmsford J (14 points) who lead the way from BNCA (13 points) and Old Chelmsfordians J (12 points).Chelmsford J ran out narrow 3-2 winners against Buttsbury A. The game between Connor Payne (playing off a Handicap of 33) and Tom Picton (playing off a Handicap of 32) could not have been closer and it was Payne who emerged as a last-gasp 3-2 (6-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 16-14) winner.
Chelmsford J also beat Buttsbury B 4-1 and Connor Payne won twice this time whilst Chelmsford J ran out 3-2 winners against Chelmsford H. Jamie Peckham won twice on this occasion.