Maldon A are the new leaders in the first division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League with 86 points. They powered to a 9-1 win over Chelmsford A – with Alex Abbott and Trevor Lloyd both staying unbeaten. Ryan Gooday made his mark here for the losers with a fine 13-11, 11-7, 12-10 win over Colin Stallwood.

Maldon also drew 5-5 with Rawreth. Alex Abbott and Trevor Lloyd both won twice for Maldon although they both missed out against an in-form Duncan Taylor.

Liberal stay second but they lost ground on Maldon by losing 7-3 to Danbury A. Glenn Johnson won his three games for Danbury whilst Simon Webber won twice for Liberal which included a fine 3-2 (6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 12-10) victory over Gary Young.

Rawreth could only field two players against Danbury B and they paid the price for it. Danbury B won 8-2 with Dave Richardson picking up two good wins over Mike Hayes 3-2 (10-12, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 16-14) and Simon Neale 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-9).

Danbury B also did well to beat OCs A 6-4. Brandon Crouchman was undefeated for OCs but Eric Green and Dave Richardson both won twice for Danbury B. Eric Green defeated Chris Jacob 3-2 (7-11, 13-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-2) in the most widely fluctuating game of the evening.

Sam Hume who made such an impact in the M&G Investments Chelmsford Championships gave a “taster” of what was to come as he stayed unbeaten in Bocking’s 6-4 win over Liberal. This included a fine 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-3) win over Paul Davison. In a match where the form book was thrown out of the window, Gary Cattermole beat Simon Webber 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-9) and Paul defeated David Cole in three (11-4, 11-8, 11-7).

Chelmsford A were strengthened by the inclusion of Mateusz Zagajewski in their line-up against Danbury A and he retained his 100% record (12/12) by winning his three singles. He beat Gary Young 3-1 (11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10), Reece Seddon 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-8) and Gavin Price 3-1 (11-3, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4).

Rawreth B top the division two table for the first time this season with 80 points and they are in a very good position with two matches in hand on second-placed OCs B, who also have 80 points. Rawreth B secured a vital 8-2 win over third-placed Danbury D after Barrie Delf (three wins), Gus Heath (two wins) and Paul Churn (two wins) had all played their part in that success. Heath was in turn unbeaten in their 5-5 draw against Chelmsford B. He completed his full-house with a 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6) victory over Julie Johnson.

Danbury D lost more ground by losing 6-4 to Writtle A. Matthew Brown excelled for Writtle with an excellent trio of 3-1 wins over Tim Cramphorn (11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-4), Steve Buer (11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7) and Chris Buer (11-4, 11-3, 11-13, 11-6).

James Hicks – who went on to win the Division Two Singles at the M&G Investments Chelmsford Championships was on fine form as he led Galleywood A to a 6-4 victory over Hatfield Peverel A. Hicks and team-mate Gary Brignall both won their three singles – good wins over Gareth Davies, Neil Freeman and Gary Ward. Brignall did well to beat Ward 3-2 (11-5, 6-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-7).

Liberal B ran out 6-4 winners over Danbury C although none of their players were able to get the better of improving Danbury reserve – David Gatheral. In the pick of the night’s action Gatheral pipped Andrew Huckson in five (14-12, 10-12, 2-11, 11-7, 12-10).

OCs B with Kevin Worthington firing on all cylinders beat Chelmsford B 7-3. Worthington edged out Julie Johnson 3-2 (11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9) in the last game of the evening and Julie was also involved in a “cliff-hanger” with Stephen Northcott. This time she fought back from 2-0 down to triumph 8-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9.

Hatfield Peverel A ran out convincing 8-2 winners over OCs C. Gary Ward and John Gagg both picked up three wins. Ward perhaps fashioned the evening in the opening game of the night by getting the better of Peter Windley 3-2 (5-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 13-11).

OCs C did not fare any better against OCs B. They again lost 8-2 after Stephen Northcott had won his three singles although Frank Hodge impressed for OCs C with his excellent win over Kevin Worthington in five (11-3, 6-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3).

Danbury G have replaced Hatfield Peverel B at the top of division three. Danbury’s Chris Hancox and Sam Lowman were both undefeated in their 8-2 victory over Danbury E. Dan Anderson picked up one win and it was a very close one – 3-2 (11-6, 12-14, 11-7, 6-11, 14-12) against Tim Pulham.

It was the same scoreline as they beat OCs E – with Sam Lowman again carrying all before him. The improving Charles Yeung beat both Dan Anderson and Cameron Gray.

Chelmsford C had Robert Shrimpton to thank as they beat Chelmsford D 7-3. They stay third. Jarek Pietraszuk beat Paul Nicol 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-13, 11-9 in the closest game of the night.

OCs E ran out 6-4 winners over Chelmsford D. Nat Ravlic gave them the edge with his hat-trick of wins over Dave Parker, Mo Mohseni and Keith Martin.

Hatfield Peverel B, who are in second place (but with a match in hand), beat Maldon B 7-3. Neil Freeman won his three singles and Dave Fiddeman picked up two wins. Freeman had to work very hard to get the better of Tom Elder 3-2 (11-9, 12-14, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9) in a marathon first game of the evening.

Hatfield Peverel B also beat Danbury F 7-3. In a keenly contested match no one player stayed undefeated and the Hatfield Peverel trio of Gareth Davies, Neil Freeman and Dave Fiddeman all won twice whilst Dave Marsh picked up two wins for Danbury F. Gareth Davies did well to defeat Dave Marsh 3-2 (11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 2-11, 11-8) in a gripping last game of the evening.

Maldon C, led by Ciaran Whelan beat OCs D 6-4. League Chairman Dave Porter showed up well for OCs D with wins over Colin Napper and Steve Scholz.

Hatfield Peverel C are well clear in division four (with 95 points) but they suffered their second defeat of the Season against Danbury K – where they lost 6-4. No single player remained undefeated and Alan Dadswell and Eamon Hall both won twice for Danbury K. Eamon Hall came out on top in five (7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10) against Colin Barham.

Hatfield Peverel C returned to winning ways against Felsted RBL. Trevor Collin stayed undefeated in their 8-2 victory. However, he had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Ian Butler in five (11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 15-13).

Danbury J are second and they won twice. Dave Goody, Rob Kneale and Richard Allen were on target as they beat Danbury L 8-2 and Goody, Dave Powell and Allen came out on top 7-3 against OCs F. Allen just got the better of OCs F’s Dave Newman 3-2 (13-11, 8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 15-13).

Writtle C did well to beat Danbury L 6-4 – good going as none of their trio of players – Dave Moles, Steve Siggs or Alan Offord were able to get the better of Roger Tiffin.

Danbury K beat Writtle Excalibur C 6-4. Alan Dadswell was their match winner and he beat Neil Thompson in a decider (12-10, 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 12-10) in the closest game of the evening.

Felsted RBL, led by Ian Butler, beat Chelmsford F 6-4 whilst the match between Chelmsford E and Maldon D finished all square at 5-5. Richard Baxter was unbeaten for Chelmsford E and this included a fine 3-2 (11-4, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8) win over Roger Hance.

Writtle Excalibur E (94 points) look to be well on target to win this division. They lead OCs H by 10 points. It was “business as usual” as they beat Highwood and Hatfield Peverel D both 7-3. Ian Hockley was undefeated against Highwood whilst two wins for each of Hockley, David Meah and Colin Griffiths gave them the ascendancy against Hatfield Peverel D. Peverel’s Alastair Brown and Highwood’s Francis Whitbread caused them the most problems – they both won twice.

OCs H (Tanishq Kotwal, Lawrence Bartlett and David Bishop) beat Chelmsford G 10-0 whilst Hatfield Peverel D (Dan Patynski, Peter Mortensen and Alastair Brown) ran out 10-0 winners over Galleywood B.

Highwood had Martin Goddard to thank as they beat Anglia Ruskin University 6-4. Omar Medra came up trumps against Russell Downton by a last gasp 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9) scoreline.

Stuart Wintle led OCs G to a 7-3 win over Chelmsford G. Stephen Pratt backed him up with two successes. Tanishq Kotwal (just one defeat to date) was again unbeaten as OCs H beat Galleywood 7-3. Kotwal got the better of Mark Glenister over five ends (12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 14-16, 11-5).

Galleywood C (46 points) lead the way in the CLICK League by one point although they have a match in hand on second-placed Chelmsford J. With teams not fielding “regular sides” week in / week out results have been very unpredictable recently. Buttsbury A (Tom Picton and James Hughes) in fact beat Galleywood C 4-1. James Hughes was unbeaten for Buttsbury.

Likewise, OCs J, led by an undefeated Harry Rogers, beat Galleywood C 3-2. Aidan Noguchi beat Fraser Heard 3-2 (14-12, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5) in the pick of the night’s action.

OCs J (Harry Rogers and Adam Chalk) ran out 3-2 winners over Chelmsford J. Ben Jackson was the thorn in their side and he won twice for Chelmsford J.

Galleywood C in turn beat Buttsbury B 4-1. Aidan Noguchi and Rio Teplizki won all four singles but missed out on the doubles to Harry Hutt / James Green on this occasion.

Chelmsford J were 5-0 winners over Black Notley B – Ben Jackson and Peter Davenport carried all before them. Buttsbury C also won 5-0. Jason Yeh and Toby Kelly gave nothing away against Buttsbury B.

Chelmsford J were hard pushed to beat Black Notley B 3-2. Ben Jackson gave them the edge with his
two singles wins. However, perhaps the most surprising result came when Buttsbury A beat Chelmsford J 5-0. Buttsbury fielded a very strong team and Nathan Fry and James Hughes carried all before them.

All players are reminded that the Finals Night of the M&G Investments Chelmsford Championships takes place at the Old Chelmsfordians Club, Lawford Lane, Roxwell Road, Chelmsford, CM1 2NA on Monday February 13, starting at 7pm. Presentations of all trophies will be made on the night.