Rayne emerge as 2013 Central Essex Summer League Champions

Rayne (Kevin Gowlett, Ian Whiteside, Steve Pennell and Steve Kerns) became the 2013 Central Essex Summer League First Division Champions by winning all six of their games. Ramsden Reds, who only lost to Rayne finished two points behind with 24 points out of 30.

Represented by Steve Kerns and Ian Whiteside, Rayne beat Danbury A 4-1. Chris Buer was on target and he beat Ian Whiteside 3-2 (11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 11-6). Rayne were also 5-0 winners against Elmtree Graphics although Steve Kerns came very close to losing. Kerns just edged out Fred Button 12-10 in a tense fifth end. Rayne also beat Ramsden Raiders 5-0. Ian Whiteside was stretched on this occasion. He defeated John Gagg 3-2 (11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9).

Second-placed Ramsden Reds were 5-0 winners against Danbury A, a match notable for the titanic battle between Andrew Halling and Chris Buer. Halling finally emerged victorious 3-2 (11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 3-11, 23-21). OCs A missed out narrowly 3-2 to Ramsden Reds. Robbie Burton made his mark with an excellent 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-9) win over Keith Adams.

ECC A are the Division Two Champions. They scored 25 points out of a possible 35, winning five of their seven games. Elmtree Excalibur B finished as runners-up with 23 points.

ECC A represented by Bryn Thomas and Colin Blore showed good form in their games against Danbury C, ECC B and Cold Norton picking up 14 points out of a possible 15. Cold Norton’s Dave Marsh beat Bryn Thomas 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11) – the only game that escaped their grasp.

Colin Blore had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Danbury C’s Rob Kneale. Blore emerged as a 3-2 (13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9) winner. Elmtree Excalibur B (Rod Maclennan and Steve Cheesman) did well to beat Writtle 5-0. Maclennan won a very close game against Dave Moles 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 17-15).

Cold Norton A finished third and Terry Hyland and Dave Marsh were both on target as they beat Danbury B 5-0. Dave Marsh beat Ivan Chaplin in five ends 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8). Writtle were 3-2 winners over ECC B. Matthew Brown was the best player on view. He beat Peter Layzell 3-0 and Richard Storey 3-1. Writtle also beat Danbury C 3-2. Dave Moles was the difference between the two teams. He beat Chris Hancox (3-1) and Dave Hancox (3-0).

Danbury B (Herbie Smith and Ken Sheard) ran out 4-1 winners against South Woodham. Scott Perry picked up the sole victory for South Woodham. He fought back from 2-0 down to get the better of Ken Sheard 3-2 (4-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9).

Division Three was the last to be decided and Chelmsford A made a late charge to claim the title. Gordon Fairchild and Paul Nicol were both undefeated in their 5-0 win over OCs C, whilst Dave Parker won both of his singles as they beat South Woodham B 4-1. Scott Perry was on target for the losers, and he saw off Paul Nicol 3-1 (12-10, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5).

Chelmsford didn’t fare so well against Danbury D, although Dave Parker won his two singles to ensure that they only lost 3-2. Parker beat Brian Ellis 3-1 (11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-2) and John Robinson 3-1 (11-6, 12-10, 13-15, 11-9).

OCs C did well to beat Ramsden Raiders 4-1. Frank Hodge impressed with his excellent 3-2 (8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7) victory over Neil Freeeman.  Hodge also won twice as OCs C beat Ramsden Rovers 3-2. He required five ends on both occasions. He edged out Sue Hickman 3-2 (11-8, 13-11, 3-11, 9-11,12-10) and Caroline Cole 3-2 (10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6).

OCs B did well to beat Ramsden Rovers 4-1. OCs made a great start with David Porter getting the better of Ron Biggs 3-2 (11-6, 5-11, 11-5, 9-11, 13-11) and Farooq Ahmed defeating Andy Simmonds 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 12-10).

Chelmsford B were the runaway winners of Division Four, scoring 27 points out of a possible 30. They finished six points clear of second-placed Cold Norton C. The two teams met at the end of June but despite some hard fought games taking place Chelmsford ran out 5-0 winners.

Ryan Gooday started the ball rolling by beating James Anderson 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 14-12) and they never looked back. Ian Austin played his part by defeating Daniel Anderson 3-1 (11-4, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9). The only time Chelmsford came close to losing was against a Felsted side bolstered by the services of Gareth Joice. He beat Ryan Gooday and Ian Austin, edging out Ryan Gooday by a tantalising 3-2 (6-11, 17-15, 11-5, 13-15, 11-9) margin and in a dramatic doubles encounter the Gooday / Austin combination just beat Chris Butler / Gareth Joice 3-2 (5-11, 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 12-10).

Felsted did well to beat South Woodham 4-1. Jenny Thompson won both her singles beating George Stacey-Stevens and Dan Howard both 3-1.

Steve Kerns
Press Officer
Central Essex Summer League (August 27, 2013)