Ace defender Eric Green produced the most notable performance of the week in the first division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League although his superb trio of wins wasn’t enough to enable Danbury B to beat Liberal A.

It was Liberal who shaded the match 6-4 though Green defeated Peter Hayden (3-2), Simon Webber (3-1) and Adam Buxton (3-0). Steve Whiteley also showed up well and he beat Peter Hayden 3-2 (5-11, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9).

Rawreth A made a strong start to their campaign. Essex President Stuart Gibbs and Justin Jeffrey were both undefeated as they beat Chelmsford A 8-2. Jeffrey just got the better of another newcomer to the League – Wal Bada in five (13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9).

The match between last year’s two top teams turned out to be a pale imitation of last year’s epic battles. Bocking could only field two players as David Cole was unfortunately hit by the Monday train problems and didn’t turn up, and Danbury ran out 7-3 winners. Minda Sinkus was undefeated for Danbury whilst the fast-improving Sam Hume excelled for Bocking. He beat Essex County player Matt Spero 3-1 (11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9). Sinkus was at his best and he defeated Hume in four (10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8).

Rawreth B have made a good start in division two. Kim Shead won’t lose many at this level and he and Gus Heath were both undefeated as they saw off OCs C 8-2. Shead completed his hat-trick by downing the challenge of Daniel Berry 3-2 (7-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7).

James Hicks was the outstanding performer in the match between Galleywood A and OCs B. But it wasn’t enough to stop his side losing 6- 4. Nevertheless Hicks scored a fine trio of wins, beating Kevin Worthington (3- 0), Ashley Skeggs (3-2) and Trevor Carter (3-1).

Teamwork enabled Writtle Excalibur B to defeat Hatfield Peverel A 6-4. Matthew Brown, Ryan Pitt and Richard Storey all won twice. The match between John Parodi and Pitt was an epic – with Pitt fighting back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 (8-11, 9-11, 17-15, 11-8, 11-9).

Danbury C did well to beat Chelmsford B 7-3. In a close match in which five games were decided in the fifth end Peter Mynard and Sam Lowman were both undefeated for Danbury. Sam Lowman prevailed against Julie Johnson – just – 11- 5, 10-12, 7-11, 11-9, 12-10.

Danbury F were the week’s big winners in division three. Herbie Smith and Tony Forster both bagged “maximums” as they beat OCs D 8-2. Smith did well to beat Dave Porter 3-2 (5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7).

Paul Nicol excelled for Chelmsford C, who beat Danbury G 6-4. He beat Dan Anderson in five (8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8) in his opening encounter and won two more hard-fought battles, seeing off George Ashley 3-1 (9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9) and Cameron Gray 3-0 (13-11, 11-8, 11-9).

Chelmsford D were narrow 6-4 winners over Maldon C in a match where Shirley Carroll produced her best form for many a year. She played quite superbly to beat Jarek Pietraszuk in three straight (11-6, 11-9, 11-9), and then beat Keith Martin 3-2 (6-11, 11-9, 3- 11, 11-6, 11-5) and she rounded off an excellent evening by beating Mohamed Mohseni in five (11-5, 11-4, 5-11, 10-12, 11-7).

Hatfield Peverel C (13 points from two matches) are the early leaders in division four. Bob Garson, Trevor Collin and Dave Carter won all nine singles in their 9-1 win over Danbury L. Danbury K were also 9-1 winners against Chelmsford F. Richard Allen and Dave Hancox both won their three singles on this occasion.

The match between Chelmsford E and Danbury J was an altogether closer affair. No single player stayed undefeated as Chelmsford‘s Richard Upson and Karl Baldwin and Danbury’s Dave Goody and Dave Powell all won twice. It fittingly finished all square.

In another match where no single player dominated, OCs F emerged as 6-4 winners against Writtle Excalibur C. John Watts, Farooq Ahmed and Dave Bishop all won twice for the Old Chelmsfordians side and rather uniquely they all lost to a different Excalibur player. Alan Offord had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Watts in four (8-11, 12-10, 12-10, 17-15).

Galleywood B are going to be hard to beat in division five. Mark Glenister and Kamil Lentas were both unbeaten as they defeated OCs G 8-2. Nathan Blore was involved in two nail-biting five-enders. He beat Mike Morecroft 11-9, 8-11, 11- 4, 9-11, 11-9 but he missed out against Steve Pratt 11-5, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 9- 11.

Highwood, experienced hands as this level, recorded their first win of the season. They beat Writtle Excalibur D 7-3 after Tim Smith and Martin Goddard had both picked up “maximums“. Goddard fought back from 2-0 down to get the better of Melanie Bonnett in five (9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8).

Highwood also missed out 7-3 to Chelmsford H. Although Goddard continued his excellent form with a hat-trick, Harry Matthews, Connor Payne and Jacqui Smith all won twice to leave the Chelmsford team in charge. Goddard had to work hard for his hat-trick. He beat Payne 3-2 (9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7) and then Smith 3-0 (14-12, 11-8, 11-9) and finally Matthews 3-1 (10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5).

The match between OCs H and Writtle E finished all square. Tanish Kotwal was unbeaten for the Old Chelmsfordians side and he completed his hat-trick with a well executed 3-0 (11-7, 11-9, 12-10) victory over Ian Hockley.

Hatfield Peverel D were another side to rely on good teamwork to beat their opponents. Peter Mortensen, Keith Cullen and Andy Simmonds all won twice as they saw off newcomers Anglia Ruskin University 7-3. Pewist Osman was unbeaten for the University side.

Galleywood C (Lewis Wilson and Rio Teplizki) impressed in the CLICK League. They gave nothing away as they beat BNCA A 5-0. Chelmsford C (Jason Yeh and Toby Kelly) were narrow 3-2 winners against Chelmsford J. Jamie Penkman beat Yeh 3-2 (6-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6) in the closest game of the evening.