Rawreth B have stretched their lead at the top of the second division of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League to an impressive 19 points with two more victories.

Their leading player Kim Shead (93%) was undefeated as they beat Hatfield Peverel A 8-2 and he completed his hat-trick of wins by getting the better of Gary Ward 3-2 (6-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6) in a hard-fought last game of the evening.

Shead didn’t play against Galleywood A but Gus Heath, Simon Jacobs and Dick Wyman all won twice as Rawreth won 6-4. Gus Heath made his mark with a fine 3-2 (4-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7) win over M&G Investments Chelmsford Championships Division Two Singles champion James Hicks.

OCs B, who are second, slipped back further by losing 6-4 to third-placed Danbury D. Tim Cramphorn was on top form for Danbury, beating Trevor Carter (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6), Ashley Skeggs (6-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9) and Kevin Worthington (11-5, 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-1).

Chelmsford B beat Writtle Excalibur B 6-4 with Julie Johnson producing her very best form. She scored a fine hat-trick of wins – racing to 3-0 successes against Phil Shippen and Phil Smith and repelling a determined challenge from Lin Roff over five ends (10-12, 12-10, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5).

OCs C combined excellently as a team to beat Danbury C 7-3. Frank Hodge, Peter Windley and Ashton Parker all won twice. Peter Windley beat Glen Laing 3-2 (11-1, 11-13, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9) in a widely fluctuating five-ender.

Liberal B led by an Adrian Pitt hat-trick ran out 8-2 winners over Writtle Excalibur B. Phil Smith beat Andy Huckson in five (11-13, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9) in a hard-fought final game of the evening.

Leaders Maldon A are the League’s outstanding first division side this year. They are in a rich vein of form at present and they brushed aside Liberal A 8-2. Alex Abbott and Colin Stallwood were both undefeated. Stallwood scored two excellent battling five-end wins. He beat both Paul Davison (5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-6) and Simon Webber (2-11, 4-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-3).

Liberal A are second but they slipped further behind by losing 6-4 to OCs A. Paul Davison scored a fine hat-trick of wins for the Liberal side, downing the challenges of Daniel Berry 3-2 (11-4, 17-19, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7), Brandon Crouchman 3-0 (13-11, 11-5, 11-5) and Scott Dowsett 3-1 (5-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-9).

Danbury G top the table in division three with 108 points although they have played a game more than Maldon C (103 points) and long-time leaders Hatfield Peverel B (102 points).

It was Danbury G who came out on top 7-3 in the week’s big game against Maldon C. The free-flowing Sam Lowman – the M&G Investments Chelmsford Championships Division Three Singles winner was the outstanding player and he perhaps “shaped” the way the night went by beating Ciaran Whelan, Maldon‘s top player, 3-2 (5-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9) in the opening game of the night.

Hatfield Peverel B have not been at their best in recent weeks and an outstanding performance by the evergreen Peter Hance saw them lose 6-4 to Danbury H. He defeated Dan Patynski 3-1 (11-2, 13-11, 10-12, 11-2), Neil Freeman 3-2 (11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 4-11, 11-4 ) and Gareth Davies 3-1 (11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7).

Danbury E (Tim Pulham, Ken Sheard and Gordon Gatheral) turned in a strong performance to beat OCs A 9-1. Nat Ravlic got OCs off to a winning start by beating Sheard 3-2 (9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 13-11) in a tense opening encounter but the Danbury side produced a fine display to take the other nine games.

Danbury F did well to beat Chelmsford D 6-4 – very good going as it was Chelmsford’s Keith Martin who won his three singles.

Chelmsford C who are in fourth place with 97 points (but with a game in hand on the two sides immediately above them) did their outside chances of promotion a power of good by beating Maldon B 8-2. Paul Nicol and Victor Chan both won their three singles.

In division four the runaway leaders Hatfield Peverel C stay top after beating Writtle Excalibur C 6-4. Dave Carter was their match-winner with a hat-trick of wins. The shock here was the defeat for Trevor Collin who succumbed to Alan Offord 3-2 (7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 12-14, 10-12).

Danbury K (Kevin Willis, Dave Hancox and Eamon Hall) defeated Chelmsford E 6-4, although they all lost to Richard Baxter, whilst the match between Danbury L and OCs F finished tied at 5-5. Five games were decided in the fifth end and John Watts edged out Norman Hayes 9-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, 12-10 in the closest finish of the night.

In division five newcomers Anglia Ruskin University showed just how much they have improved this season by beating the leaders Writtle Excalibur E 6-4. Their top player – Pewist Osman (100% to date) had a major say in the outcome of this match by winning his three singles although he had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Andy Fox in five (3-11, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4). He dealt better with Ian Hockley, storming home 3-0 (11-2, 11-3, 11-9).

Writtle Excalibur E also struggled against a two player Writtle Excalibur D side and will be pleased to have emerged as 6-4 winners. Brian Steward “steadied the ship” with very hard fought five-end wins over Keith Fitzjohn and Melanie Bonnett.

Chelmsford H ran out 6-4 winners over Galleywood B. Jacqui Smith led the way with a very well executed hat-trick of wins.

OCs H, who are third with 89 points but with three games in hand on second-placed Hatfield Peverel D, did well to hold the Hatfield Peverel side to a draw. Their leading player – Tanishq Kotwal – who has a record of 97% (just one defeat to Pewist Osman) led the way with a hat-trick but he had to work hard to see off Dan Patynski – finally triumphing 3-2 (11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8).

Martin Goddard led the way with three wins as Highwood beat Chelmsford G 7-3 and he was supported by Francis Whitbread who won twice. Steve Chambers picked up two wins for the losers.

Galleywood C (Lewis Wilson and Rio Teplizki) – the CLICK League leaders – retained their ascendancy by beating Black Notley B 5-0 although they missed out 3-2 to Buttsbury C. M&G Investments Chelmsford Championships Under-14 Singles champion Toby Kelly proved to be their “undoing”. He beat Rio Teplizki 3-0 (11-8, 14-12, 11-5) and Aidan Noguchi 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 13-11) before combining with Zach Antoniou to win the doubles in five ends (11-7, 15-13, 4-11, 8-11, 11-5).