Three players notched up hat-tricks in the first division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League this week. However, only one of those players – Sam Hume was on the winning side.

Hume won his three singles as Liberal A beat Galleywood A 7-3. Gary Brignall showed up well for the Galleywood side. He not only beat Gracie Edwards 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-8) but he excelled to get the better of Gary Cattermole 3-2 (11-9, 11-9, 3-11, 4-11, 11-8). Brignall also gave a hugely creditable showing against Essex No 1 Junior Hume before succumbing 3-2 (11-6, 4-11, 11-5, 6-11, 8-11).

Ace defender Duncan Taylor was on top form for Rawreth A against A Liberal B although it was Liberal who won 6-4. Taylor defeated Adam Buxton 3-1 (11-1, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4) and then he really found the groove to defeat Brandon Crouchman 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 and Paul Davison 11-8, 11- 4, 11-7.

Chelmsford A who are second beat last year’s Champions Maldon A 6-4. Edward Ogbebor, Wal Bada and Ryan Gooday all won once although none of them could beat Trevor Lloyd. The vastly experienced Wiltshire County player Lloyd had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Gooday 3-2 (5-11, 12-10, 11- 8, 7-11, 11-9) and he added the scalp of current M&G Investments Chelmsford Closed Tournament Veterans Singles champion Bada in five (12-10, 9-11, 15-13, 6-11, 11-8). He completed an excellent evening’s work with a hard fought 3-0 (11-9, 14-12, 11-9) win over the hard hitting Ogbebor.

Danbury C impressed in division two this week. Ian Whiteside and Chris Buer both won their three singles as they beat Chelmsford B 8-2. The real drama came in the ninth game of the night when Buer surged into a 2-0 lead against Rob Shrimpton only to find himself pegged back to 2-2. Shrimpton dominated the fifth end and at 10-3 it certainly appeared as if he was about to secure victory. However, no one had told Buer and he rather amazingly took the last nine points to secure a most unlikely 3-2 (12-10, 12-10, 6-11, 7-11, 12-10) win.

Writtle A also won 8-2. Lee McHugh and Richard Storey were both undefeated. Storey in particular looks to have been on fine form. He beat Charles Yeung (11-7, 11-5, 11-6), Ashton Parker (11-6, 11-7, 11-6) and Tom Barker (11-9, 11-6, 11-8).

Danbury D beat OCs B 7-3. The smooth-flowing Sam Lowman was undefeated for the Danbury side. He did well to beat Kevin Worthington 3-0 (15-13, 11-7, 11-5).

The match between Chelmsford C and Danbury B finished tied at 5-5. Danbury came out on top in the two closest games. Neil Want defeated Julie Johnson 3-2 (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 1-11, 11-9 whilst Glen Laing saw off Alastair Piper 3-2 (11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 11-9).

Maldon B and Writtle Excalibur B, who both have 12 points, are the joint leaders of division three. Maldon ran out 6-4 winners against Chelmsford D after a fiercely fought match where seven games were decided in the fifth end. Colin Napper, Steve Scholz and Ciaran Whelan all won twice for Maldon whilst Wiktor Delimat picked up two wins for Chelmsford.

Delimat did very well to beat Whelan 3-1 (11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9) whilst Whelan was also involved in a “cliff- hanger” with Dave Parker. This time he scraped home in five (11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9).

Hatfield Peverel B who were in contention for promotion from this division for much of last season have started well again. Gareth Davies led them to an 8-2 win over Danbury F with a well executed hat-trick. Herbie Smith showed up well for the losers defeating Dave Fiddeman 3-2 (10-12, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9).

Maldon C returned to winning ways by beating Danbury F 7-3. Ev Lucas held his side together with a hat-trick.

David Gatherall was another player who has started the season in fine form. He won his three singles as Danbury E beat Chelmsford E 7-3. A well executed hat-trick it was too. He beat Keith Martin 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, Connor Payne 11-4, 11-5, 14-12 and Richard Upson 11-3, 11-9, 11- 7.

OCs E have made a strong start in division four. Nat Ravlic and newcomer Adam Yardley were both undefeated as they overcame OCs G 8-2. Yardley overcame James Mitty – just – 3-2 (11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 11-9, 13-11) in what looks to have been the pick of the night’s action.

Danbury J impressed by beating Writtle C. Eamon Hall and Kevin Willis both bagged hat-tricks. Hall overcame Alan Offord over five fluctuating games – 8-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9.

The inter-club match between Danbury G and Danbury H was one of those evenly fought affairs where no single player won all three singles but no one went home empty-handed either. The G team shaded it 6-4 courtesy of two wins for both Mo Hardy and Nicky Ford. Hardy defeated Richard Allen 3-2 (12-10, 3-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5) to seal the Danbury G victory.

OCs F with Terry Dowsett staying undefeated drew 5-5 with Danbury K. Norman Hayes ran out a 3-2 (8-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9) winner against Russell Hall in the closest game of the night.

Danbury K also drew with Writtle Excalibur D. Mick Robinson won twice for the Danbury side which included a hard-fought 3-2 (10-12, 11-7, 12-10, 3-11, 11-8) win over Frank Neill but perhaps the stand-out result here was the excellent 11-4, 12-10, 11-5 win that Hayes secured over Ian Hockley.

There is only result for division five this week. Galleywood B ran out 8-2 winners over Hatfield Peverel D. Mark Glenister led the way with a hat-trick of wins. Nathan Blore won twice and this included a last-gasp 3-2 (11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 13-11) victory over Alastair Brown.

Galleywood C ran out 5-0 winners over Black Notley in Division 1A of the CLICK League. Rio Teplizki and Aidan Noguchi were both undefeated.

Likewise, the Demons (Alex Porter and Ben Porter) beat Buttsbury Bulldogs 5-0. Alex Porter beat Harry Hutt 3-2 (7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 13-15, 11-5) in the opening encounter and they never looked back after that.

Danbury Dragons beat West Maldon 3-2. Conor Hall was their match-winner and he beat Will Moore by a last-gasp 11-4, 13-11, 6-11, 8-11, 12-10 margin and Blaydon Farmer 3-1 (15-13, 11-3, 9-11, 11-8) – two very hard fought wins.

Galleywood D top the table in Division 1B of the CLICK League. Vincent Kamma and Charlie Craig carried all before them as they defeated Tigers 5-0.

Buttsbury Badgers also won 5-0 but this was one of those games where the opposition came very close to doing better. Harry Squires missed out narrowly to Darren Muldal (5-11, 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 8-11) and to Ben Brown (11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 6-11, 8-11).