H20 Rowhedge A made big strides towards retaining their Division One title in the Colchester and District Table Tennis League over the Christmas period. Two wins, the first a re-arranged fixture against second placed Gt Horkesley A, the second 7-3 with just two players has taken them thirteen points clear of the only other team with a one hundred per cent record in the league, Tollgate A. Antony Greenwood called upon all his skills to win his three including an excellent four set win over Richard Goodhand, who won the two for Gt Horkesley in an 8-2 home defeat. Goodhand’s win over Steve Joslin was Joslin’s first defeat of the season. The Gt Horkesley A skipper was in good form once again but it was Colin Bennett’s maximum that caught the eye in an 8-2 win over H20 Rowhedge C.
Third placed Tollgate A beat Walton B 7-3 with Colin Stallwood undefeated but an inspired attacking display from David Hall saw him beat both Greg and Martyn Green. Green senior won two for Tollgate B as his team came back from 4-1 down against Walton A to enforce the draw. Stewart Murray was their top scorer recording three wins. H20 Rowhedge B also shared the points with Gt Horkesley C with man-of-the-match Kevin Gowlett inflicting a rare defeat on Gary Young, who just squeezed home 14-12 in the fifth end against David Moss. Ian Whiteside and Toby Turner both won three in a 9-1 Pegasus A win over a weekend St James A.
Tollgate C got the better of top of the table Lawford A 6-4 thanks mainly to Neil Freeman’s excellent treble. St James B are up to fourth despite Glenn Laing’s best efforts as he won three in a 7-3 defeat against the Clacton side. H20 Rowhedge D came out 6-4 winners again at Pegasus B’s expense with Alan Burgess once more unbeaten. Clairmont and Tollesbury A shared the spoils with Paul Tracey winning three. David Jones opened his account for the season beating Colin Powell but
it was an undefeated Chris Brook that led his H20 Rowhedge F team to a 6-4 win against St Peters.
Division Three leaders Lawford B welcomed back Tom Malster who won three in a fine 7-3 victory over a strong University of Essex team. The University also went down by the same score at home to Gt Horkesley D 7-3. Steve Holland starred with three wins but he could not repeat the feat as he lost to Pegasus C’s maximum man Tony Eversden in a tight 5-5 draw. Dedham A thrashed H20 Rowhedge H 10-0 with Messrs’, Watson, Haygren and Cole all unbeaten.
St James D moved clear at the top of Division Four with two big wins, the first at Gt Horkesley F, 8-2 and the other 9-1 at home to Pegasus F. Russell Hillier with six wins remains unbeaten for the season as rivals Dedham B slipped up going down 7-3 at Gilberd B. Marjorie Culham stood alone, winning her three as did Roger Springett for Gilberd A in an 8-2 win over Gt Horkesley F. The same Horkesley team also lost, 9-1 at CRGS. Young Dan Rhodes is proving the find of the season as he claimed his sixth man-of-the match award as Gilberd B beat Pegasus G 6-4.
The preliminary stages of all of the cup competitions are complete and the results can be found on the website along with bang up-to-date league tables at: www.colchestertabletennis.org.uk