WINTER LEAGUE 16-17 WEEK 21 REPORT

Sdttl 2016/7 Season Week 21 Reports

Premier Division    Rawreth A played a great match against title rivals Thorpe Bay A coming out on top 6-3 and in doing so keeping the faith that they can win the title again. Wins for all three Rawreth players, notably a maximum from Tony Halling showing his class as well as two wins for Ross Saxby who was building on his impressive form in the Chelmsford Closed and a win for a Kevin Read over John Monk.

Rawreth B took on the young guns (plus Tim Pang) of Hockley A. Although there were some tight matches Rawreth ended up 8-1 winners. Hockley's sole win coming when Tim beat Simon Neale 8 in the 5th. Overall it was a pleasant evening played in good spirits and it’s good to see some younger players enjoying the game.

Wale Bade continued the play with the freedom and good form he showed at the Chelmsford Closed where he reached the final of the Vet’s singles where he is due to play Paul Davidson on finals night. Bade won all 3 against Rayleigh Mill in a 6-3 win for Lentern A including a five set win over Duncan Taylor. Taylor was certainly getting his money’s worth with another five setter against Keith Adams, this time resulting in a win for the Millers. Adams himself picked up two wins on the night and Lentern’s final point was won by Norbert Fullerton with a win over Steve Sawyer.

Hadleigh Forum recorded a good 8-1 win over Stanford le Hope although Stanford probably unlucky to get more points as 4 games going to 5 sets and Hadleigh winning all of them, with 3 of them right to the wire!

Due to misunderstanding, Thorpe Bay B only turned up with two players against Castle Point A. To get anything from the night, The Bay needed someone to step up and perform and it was Gurj Bhambra who said “I’m your man” and won all three of his games, but only after Simon had given him a scare going down 13-11 in the fifth in a great game to watch. The Castle Point team all won 1 beating an under the weather Richard Stubbington to make a final score of 6-3.

Duncan Taylor, Premier Div. DRS

 

Division 1  Another week and leaders Hadleigh Forum B push on with a resounding 9-0 win over a two-man Lentern D team. In a fixture that was already hard, Lentern were only able to field two players at home to Forum who had Tony Jacks, Gus Heath and Dave Woolmer. Despite taking three games to 5 sets, the remaining Lentern players were unable to make any headway, Dave Kirston coming closest with a 15-13 fifth game loss to Tony Jacks. The result will keep Lentern D in the relegation dogfight.

Invicta A kept their 2nd position thanks to a 6-3 win over Lentern C with Steve Marr returning to his best form. Steve Marr was unbeaten with 2 games from Neil Daines. Pat White was able to win two for Lentern and caused some problems for the Invicta team.

Despite losing 6-3 to Hadleigh Forum C, Warehouse B cling to 4th place. It was a real team effort with Russell Bright, Mark Everard and Graham Farmer all contributing two wins to the total but the ever-improving Berti Makolli was able to win two for Warehouse.

Rawreth C edged closer into 5th spot with games in hand with a convincing 8-1 win over luckless Lentern B, who were only able to field two players and find themselves second from bottom after being relegated from the Premier division last year. Chris Aukett and Gary McCarthy were unbeaten for Rawreth with John Blackman adding two, John Lott scoring the consolation for Lentern.

In the local Hullbridge Derby with the C v D team, the C team ended up with the bragging rights winning 7-2. Andy Seaman and Lin Roff added two each, both unable to overcome Ben Matthews for the D team, who earned their two points. However, it was veteran, Essex over 70 runner-up, Bill Smith who proved unplayable on the night and won his 3 games to provide the platform for the C team win.

In the final match this week, Hockley B piled on more misery for Castle Point B with an 8-1 win. The Castle Point team had no answer to Keith Abbott and Dennis Squirrell who both recorded their first hattricks in the Division and two from Craig Aukett, with the consolation coming from Keith Neville.

Barrie Delf, Div 1 DRS

 

Division 2    John Beddow’s hat trick effectively settled his Castle Point D side’s bottom of the table clash away to Invicta B. It gave them a 5 – 4 win - although it was a close contest that wasn’t decided until the last match of the night. David Barnes managed two wins for the home side.

Rawreth D gave themselves a bit of breathing room from the drop zone with a 5 – 4 home win over Warehouse C. Sam Thompson was again their star, winning all three of his encounters, whist Jonathan Allen and James Spencer won two each for the visitors.

Wakering find themselves at the wrong end of the table, but have a cushion of a few games in hand. This week they put up a battling performance away to Canvey B, with four contests going to five sets. Unfortunately, they found young Archie Blackburn in fine form, returning maximum reward for his night’s work. Two wins each for Lee McGonagle and Tony Westwell made the 7 – 2 home win a far from accurate return for Wakering’s endeavours.

The meeting of Castle Point C and Rawreth E was a close encounter. There was no single stand-out performance, but two wins each for the Castle’s David Jacob and Sean McNabb contributed to a 5 – 4 home victory. Andy Deadman also won two for Rawreth.

Basildon Hospital continue to climb the table with a comfortable 7 – 2 home win over Canvey C. Dependable Kevin Smart’s hat trick made him player-of-the-match. He was ably supported with two owns each from Errol Anderson and Jay Shivapujimath. Ross Warner and Gordon Johnstone shared Canvey’s points.

Despite a hat trick from the visitor’s, RESSC’s Ron Coutts, Hockley C still managed a 6 – 3 home victory. Two wins each for Martin Scarfe, Joe Lock and Brian Bissenden put the tie beyond doubt.

Runnymede were the most recent team to be put to the sword by the excellent Hullbridge E juniors. Yet again hat tricks from Adam Jackman, James Goddard and Reece Harris-Griffiths, led to a 9 – 0 success.

David Barnes, Div 2 DRS

 

Division 3    The youngsters of Hullbridge H fought out an exciting 5-4 win against Warehouse E the match swinging one way then the other before Toby Zeffie and Mike Webb went into the final game with the score deadlocked at 4-4. Like the match as a whole this game went the whole way with Toby 2-1 down at one stage before coming back to win 11-7, 11-7 in the final two sets. Earlier Abiaz Afzal had completed his hat trick for Hullbridge and Elena Hart picked up another point to complete the scoring. Joe Bennett and Steve Chaffery both won two for Warehouse Steve winning another five set match against Toby 10-12 11-9 8-11 11-9 12-10. It couldn’t have been much closer!

The other two Hullbridge teams, F and G, fought out their own personal battle and, despite a third successive hat trick for Sue Reece, it was the G team that triumphed 6-3. Tony Molisso, Lewis Ritchie and Harrison Sadler (playing up from the H team) all got two wins. Bob Singleton-Smith came close for the F team but he went down in five sets twice, to Harrison and Lewis. The G team stay 5th in the table.

Warehouse D maintained their third place in the Division with a comprehensive 9-0 win against Rochford LTC. Phil Mardle, Simon Lisner and Ro Brett made up the winning team who only dropped one set all night.

Lowly Hockley F pulled off a surprise win away at Customs B 5-4. They raced into an early 3-0 lead before being pulled back to 3-2 but kept their noses in front to clinch the win. Recent signing Peter Searle and young Harry Sawford both picked up a brace each plus one win for Graham Gregory, whilst Richard Kidd and Amar Al-Soufi shared the points for the Taxmen. This was only Hockley’s third win of the season but they stay in 12th place only two points behind Hullbridge H.

If there was any ever danger of the promotion chase becoming a four horse race that possibility has almost certainly ended now with Stanford Le Hope B’s 9-0 away crushing of Canvey D. Adrian Armstrong, John Handscombe and Mark Farley easing past their 4th placed opponents. Adrian and John did not concede a set all night and whilst Mark conceded sets against Steve Parker and Geoff Banthorpe and went to five against Tom Jarvis, the result was never in doubt. The Islanders are now a massive 23 points behind Stanford having played a game more and 8 points behind third placed Warehouse D also having played a game more.

If Stanford were in imperious form table toppers Hockley D matched them every step of the way in beating Invicta C. also 9-0. They did this despite having to make a late team change which saw Gary Linzell step up from the E team and he performed superbly to record his hat trick which included a terrific five set win against the tricky Keith Baxter. Gary won the first set but then went down 2-1 losing 11-9 and 12-10 but fought back to win the fourth 11-7 before just scraping home 14-12 in the fifth. Dan Patynski and Alex Barnetson completed the winning team for Hockley.

All eyes will now turn to next week’s crunch match between Stanford and Hockley which should go a long way to determining who finishes top of the table. Stanford are currently 22 points behind with a game in hand so defeat would virtually guarantee Hockley the title. However, Hockley’s one defeat this season came in the reverse fixture against Stanford so they will be as determined to repeat this as Hockley are to gain revenge. Whatever happens, it looks like being one cracker of a match!

Team of the WeekHockley F for their surprise win at Customs.

Player of the WeekGary Linzell for stepping up in great style!

Paul Strutt, Div 3 DRS

Author: via Southend Table Tennis League
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