Division one leaders Bocking B produced a fine all-round team performance to beat Maldon A 7-3 in the latest round of League matches in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League.
Dave Cole won his three singles, but the really big shock was the superb 3-2 (15-13, 11-8, 7-11, 2-11, 11-3) success that Gary Cattermole achieved against the 2012 and 2013 Chelmsford Men’s Singles champion Alex Abbott. Abbott didn’t go home empty-handed, he beat Rik James 11-9, 12-10, 13-11.
Galleywood A produced one of their better displays of the season to get the better of OCs A 6-4. Lucy Wang didn’t put a foot wrong. She beat Terry Dowsett 3-1, then John Cleasby 3-0 and then best of all Brandon Crouchman 3-1.
Galleywood A didn’t do so well against Maldon A and were well beaten 8-2. Alex Abbott returned to winning ways with a hat-trick of wins but the stand-out win here was that of Peter Lau. He beat Paul Sayer 3-2 (7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9).
Bottom side Elmtree Excalibur A scored their fourth win of the season and it was a good one as well. They beat Bocking A 7-3. John Poysden warmed up for his title-winning success in the Over-50s Singles at the M&G Investments Chelmsford Closed Tournament by staying undefeated. He beat Kevin Gowlett 3-2 (11-9, 12-10, 9- 11, 7-11, 11-8), whilst Alistair Hill made his mark by getting the better of another of the players who impressed at this year‘s tournament, Scott Dowsett, 3-2 (9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-5).
The improving Adam Buxton certainly made his mark for Liberal A, who beat second placed Rawreth & Hullbridge B 6-4 in Division Two. He completed his hat-trick of wins with a hard-fought 3-1 (12-10, 10-12, 11-8, 13-11) victory over Paul Churn.
Third-placed OCs B applied pressure to the two teams above them by beating Elmtree Excalibur C 9-1. Steve Northcott and Kevin Worthington both won their three singles whilst Paul Sturton prevented the whitewash by getting the better of Robbie Burton 3-2 (11-5, 12-14, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6).
Galleywood B had James Hicks to thank as they beat Hatfield Peverel A 6-4. He scored a fine trio of wins over Gary Ward (3-1), John Gagg (3-1) and John Webber (3-0).
Danbury D beat Elmtree Excalibur B 7-3. This time Dave Richardson stood out. He fought back from 2-0 down to beat Gus Heath quite convincingly 3-2 (9-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3), then Tony Hallett in similar style (8-11, 8-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-14) and he signed off from an excellent evening’s work by getting the better of Lee McHugh after a hard-fought humdinger 3-1 (8-11, 15-13, 19-17, 11-8).
Division Three leaders OCs C were made to work very hard by their D side in a lengthy match which they won 6-4. No fewer than eight games were decided in the fifth end and the other two games were 3-1 affairs. The C team‘s fast-improving Daniel Berry fared best and he won his three games. He beat David Porter 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9) and then Mick Hayes 3-1 (11-1, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3). It was back to the full five games for his clash with new-signing Andrew Huckson where he edged home 11-6, 11-5, 3-11, 12-14, 16-14.
Maldon A also won 6-4, beating Danbury F. Brian Riedling, the division three singles winner at the M&G Investments Chelmsford Closed Tournament, played his part by winning his three singles. Chris Hancox with two wins fared best for the losers.
Danbury G were handsome 9-1 winners over their E team. Dave Marsh and Richard Allan were both undefeated. Richard Allan beat Peter Hance 3-2 (11-3, 5-11, 11-4, 7-11, 15-13) in the closest game of the evening.
In Division Four, Danbury H consolidated third place by beating the side immediately below them – Danbury J – 6-4. Brian Ellis (one win), Dave Goody (two wins) and Dave Powell (two wins) all played their part to combat the three successes of Kevin Willis.
OCs E had Charles Yeung to thank as they beat Danbury K 7-3. Norman Hayes won twice for the losers.
Elsewhere, Elmtree Excalibur D scored their fourth win of the Season by defeating EPHQ 6-4. Steve Siggs with one win, Neil Thompson (with two wins) and Dave Moles (who also won twice) did enough to repel the hat-trick of wins that former first division player Pip French picked up. French had to work hard to get the better of Dave Moles in five (8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6).
Division Five saw all five winning sides score big wins. Hatfield Peverel D (Keith Cullen, Ron Biggs and Andy Simmonds) beat OCs G 10-0. It was a similar story when they played Galleywood D This time their four-man side of Keith Cullen, Andy Simmonds, Andy Whiley and Peter Morteson ran out 10-0 winners. Galleywood D were also on the wrong end of a 10-0 defeat against Danbury L as John Kinights, Eamon Hall and Alan Shrimpton took all 10 games.
Elsewhere, Elmtree Excalibur E (Melanie Bonnett, Martin Hiskey and Nicola Pippen) beat Chelmsford E 9-1 and Highwood (Kevin Barber, Martin Goddard and Russell Downton) defeated OCs G 9-1.
OCs H impressed in the CLICK League this week. They beat the higher-placed Chelmsford G 5-0 as Aswin Siam and Lawrence Bartlett carried all before them. Aswin Siam set them on their way by getting the better of Harry Matthews 3-1 (5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 in the first game).
Buttsbury C were 3-2 winners against Black Notley A. No single player dominated and conversely no single player went home empty-handed. Tom Picton and James Hughes sealed victory by beating Jamie Brooks and Patrick Bugg 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 12-10) in the deciding doubles.
Steve Kerns (press & publicity officer)
February 9, 2015