ST JAMES D LEAP TO TOP OF DIVISION FOUR

Two wins this week have catapulted St James D from seventh place, right up to the top of Division Four in the Colchester and District Table Tennis League.

Father and son combo Mike and Russell Hillier lead the way with both players remaining unbeaten in nine games, joined by Colin Beaumont and Tricia Salter who were also undefeated in three matches. In the first encounter Mike spearheaded a 7-3 win over Lawford D and was joined by Russell in a 9-1 win at H20 Rowhedge I.

Dedham B go up three places to second following a big 9-1 victory against Pegasus F. Seth Spencer and Marlene Smith were both undefeated. CRGS, like St James made it five wins out of five in a close 6-4 win over promotion rivals Tollgate D who slip to fourth. Jasper Chan maintained his one hundred per cent record with Alan Smith winning two for Tollgate.

There was a hard fought encounter at the Gilberd school as ‘A’ met ‘B’ in a pulsating 5-5 draw. Thirteen year-old Dan Rhodes was the player-of-the-match, upstaging his

teachers, winning all three of his singles the closest of which was an 11-9 win over Roger Springett who won two.

Gt Horkesley F picked up their first draw at home to Pegasus G for whom Derek Miller won three. Pegasus G then leap frogged over Lawford D as both teams without a win yet. Helen Woolnough starred wining three in a close 6-4 victory.

Walton C take over at the top of Division Two and that is where their strong squad look likely to stay as Glen Laing’s unbeaten record evaporated for Pegasus B in a 10-0 whitewash. Paul Woolnough, George Kalli and Matt Watson were his tormentors, Kalli and Watson now top the averages.

Tollesbury A bounce back to second, beating St Peters 8-2 with Paul Freeman and Mark Shorney undefeated. Tollgate C are fourth after fighting out a 5-5 result with draw specialists Clairmont. Martyn Green ensured his team did not lose with a three set win over Paul Tracey to secure the draw. H20 Rowhedge E are close behind thanks mainly to Martin Edwards’s maximum against their ‘F’ team in a 7-3 success.

St James B are off the bottom after they achieved their first win, beating H20 Rowhedge F 6-4 with Chris Brook winning three.

Jason Yung starred for Division One leaders Tollgate A as he recorded a fine maximum in a 7-3 win at St James A. He beat fellow junior James Denyer in three straight sets as Denyer in turn accounted for Greg Green and Colin Stallwood in winning two.

H20 Rowhedge A close the gap to just one point and crucially have a game in hand following a 9-1 win over their ‘B’ team. There was a shock on the cards when Alan

Burgess led Steve Joslin two sets to nil but just missed a smash when holding a match point before eventually going down in five ends. Michael Andrews lost his unbeaten record to David Moss but Antony Greenwood returned to form, winning three.

Tollgate B got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 10-0 win over Walton B. Martin Hogg, Sue Welham and Colin Stallwood all won three. Walton A are fourth beating Gt Horkesley B 6-4 with no player unbeaten, the seaside team winning all four five-set games! Gary Young once more stood alone in winning his three and the doubles but for the second week running his Gt Horkesley C team lost 6-4. H20 Rowhedge C were the victors.

Lawford B go top of Division Three after two wins, the first 8-2 at the University of Essex and the second 7-3 at Tollesbury B. Luke Swain, Peter Freeborough and Mark Seymour all recorded maximums. Steve Holland & Peter Witton led Gt Horkesley D to a 9-1 win over Pegasus D whilst Pegasus C beat their ‘E’ team 8-2 thanks mainly to Tony Eversden who won the player-of-the-match.

H20 Rowhedge G did well in beating Dedham A 7-3 with Jermaine Fearon once again catching the eye with three wins. Tollesbury B beat H20 Rowhedge H 8-2 with Rob King unbeaten. Lajos Zsisku was the star for H20 Rowhedge H in a 7-3 victory over Gt Horkesley E.

– For full details of all results, tables and averages please visit

www.colchestertabletennis.org.uk