Superb Hat-trick for Maldon A’s Paul Stephens
Maldon A’s Paul Stephens produced the standout performance of the week in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Division One.
The former Brentwood Men’s Singles Champion scored a superb hat-trick of wins against Bocking as Maldon A raced to a 7-3 victory. Stephens opened his account with an excellent five-game win over Kevin Gowlett and followed this up with an equally impressive five-game victory against Paul Davison. He completed his hat-trick with a 3-0 win over Jon Hill. With Paul Sayer also winning his three singles, Maldon ran out clear winners.
Early leaders Maldon B also won 7-3 and they had Keiran Lally and Minda Sinkus undefeated as they beat OCs A. Sinkus beat Brandon Crouchman 3-2 (12-10, 9-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-9) in the closest game of the night.
ECC B came out on top 6-4 in the battle of the two promoted sides, as they beat Excalibur B 6-4. Rik James won his three singles for the County Council side whilst Simon Webber won twice. Webber beat Gary Cattermole 3-2 (12-10, 4-11, 10-12, 11-7,11-9) in the most evenly contested game of the evening.
Danbury B recorded their first win of the season in Division Two – it was never in doubt. Neil Want, Glen Laing and Tim Pulham won all nine singles as they beat Danbury C 9-1.
Division Three leaders Elmtree Excalibur C were the week’s big winners with Ian Rattray and Bill Smith both undefeated in their 9-1 victory over ECC E. Elmtree Excalibur D were also victorious, 8-2 against OCs B. Newcomer Russell Mills and Scott Dowsett both scored hat-tricks. Dowsett had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Frank Hodge 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 11-9).
Allan Thompson was unlucky to be on the losing side in ECC E‘s 6-4 defeat against Chelmsford C. Thompson’s hat-trick of wins over Chris Denyer, Gordon Fairchild and Dave Parker were to no avail.
Danbury H with two 8-2 wins are in pole position in Division Four. Brian Ellis was unbeaten against OCs D with Adrian North winning twice for the Old Chelmsfordians team whilst Dave Powell was undefeated as they beat EPHQ. Kevin Willis had got Danbury off to a winning start by beating Ian Hockley 3-2 (11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 6-11, 12-10) in the opening game.
Richard Allen won his three singles for Danbury G in their 6-4 victory against OCs D. His closest encounter was against Charles Yeung and he eventually emerged as a 3-2 (10-12, 11-5, 13-11, 6-11, 11-8) winner.
Brian Riedling’s hat-trick gave Maldon C the ascendancy as they beat Chelmsford D 7-3. However, Riedling was fully extended by Adam Pitt before pulling away in the fifth end to win 3-2 (12-10, 6-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-7).
Division Five leaders OCs E drew 5-5 with Elmtree Excalibur F. It was the Elmtree team who came out best in the five-enders winning all three games that were decided in the fifth end. Wiktor Delimat was undefeated for the Elmtree Excalibur side.
Highwood emerged as narrow 6-4 winner against Hatfield Peverel E. Martin Goddard sealed his side’s 6-4 victory by getting the better of Andy Simmonds 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4) in the last game of the night. Simmonds had previously made his mark with a 3-2 (9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9) win over Anne Lockhart. Hatfield Peverel E in turn did better against OCs G. Ron Biggs and Paul Malley were both undefeated as they ran out 8-2 winners.
ECC G beat ECC H in a hard-fought CLICK League encounter. Emily Wood won her two singles for ECC G but brothers Andrew and Jamie Rainbow had the last laugh in the doubles.
The Wood/Rainbow combination beat Nathan Blore and Ben Clifford 3-2 (14-12, 13-15, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7) which meant ECC G’s margin of victory was restricted to 3-2. ECC G were less successful against Felsted as an Ashley Butler double led Felsted to a 4-1 victory. Butler beat Emily Wood 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 11-9) and Nathan Blore 3-1 (11-6, 13-11, 8-11, 11-5).
Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League