Bocking have been uncharacteristically languishing towards the bottom of the first division but recent results have suggested a timely upsurge in form.
Keiran Lally and Dave Cole were both undefeated as they beat OCs A 6-4. Four times M&G Investments Chelmsford Men’s Singles champion David Cole had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Brandon Crouchman 3-2 (8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9).
Bocking were also 6-4 winners against Chelmsford A and this time Sam Hume was their match-winner. Wal Bada was the best of the Chelmsford players with wins over Gary Cattermole and Oli Reynolds.
Bocking had Cole in their side against Danbury A and his hat-trick of wins enabled Bocking to run out 7-3 winners. Gary Cattermole excelled here, beating Gary Young 3-2 (11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 8- 11, 12-10).
Bocking didn’t fare so well against Liberal A, losing 7-3. Paul Davison stole the show and he produced a dazzling display to beat Dave Cole in three straight (11-8, 11-4, 11-4). Cole had earlier come good with a hard-fought 3-2 (10-12, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9) win over perennial rival Peter Hayden.
Maldon A had impressive new signing – former Wiltshire County player Trevor Lloyd – to thank as they beat OCs A 6-4. Lloyd beat Brandon Crouchman in four ends whilst Crouchman bounced back to nail Alex Abbott 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 11-9).
OCs A were themselves resounding winners beating Chelmsford A 9-1. Scott Dowsett (three wins), Dan Berry (two wins) and Crouchman (three wins) all played their part in this success. Dowsett had to survive a two-game mauling to get the better of his cousin Ryan Gooday 3-2 (3-11, 3-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7).
However, OCs A didn’t fare so well against Danbury B and they were well beaten 8-2. Dave Richardson and Steve Whiteley were both undefeated after Richardson had given them a winning start with a 3-2 (11-6, 7-11, 13-11, 7-11, 14-12) win over Robbie Burton.
Rawreth have a very strong pool of players and this was illustrated perfectly as they beat Chelmsford A 8-2. County President and former England Senior International Stuart Gibbs and current Essex County Veterans player Duncan Taylor were both undefeated. Ryan Gooday again showed he is in awe of no one and he gave it a real go before losing to Gibbs 3-1 (3-11, 11-6, 6-11, 19-21).
Danbury were also involved in a 5-5 draw against Maldon A. Ben Warner won his three singles, getting the better of all three Maldon players – Hamish Innes (3-0), Alex Abbott (3-0) and John Poysden (3-2).
The division two clash between Danbury C and OCs C produced a fiercely fought encounter in which five games were decided in the fifth end. Danbury’s Peter Mynard won his three singles whilst Glen Laing beat Peter Windley 3-2 (8-11, 11-5, 8- 11, 12-10, 12-10) in the closest game of the evening. The match fittingly finished as a 5-5 draw.
The leaders Danbury D can’t put a foot wrong at present and they beat second-placed OCs B 8-2 this week, a real triumph. Tim Cramphorn (three wins), Steve Buer (two wins) and Chris Buer (three wins) were all on tip-top form. Chris Buer fought back from 2-0 down to get the better of Steve Northcott in five (10-12, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8).
Danbury D were also 8-2 winners over Hatfield Peverel A with Tim Cramphorn and Chris Buer again carrying all before them.
Galleywood A ran out 7-3 winners over Writtle Excalibur B. James Hick, with a very impressive 87% record to date, won his three singles with wins over Paul Sturton (3-0), Phil Smith (3-2) and Lin Roff (3-0). The victory over Smith was particularly hard fought with Hicks retrieving a 2-0 deficit before winning 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8.
10-0 wins at this level are rare and OCs C will have been cock-a-hoop after they had beaten Liberal B by that margin. Frank Hodge, Daniel Berry and Peter Windley were all on top form. It just wasn’t Liberal’s night and Dean Andrews who raced into a 2-0 lead against Hodge was eventually pegged back and he lost 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 10-12.
Liberal B enjoyed an altogether better experience against Writtle Excalibur B, winning 6-4 although none of their trio of players was able to get the better of Paul
Sturton. Andrew Huckson and James Mullane both won twice for Liberal.
In division three Hatfield Peverel B made it seven wins out of eight by beating Chelmsford D 6-4. The in-form Gareth Davies won his three singles with victories over Mo Mohseni (3-1), Keith Martin (3-2) and Jarek Pietraszuk (3-2).
Chelmsford D in turn hit back and they beat Danbury F 6-4. Keith Martin completed his impressive hat-trick with an excellent 3-2 (14-16, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6) win over Dave Marsh.
Danbury G moved into second place by beating Danbury H 8-2. Sam Lowman won his three singles whilst George Ashley beat Chelmsford League President Norman Smith after a real tussle 3-2 (17-15, 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 12- 10).
There was a dramatic reversal of form when lowly OCs E played the higher ranked Maldon B. Few would have predicted the resounding 9-1 win that OCs E recorded. Sue Hickman and Charles Yeung were both unbeaten with Hickman beating current M&G Investments Chelmsford Ladies’ Singles champion Dawn Baldry 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5). Nat Ravlic came out on top 3-2 (9-11, 16-14, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9) in a hard-fought clash against Tom Elder.
Solid teamwork enabled Chelmsford C to beat Danbury F 7-3. Mark Allaway, Paul Nicol and Robert Shrimpton all won twice although they all missed out against Dave Marsh.
Maldon C were 6-4 winners over Danbury G. Ciaran Whelan’s hat-trick gave them the edge.
In division four, Danbury J consolidated second place by drawing 5-5 with Hatfield Peverel C although it will be the Hatfield Peverel side who will be the happier with the result. They won all four five-enders including the last two games to secure a share of the points. Bob Garson beat Dave Goody 11-5, 11- 5, 10-12, 6-11, 13-11 and Trevor Colin clinched his hat-trick by getting the better of Rob Kneale 15-13, 11-7, 12-14, 10-12, 11-9 in a dramatic last game of the evening.
Writtle Excalibur C were 8-2 winners over Chelmsford F after Dave Moles had won his three singles whilst Danbury K ran out 8-2 winners over OCs F. Kevin Willis beat Farooq Ahmed 3-2 (13-11, 12-14, 11-4, 8-11, 13-11) in the closest game of the night – again that last encounter.
OCs F did better against Danbury L, winning 6-4. Former first division player John Watts won his three singles for the Old Chelmsfordians team. Chelmsford F were also 6-4 winners over Maldon D. Jason Clark won his three singles and this included a 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8) win over Mervyn Perriman – the best of the Maldon players.
Division five produced four very close matches this week. Hatfield Peverel E ran out 6-4 winners over OCs H. Andy Simmonds (one win), Keith Cullen (two wins) and Dan Patynski (two wins) were all on target for Hatfield Peverel although they all missed out against Tanishq Kotwal.
OCs G beat Highwood 6-4 after Stuart Wintle had won his three singles whilst the match between Chelmsford H and Chelmsford G finished all square. Thomas Nguyen was unbeaten for Chelmsford H.
Anglia Ruskin University did well to draw against the higher-placed Galleywood B. Mark Glenister was undefeated for Galleywood whilst Omar Medra and Fadel Azzazi both picked up two wins for the University team.
There was a first defeat for the leaders Galleywood C in the CLICK League. They missed out 3-2 to Buttsbury A, for whom Tom Picton was unbeaten.
OCs J (Adam Chalk and Harry Rogers) were 5-0 winners against Black Notley A whilst Chelmsford J (Peter Davenport and Ray Booty) also beat Black Notley A 5-0. Ray Booty was pushed to the limit to get the better of Rowan Champney in five (11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10).
The match between Black Notley B and Buttsbury B was a close one and Buttsbury B shaded it 3-2. All four players – the Black Notley pairing of Nicholas Grice and Elliott Grice and Buttsbury’s duo of Harry Hutt and James Green won one singles match.
An annual reminder to all Chelmsford League players that the M&G Investments Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Closed Tournament will be held at Hylands School, Sherwood Drive, Chelmsford, CM1 3DN on the weekend of January 27, 28 and 29, 2017. The closing date for entries is December 19 and no late entries will be accepted as the draws will be held before Christmas. Entries should be forwarded either via your Club Secretary or direct to Arthur Clark, 2 Top Road, Woodham Walter, Nr. Maldon, Essex, CM9 6RQ with payment.
Payment can be made direct to the League’s Bank Account at Sort Code 30-91-85 acount no. 00406696. If payment is made electronically please tick the box on the entry form and state the payee surname if this is different to the entrant’s surname.
Entrants should note that they must have played in at least three Chelmsford League matches if they are registered in another League. An entry form is in the middle of the league handbook and can also be found on the league’s website.