Robert Shrimpton scores two excellent wins for Chelmsford A
Chelmsford Table Tennis Club A are almost certainly relegated from Division One of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League but it did not stop them turning in a strong performance against Danbury A. None more so than Essex Schools Under 19 Singles Champion Robert Shrimpton who beat both M&G Investments Chelmsford Closed Tournament Men’s Singles semi-finalist Antony Greenwood (3-2) and six times Braintree Veterans Singles Champion Ian Whiteside (3-0). Danbury shaded the match 6-4.
Robert Shrimpton also showed up well for Chelmsford C in Division Two by winning twice, although it was Ryan Pitt who deserves all the plaudits. He beat all three Hatfield Peverel A players – John Webber, John Parodi and Dave Calleja as Chelmsford won 7-3. Elmtree Excalibur C were 8-2 winners over Hatfield Peverel C. Ian Rattray and Steve Cheesman both bagged hat-tricks with Cheesman fighting back from 2-0 down to get the better of Neil Freeman 3-2 (8-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-5).
Danbury B, runaway leaders of Division Three are contenders for the team of the season. With Gordon Gatherall and Glen Laing both scoring three wins they were always in charge against Chelmsford D and won 8-2. Laing had to pull out all the stops against Keith Martin as he eventually won 3-2 (11-6, 15-13, 11-13, 7-11, 13-11).
Chelmsford D fared better against OCs C and they won 8-2. Keith Martin was unbeaten this time. Elsewhere, Mike Worship was undefeated as Rawreth beat Danbury E 6-4 and Paul Churn, who won twice, supported him. Lee McHugh also won twice for the losers. Rawreth picked up a further eight points by beating OCs D 8-2. Matt Rolfe won his three singles whilst Mike Worship and Paul Churn both picked up two wins apiece.
Chelmsford E beat Writtle C 7-3 in Division Four. Adam Pitt was their match-winner with three successes whilst Bob Francis defeated Andy Fox 3-2 (6-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-3, 16-14) in a widely fluctuating five-ender. A two-man Hatfield Peverel E beat ECC G 6-4. Former first division player Ray Eldridge won his three singles for the Peverel team whilst ECC’s Mohammed Mohseni scored an excellent 3-1 (11-7, 2-11, 11-9, 12-10) win over Dave Carter.
OCs F (Frank Hodge, Shane Bliss and Tom Barker) were 8-2 winners over OCs E in Division five whilst Daniel Berry’s hat-trick enabled OCs H to beat Elmtree Excalibur F 6-4.
Second-placed OCs J were 4-1 winners in the CLICK League against Felsted Royal British Legion. Steven Turner won both of his singles whilst Ashley Butler beat Harvey Russell 3-2 (11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 3-11, 11-7) for the losers. Chelmsford K (Adam Kirchel and Jennie Crapnell) were fairly comfortable 5-0 winners over Chelmsford M whilst Chelmsford M also lost 5-0 to ECC G (Emily Wood and Nathann Blore). Nathan Blore was tested fully by Steven Davenport before he sneaked home 3-1 (9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 12-10).
Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League