LEWIS ‘ARRESTS’ MAY’S UNBEATEN RUN

Tollesbury youngster Tom Lewis put in his best performance of the season yet completing a fine maximum against Division Three leaders St James C in the Colchester and District Table Tennis League. His hat-trick of wins included the scalp of previously unbeaten Terry May as the match ended all-square at 5-5. Tom, having played previously at Rowhedge has made the move to his father’s team and after a slow start for his new team he has now won his last twelve consecutive games and in his father’s words is “playing his best ever table tennis!”. Lewis’s efforts aided Lawford B to overtake St James and go top following their 10-0 thrashing of Pegasus D. Robert Wood was unbeaten on his debut for Lawford as Pegasus only fielded two players. Gt Horkesley D have moved to within five points of St James with a game in hand as they accounted for Pegasus E 9-1. Steve Holland and Peter Witton both won three with Neil Storey doing well to win two ‘playing up’. The University of Essex are up to sixth place following a 10-0 win over Dedham A and an 8-2 defeat at Pegasus D.  Latest Signing Tim Schicht played well winning five of his six games losing only to Nick Murray who took the player-of-the-match award for Pegasus. Oliver Pink was another new recruit to win three along with skipper Adebayo Owolabi. Pegasus C beat H20 Rowhedge H 8-2 with Mike Sant undefeated, Oli Reynolds won the two for Rowhedge including a fine three set win over Tony Eversden. H20 Rowhedge H fared better however, whitewashing lowly Gt Horkesley E 10-0 with Daryl Lott, Jermaine Fearon and Mark Burrows all untroubled.

In the top match in Division Four first met third with St James D overtaking Tollgate D in an emphatic 8-2 win. Russell Hillier and John Fenton both recorded maximums as previously second place Dedham B took full advantage, winning 7-3 against H20 Rowhedge I to go top. The all ladies team are one point ahead of St James who have a game in hand with Tollgate third. Shock result of the week was CRGS’s crushing 8-2 defeat at Lawford D with Jasper Chan also losing his one hundred per cent record. Peter Sear was the player-of-the-match winning three in only his team’s second win of the season as the school team drop to sixth! Gilberd A move up to fourth with a 7-3 win over Pegasus F, Roger Springett again in top form, unbeaten. Lawford C beat Pegasus G 9-1 with John Colvin and Steve Marr also unbeaten. Gt Horkesley F move off the bottom recording their first win of the season beating H20 Rowhedge I 8-2 to demote them to the unenviable position. Neil Storey and Yasmin Ticquet both won three.

In Division One something had to give as Gt Horkesley A met Tollgate A both defending one hundred per cent records. Tollgate won 6-4 at Horkesley despite a super effort from Richard Goodhand who won his three and the doubles. Tollgate’s team strength won the day with Jason Yung, Greg Green and Nigel Hodder all winning two. Previously a ‘Goodhandless’ Horkesley beat Walton A 9-1 with Aimee Sparkes and Mike Wright winning three apiece. H20 Rowhedge A march on with yet another maximum victory, 10-0 against their ‘C’ team, Joslin, Greenwood and Andrews all unbeaten. The veteran combo of David Moss and John Andrews led H20 Rowhedge B to a 7-3 win at Gt Horkesley B and no player remained unbeaten in a 5-5 draw between Tollgate B and St James A. Sue Welham had the win of the night beating the experienced John Monk on his Colchester debut. Both players won two as did Martin Hogg and Colin Webber. An inspired Ken Lewis won three for Gt Horkesley C in a 7-3 defeat at Pegasus A.

Lawford A have closed the gap in Division Two to just one point following an 8-2 success at Clairmont. George Berry turned in a vintage performance winning three including the notable scalp of Paul Tracey as did Graham Mortimer. Tollgate C consolidated third place, inflicting St Peters seventh defeat. Jane Li and Neil Freeman remained unbeaten. H20 Rowhedge  E are up to fourth as they toppled Pegasus B 7-3, John Owen and Martin Edwards both maximum men. St James B also had a big win, 9-1 against Tollesbury A as they rise four places to fifth and Tollesbury drop to seventh.