Maldon B are off to a promising start despite the efforts of Alex Abbott and John Holland.
Likely title contenders Maldon B have made a promising, if not spectacular start to the season in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League first division and they showed considerable strength in depth as they beat both last year’s Champions Maldon A and ECC B.
Their 6-4 victory over Maldon A was achieved despite the fact that none of their players were able to get the better of current Chelmsford Men’s Singles Champion Alex Abbott.
The free-flowing James Denyer impressed by beating Paul Sayer 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-4) but he was in turn well beaten by Abbott, succumbing heavily 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-6). John Monk made his mark with an excellent 3-2 (5-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 13-11) victory against Paul Sayer.
New signing John Holland was on great form for ECC B and he won all three singles in his side’s 7-3 defeat with three excellent wins over John Monk, Mindus Sinkus and James Denyer. Ace defender Holland had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Essex no. three Junior Denyer 3-2 (3-11, 13-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8).
Rawreth & Hullbridge’s Simon Jacob impressed in Division Two. He scored an excellent hat-trick of wins against Danbury C as the Southend side won 6-4. Danbury’s Neil Want beat Mike Worship 3-2 (6-11, 15-13, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10) in the closest game of the evening. Possible favourites Chelmsford A made a winning start by beating their B side 8-2. Al Piper won his three singles and Mike Johnston and Julie Johnson both won twice.
Hatfield Peverel B (Gordon Fairchild, Neil Freeman and Gareth Davies) were the week‘s big winners in Division Three. They beat Maldon C 9-1. Gareth Davies not only won his three singles but he defeated Brian Riedling 3-2 (7-11, 13-11, 11-8, 10-12, 12-10).
Chelmsford C displayed good teamwork to beat Danbury F 7-3. Neil Gooday, Ryan Gooday and Paul Nicol all won twice but none of them were able to get the better of the inform Nicky Reece-Ford. Danbury H’s 6-4 victory over ECC D followed a very similar pattern. Dave Marsh, John Robinson and Richard Allen all won twice but none of them were able to defeat Richard Storey.
The clash between Danbury F and OCs C finished all square. Nicky Reece-Ford won his three singles for the Danbury team whilst Dave Porter won twice for Old Chelmsfordians. Porter beat Herbie Smith 3-2 (3-11, 12-10, 12-10, 5-11, 12-10) in a nail-biting last game of the evening. OCs C fared better against Dabury G and won 6-4.
Dave Porter and Daniel Berry both won twice for the Old Chelmsfordians team whilst Tim Pulham won his three games for Danbury. Pulham defeated Porter 3-2 (11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 12-10) in a very hard-fought ninth game of the evening.
In Division Four ECC F had Allison Millard on top form as they beat Danbury J 7-3 and Peter Sun backed her up with two victories. OCs D also ran out winners against Danbury J. They won 8-2 with Adrian North and Stuart Wintle both winning their three singles.
Danbury L’s Alan Dadswell led his side to a 7-3 win over EPHQ. Ian Hockley won twice for EPHQ but he missed out against Alan Dadswell 3-0 (11-5, 12-10, 11-8). Danbury K’s 7-3 victory over Elmtree Graphics D was another of those games which owed a lot to team-work. Mick Robinson, Roger Tiffin and Norman Hayes all won twice for the Danbury team but none of them were able to get the better of Dave Moles.
Newcomers Maldon D look like one of the teams to watch in Division Five. Colin Napper was undefeated whilst Steve Scholz and Peter Scholz both won twice as they beat ECCG 8-2.
Emily Wood picked up two good wins for the ECC team defeating the Scholz brothers. Nicola Pippen’s three wins gave Elmtree Excalibur E the ascendancy as they beat Highwood 6-4. Nicola fought back strongly from 2-0 down to get the better of Kevin Barber 3-2 (5-11, 11-13, 11-1, 11-7, 11-6). Elmtree Excalibur E also drew with Chelmsford E, for whom Ian Austin (three wins) played a starring role.
Buttsbury A made a very good start to their CLICK League campaign. Billy Mitchell and George Cobley were both undefeated as they beat Chelmsford G 5-0. George Cobley won the first encounter 3-2 (11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8) against Sarah Bell and they never looked back.
Chelmsford J (Jake Wybrow and Harry Isaacs) were 4-1 winners against Buttsbury C. Harry Isaacs won both of his games for the Chelmsford team beating Danny Mitchell 3-1 (11-5, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10) and Grant Clark 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-6).
Steve Kerns
Press & Publicity Officer
Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League (September 29, 2013)