Casey Cross has proved to be an excellent acquisition for Chelmsford Table Tennis Club in Division 1A of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League.

He was at his best as second-placed Chelmsford A beat Danbury A 7-3. Cross took the notable scalp of Daniel Young 3-2 (11-9, 3-11, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10). The 14-year-old Young has been one of the success stories of the season so far and he reached the Men’s Singles final at the recent Southend Championships by beating 2015 M&G Investments Chelmsford Men’s Singles champion Ben Warner 3-2 in the semi-final.

Young showed his class here and he scored a fine five-game win over Edward Ogbebor (14-12, 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3). Steve Whiteley suffered two narrow misses, losing 3-2 (9-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12) to Cross and 3-2 (9-11, 5-11, 15-13, 11-9, 12-14) to 2019 M&G Investments Chelmsford Ladies’ Singles champion Tulay Dundar.

Danbury A also beat OCs A 8-2. Young impressed again, downing the challenges of Paul Lucas (11-8, 11-4, 11-3) and Terry Dowsett (11-4, 11-7, 11-5). Whiteley also made his mark with a fine 3-2 (3-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9) win over Paul Lucas.

OCs A were without Lucas against the “champions-elect” Maldon A and they were well beaten 10-0. Alex Abbott, Trevor Lloyd and John Poysden gave nothing away.

Lee McHugh – another up and coming player – starred as Writtle A beat Rawreth 6-4. His trio of wins included a fine (11-7, 3-11, 1-11, 11-5, 11-5) success over Reece Seddon.

Liberal included Paul Davison in their side for their Division 1B fixture against Writtle B. Davison is no one’s idea of a Division 1B player and by staying undefeated he led Liberal to a 8-2 win. Davison had to work hard to beat Gary Cattermole 3-0 (11-9, 11-9, 13-11) whilst Cattermole hit back with a fine 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-8) win over Adam Buxton. In another very close encounter Buxton had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Phil Smith 3-2 (11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10).

Danbury B also won 8-2 and Ian Whiteside and Chris Buer both notched hat-tricks as they beat Hatfield Peverel A. Whiteside had to fight hard to see off Julie Johnson 3-2 (6-11, 11-2, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9) whilst Steve Buer was similarly stretched against Jan Fuller before he won 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11- 3, 11-9.

The leaders Galleywood A ran out narrow 6-4  winners against Chelmsford B. James Hicks secured their win with a tricky looking 3-2 (5-11, 12-10, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5) victory over Simon Jarvis. There was nothing in it in the game between Rob Shrimpton and Steve Kerns and Kerns finally edged a marathon encounter 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 12-10).

Danbury D stay second in division two and they did well to beat fourth-placed Chelmsford C 7-3. Sam Lowman and Dan Anderson both stayed undefeated. Anderson impressed here, beating Christian Barnado 3-2 (11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9) and Mike Johnston 3-1 (9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 13-11) and he rounded off an excellent evening’s work by beating Wiktor Delimat in five (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 11-8).

OCs B – strong favourites for the title a few weeks ago – have hit a sticky patch. Kevin Worthington won his three singles against Danbury C but it wasn‘t enough and Danbury C ran out 6-4 winners. OCs reserve – Dave Porter scored an excellent 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7) win over Neil Want.

OCs C did well to beat Writtle C 6-4 – good going as Gary Ward was unbeaten for the Writtle side. Charles Yeung impressed for OCs C as he beat Dave Calleja 3-1 (6-11, 15-13, 11-3, 11-9).

OCs D are undefeated in division three having notched up 12 wins and three draws to date. Mick Richardson led the way as they beat Danbury F 7-3 and he got them off to a winning start by beating Dave Marsh 3-2 (7-11, 15-17, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7).

Chelmsford D are second and they also won 7-3. Connor Payne was undefeated against Danbury H. He had to dig deep against Dave Hancox to preserve his unbeaten record for the evening and he finally won in five (6-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9).

Third-placed Writtle D beat Danbury G 8-2. Trevor Collin and Peter Layzell were both unbeaten. Dave Carter had quite a battle against Tony Forster before missing out 3-1 (11-3, 21-23, 2-11, 10-12).

Richard Upson won his three singles as OCs E beat Writtle E 7-3 whilst Bob Francis was undefeated as OCs F drew 5-5 with Maldon D. Francis secured the draw for OCs in the last game by beating Mervyn Perriman 3-2 (7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7).

Danbury J – runaway leaders in division four – made it 15 wins out of 15 by beating Highwood A 9-1. Rob Kneale and Dave Powell were both undefeated. Powell retained his 100% record, but by the skin of his teeth as Melanie Bonnett pushed him all the way before succumbing 3-2 (12-10, 4-11, 5-11, 11-6, 10-12). Bonnet beat Dave Goody 3-0 (11-6, 11-8, 11-7).

Six games were decided in the fifth end in the match between Hatfield Peverel C and Chelmsford F but it was Hatfield Peverel C who ran out 8-2 winners. Paul Mulley fared best. He beat Jason Clark 3-1 (11-8, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9), Adi Kamma 3-1 (11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6) and Amanda Hogger 3-2 (11-3, 5-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4).

Division five leaders Galleywood C scored a magnificent 9-1 win over second- placed Chelmsford G. Gary Copsey (three wins), Mark Glenister (three wins) and Charlie Craig (two wins) all played their part in an excellent performance. Craig missed out to Andy Swales 3-1 (11-2, 5-11, 8-11, 8-11) but he scored a fine 3-1 (11-13, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10) win over Sarah Austin.

Rev Matthews was undefeated as Chelmsford J defeated Hatfield Peverel E 6-4 whilst Suzanne Shaw and Stuart Wintle both won their games as OCs H beat Hatfield Peverel D 7-3.

Chelmsford Cougars beat Danbury Dragons 4-1 in the top of the table clash in division 2A of the CLICK League. Rising star James Donald was undefeated, beating Ben Porter 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3) and Alex Porter 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-4). Ben Porter beat Sudheep Kamma 3-0 (13-11, 11-7, 11-8) for the losers.

Chelmsford Leopards (Al Lane and Cleon Fernandes) were 3-2 winners over Chelmsford Rhinos in CLICK division 2B. Cleon beat Dan Wise (12-10, 12-10, 11-9) and Ben Chivers (14-12, 11-3, 11-4).

Division 2C of the CLICK League produced two decisive results. Second placed Panthers ran out 5-0 winners over Falcons. Malachi O’Leary and George Spicer were both undefeated. O’Leary was hard pushed against Alex King before he won 3-2 (11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 5-11, 11-6).

Buttsbury Bees beat Buttsbury Bats 4-1. George Hagland won twice. He beat Leo Comer 11-5, 11-7, 11-4 and Seamus Mellon 11-4, 11-3, 11-3.