ayne A are the 2017 Central Essex Summer Table Tennis League first division Champions. They won the title by beating Old Chelmfordians A 5-0. The OCs side were severely hampered by the fact that they only had one player but ace defender Robbie Burton proved to be a tricky nut to crack. Adam Buxton beat Burton 11-5, 16-14, 9-11, 11-5 whilst Ian Whiteside triumphed 12-10, 14-12, 15-13. Ramsden A finished as runners-up with 19 points, three points behind Rayne A. They ran out 4-1 winners against Danbury A. Gary Ward was undefeated and he beat Chris Buer 11-7, 11-9, 13-11 and Steve Buer 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6. Danbury A fared better against OCs A winning 3-2. Steve Buer won both of his singles downing the challenges of Daniel Berry 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6 and David Porter 12-10, 11-9, 11-8. Daniel Berry scored a fine win over Chris Buer in the closest game of the evening (11-13, 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10). Writtle A in turn beat Danbury A 3-2. Matthew Brown’s two wins gave Writtle the edge. He beat Steve Buer 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8 and Chris Buer 16-14, 11-9,11-6.

Ramsden  B are the division two winners. They finished the Season strongly to take the title by one point from Ramsden C. Their 4-1 win over Butsbury A came about via double from  Gareth Davies who beat Gary Carr 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 and Caroline Cole 9-11, 11-4, 1-17, 11-8. Ramsden met their match against Chelmsford B who beat them 3-2. Richard Baxter excelled on this occasion. He scored two superb 3-0 wins. He defeated Gareth Davies 11-6, 11-4, 13-11 and then he really put his game together to see off Neil Freeman 11-6, 11-8, 11-7. Freeman hit back by defeating Paul Nicol by a last gasp 9-11, 11-8, 12-14, 11-7, 12-10 margin. Nat Ravlic was unlucky to be on the losing side in the match between Ramsden C and OCs B. Ravlic scored two fine wins beating John Gagg 10-12, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 and John Parodi 11-7, 11-3, 7-11, 7-11, 12-10.  Danbury B had Tony Forster to thank as they beat Buttsbury A 4-1. Forster beat both Caroline Cole and Louis Brown.

Chelmsford D (24 points) were clear winners in division three - an impressive six points ahead of OCs C. They turned in strong performances to beat OCs C (5-0) and South Woodham A (4-1). In the match against OCs Paul Nicol looked to be dead and buried against Mick Hayes but he fought back strongly to win 7-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9. Chris Denyer was called on to repeat the feat against South Woodham’s Luca Bailey who surged into a 2-0 lead. This time Denyer found the “missing ingredients” as he fought back to win 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6. Writtle C were 3-2 winners over Ramsden D. Lin Roff was the difference between the two teams and she beat Trevor Collin 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 in her toughest examination. Chelmsford C completed their programme with a 4-1 victory against South Woodham A. Luca Bailey’s clash with Mick Richardson could have gone either way before Luca came through to pip his opponent 11-9, 11-7, 10-12, 7-11, 13-11. Dave Parker was undefeated for the Old Chelmsfordians team.

Division four was much closer and  Rayne B (20 points) finished just one point ahead Danbury D. Steve Noble was undefeated (to retain his 100 % record) in their 4-1 victory against South Woodham D. However, without Noble they lost 3-2 to Chelmsford C. Martin Hiskey was the difference here and he scored two good wins over Kelly Yuenyongpknan and Dave Allinson. The match with Kelly went the full five ends and Martin ran out a 6-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7 winner. Danbury D finished second and they missed out by losing their last match 3-2 to Buttsbury B. Nathan Fry excelled here and he beat Dan Richardson 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 and then he fought back in a really determined fashion to beat Dan Anderson 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9.  Chelmsford F were indebted to Richard Baxter as they overcame Butsbury B 3-2. Richard  Baxter starred here with two singles wins and he disposed of Nathan Fry 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 in the process. South Woodham B were narrow 3-2 winners over Writtle D. Writtle’s David Meah won twice beating Luca Bailey and Scott Perry whilst South Woodham Ferrers B beat Chelmsford E 3-2. Mohammad Mohseni pipped Scott Perry 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 7-11,13-11 in a very hard fought opening encounter.

OCs D were clearcut winners in division five with 22 points - five points ahead of Writtle E. Maldon D were the “big” winners this week and they defeated Chelmsford G 5-0. Shirley Carroll and Denis Crapnell carried all before them. Maldon D also beat Chelmsford H 3-2. Denis Crapnell was again unbeaten. Buttsbury C ran out 3-2 winners over Chelmsford G. Toby Kelly was their match winner. He beat Ben Jackson 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 and he fought back strongly from 2-0 down to get the better of Jacqui Smith 6-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7. 
 
Steve Kerns -  Press & Publicity Officer -  Central Essex Summer Table Tennis League