‘YUNG’ JASON’S EFFORTS NOT ENOUGH TO SAVE LAST 100% RECORD
Sixteen year-old Jason Yung became the first player to beat all three H20 Rowhedge A players in the same night but despite his efforts Tollgate A lost the last remaining one hundred per cent record in the Colchester and District Table Tennis League. Yung, from Hong Kong who is currently studying at the Colchester Royal Grammar School, first defeated Michael Andrews 7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, then current Chelmsford semi-finalists Steve Joslin 12-10, 5-11, 12-10,11-9 and Antony Greenwood 11-13, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10. However, the reigning champions showed their strength in depth coming out 6-4 winners despite Nigel Hodder opening proceedings with an excellent four set victory over Joslin. Tollgate A fared better the following night with a 7-3 win over Gt Horkesley C, former Chinese national team player Marcia Ma making her debut in the top flight pushing Gary Young all the way, eventually going down 15-13, 10-12, 11-7, 10-12, 13-11 with Young’s return of serve proving key. Perennial adversary Greg Green got the better of Young however, with all four sets being won 11-9 as Green won his three. The same H20 Rowhedge a team saw off Pegasus A by the maximum score line whilst Gt Horkesley B remain second with a 10-0 drubbing of Tollgate B. Richard Goodhand, Aimee Sparkes and Mike Wright all undefeated. St James A beat Walton A in the east coast derby, James Denyer and Felipe Rodriguez both winning their three and teaming up to win the doubles. The bottom two teams fought out a tough 5-5 draw at Walton B, Wudong Liu in great form, unbeaten for Gt Horkesley B.
Following two maximum victories Walton A have taken over at the top of Division Two, unlikely now to be toppled. Tollesbury A were brushed aside 10-0 and St Peters suffered the same fete with John Rice and Matt Watson unbeaten in both games. St Peters also failed to trouble the scorers at Lawford A who are second, George Berry, Nick Galley and Peter Armes all completing maximums. Dawn Baldry made a fine debut winning two for third placed Tollgate C in a narrow 6-4 win that saw Braintree team mate Tom Elder go one better sealing the win, beating St James B’s John Hobson. The Clacton club reversed the score against a two player Clairmont for whom Paul Tracey won three. H20 Rowhedge D’s Andrew Harvey scored an excellent three wins over Pegasus B in a surprise 8-2 victory. The all H20 Rowhedge match tended all square with the ever improving Chris Brook unbeaten including a three set win for the ‘F’ team over Martin Edwards from the ‘E’ team.
In Division Three leaders Lawford B hold on to a slender two point lead despite being held to a 5-5 draw by third placed Gt Horkesley D. No player survived unbeaten as Horkesley came back from 5-1 down with Steve Holland (2 wins) sealing the draw. Lawford did beat Dedham A 10-0 to help their promotion push. St James C closed the gap with a 9-1 win over Pegasus D with Russell Hillier ‘playing up’ joining Isobel Barton and Tony Oswick unbeaten. Essex University also played twice beating Pegasus E 8-2 and Gt Horkesley E 9-1. Paul Weston’s treble helped Pegasus E to a 5-5 draw with H20 Rowhedge H.
St James D head Division Four after dismissing Pegasus G 10-0 but it’s CRGS who are the big movers following two good win, 10-0 at Gt Horkesley F and 7-3 against Lawford C. Simon Boyton won three, beating both Gilberd B youngsters in the process in another 5-5 draw for Pegasus F whist their ‘G’ team accounted for Gt Horkesley F 8-2, Rob Welham with three wins.
Team Captains are reminded that any postponed fixtures must be fulfilled by Friday 6th April.
Please advise the match secretary of the rearranged dates as soon as possible.