SDTTL WL 24/25 - 2nd REPORT
SDTTL WL 24/25 - 2nd REPORTDivision 1 Reports from David Barnes
Week 4
The match between Hadleigh Forum B and visitors Mapledene was actually a lot closer than the 3 – 6 final score reflects. There were five contests that all went to five sets. Any of these could have swung the other way and the result would have been entirely different. As it was, the visitor’s Dawn Baldry took the POM accolade with three wins. Team mate Charles Yeung got two and Andy Seaman one. For Forum Tony Jacks got two and Paul Fawell one.
Maximums from POM Les Hoey and Arun Joy (two players who are yet to lose this season) ensured a 6 – 3 win for Basildon away to Rawreth Megazone C. The home team of Gary Hartgrove, Adi Kamma and Trevor Ward each contributed one win apiece.
We sympathize with Stewart Mills and Paul England from Wakering. Still unable to field a full-strength team, nonetheless they are doing their best to fulfil their fixtures in a league higher than they were last season. This week they were away to Matchpoint A. The home side’s Dan Stewart, Stephen Heard and Harry Sawford were all too strong for Wakering and a 9 – 0 defeat ensued.
If there are any players out there of Division 1 standard who do not yet have a club, Stewart Mills at Wakering would be delighted to hear from you.
Week 5
A welcome return to full strength for Wakering this week. Unfortunately, their visitors, Hadleigh Forum B, were just too strong for them, coming out 4 – 5 winners. The home side’s returning Callum Turner showed that he will be a force to be reckoned with at this level, winning the POM prize with a maximum. Hadleigh’s Paul Fawell and Dave Woolmer each won two and Jim Stait one. Paul England scored Wakering’s other success.
Despite Canvey A only being able to muster two players for their visit to Brand Identity B, they managed to come away with an impressive 6 – 3 win. Maximums from Ray Wilson and POM Andy Murray did the damage. This result has also hoisted their team to top of the table.
Another team pressing for the top spot are Rawreth Megazone C. Their visit to Hadleigh Forum C resulted in a 7 – 2 success. Paul Brown scored a POM maximum and Garry Hartgrove was unbeaten too. Veteran Trevor Ward got their other win. For the home side Mark Everard and Graham Farmer won one each.
Week 6
Wakering recorded their first ever win in Division 1 this week. In part this was due to visiting Mapledene only being able to muster two player. Nonetheless, maximums from POM Callum Turner and Andy Deadman were the major factors. Charles Yeung and Lin Roff got one win apiece, but Wakering ended up 7 – 2 winners. Closest contest of the night saw Charles narrowly lose to Andy in the fifth set.
Basildon A’s Les Hoey and Arun Joy continued their unbeaten runs when their side went to Canvey A. Both returned maximums, with Les taking the POM prize. However, the home side’s Andy Murray did well to take Les to five sets before capitulating 11 – 6 in the fifth. In a similar manner, Canvey’s Bob Skews was also unfortunate to lose to Les 11 – 8 in the fifth. This was a top of the table clash. With Basildon winning 6 – 3 they are in second place, two points behind Canvey but, importantly, they have a game in hand over the Islanders.
Brand Identity B were another side unable to find a third player. Consequently, their 7 – 2 away defeat to Matchpoint A was no great surprise. Captain Harry Sawford and POM Alex Deacon both got hat tricks, whilst the away team’s Dale Gutteridge and Mick Grout shared their side’s points.
Week 7
Canvey A consolidated their position at the top of the Division 1 table thanks to a comfortable 7 – 2 win away to bottom side Hadleigh Forum C. Both POM Ray Wilson and Peter Cray were unbeaten. Dave Thomas was the home side’s best player, taking both Ray and Peter to a fifth set. Eventually he got a reward when he overcome Canvey’s Lee McGonagle. Graham Farmer got one for Forum as did Lee for Canvey.
Second played third in the match where Basildon A hosted Matchpoint A. The visitors came away with a 5 – 4 victory due in no small part to a hat trick from POM Stephen Heard. Stephen’s team mates Dan Stewart and Oliver Milchard won one each to seal the win. Jenne Siebolt and Rob Burton won two each for Basildon.
A Mike Johnston maximum gave him the POM award and lead his Mapledene side to a 6 – 3 home win against Rawreth Megazone C. Andy Seaman added a further two victories and Lin Roff one. Adi Kamma took two creditable victories for the visitors and Colin Barham overcame Lin 11 – 5 in the fifth.
For their away game at Brand Identity B, Hadleigh Forum B gave an opportunity to their Division 3 player Todd Barker to gain experience at this higher level. Todd didn’t disgrace himself either, taking a set off experienced Mick Grout and Dale Gutteridge, before succumbing to Jenny Harrison in a five-setter. Dave Woolmer was POM with a hat trick and Mick Tappenden got two to give Forum a 5 – 4 win. Jenny was Brand’s best player with two victories.
Division 2 Reports from Paul Strutt
Week 4
There are new leaders in Division 2 and Stanford B arrived at the top in style hammering Runnymede 9-0 conceding just four sets all night. The winning team of Robert Salvage, Russell Bright and Adrian Armstrong were rarely troubled and this win confirms their pre-season position as one of the favourites for promotion. Bright made his first appearance of the season and adds to an already strong squad.
Deposed leaders Hockley C stay second but only by virtue of having played one game fewer than third placed Canvey B both having 23 points. The Hockley boys Brian Bissenden, Tony Molisso and Paul Ogden all contributed two wins in their 6-3 victory against Matchpoint C but none could get the better of Ollie Milchard, the teenager winning all his games to take the POTM award. Milchard’s closest match was the first one of the night when he edged a five setter 11/8 in the decider against Ogden.
Bottom of the table and winless Stanford C were the victims of Canvey B’s surge up the table crashing 8-1 at home to the Islanders. Terry Giddens, Trevor Hayes and Desmond Duffield made up the winning team Giddens and Hayes both recording maximums but Duffield succumbed to the wily Chris Crooks playing his first game of the season. Crooks was in a great position to chalk up a second win leading Giddens 2-0 at one point but the Stanford man fought back to ‘rob’ him of a win edging the fifth set 15/13.
Hockley D and Rawreth Megazone D fought out the closest match of the week with Rawreth, after being 1-0, 3-2 and 4-3 down, clinching a 5-4 victory. Gus Heath was their hero and POTM completing a perfect hat trick whist team mates Steve McQuillan and Jaspreet Singh both weighed in with vital wins. For Hockley Ben Cook and Hannah Harbour both recorded braces.
Team of the Week – Stanford BPlayer of the Week – Russell Bright
Week 5
Stanford C finally broke their duck in Division 2 pulling off a first win of the season by beating Rawreth Megazone 6-3. The win also lifted them off the bottom of the table and they now sit above Runnymede and Matchpoint C. Vaughan Chambers, Peter Moxham and Martin Winter all won two games but none could get the better of Rawreth’s Richard Kidd who only conceded one set all night.
Also keeping themselves away from bottom place were Runnymede who got their second win of the season. They had to work hard however to edge out Invicta B 5-4. Tony Millward was the man who made the difference winning all his games without really being threatened, and he got the right support from Steve Wisbey who got a brace and won the decisive final match of the evening beating Mike Keeble in straight sets. Keeble, Steve Lennox and John Blackman all got the better of Heather Stiles and Lennox got the other point beating Wisbey.
At the other end of the table Stanford B marched on with a 9-0 thrashing of Matchpoint C. It was a straightforward win for the league leaders the only real opposition coming from young Ollie Milchard who led Mark Downey two sets to nil before losing the last three 11/4 11/8 11/3. Rob Salvage and Russell Bright made up the winning team, Salvage recording the perfect hat trick.
Matchpoint B sit five points behind the leaders after beating Hockley D 7-2. John Lott and Alex Bowden both picked up hat tricks with Lotte Mills adding a single point. She conceded matches to Ben Cook and Elliot Brackenbury and Hockley remain winless after five games but stay in seventh place.
Team of the Week – Stanford C
Player of the Week – Robert Salvage
Week 6
In terms of results it was the tightest week yet in Division 2 with every match finishing 5-4! It also saw two clubs record their first wins of the season and two octagenarians meet in the the clash of promotion rivals Hockley C and Matchpoint B.
First team to record a 5-4 win, and also their first of the season, was Hockley D on their visit to Stanford C. Hockley have been picking up points steadily this season but that elusive first win has now come and all down to teenagers Elliot Brackenbury and William Evesham. Brackenbury claimed his second hat trick of the season and this time a perfect one not dropping a set. Evesham provided the back up with a brace but the opposition proved a bit too strong for Graham Gregory. Peter Moxham and Chris Crooks both claimed a point and Martin Winter two for Stanford. Closest match of the night was Evesham’s 12/10 in the fifth set win against the very experienced Crooks.
Matchpoint C were the other team to pick up their first win of the season when they beat Invicta B. In a match that swung back and forth Matchpoint were 4-3 down but wins for Roger Sherman and Oliver Milchard swung the match in their favour. Sherman and Milchard both won two matches but there was an important single point won by Zach Samuels who came from two sets down to beat Michael Keeble 11/6 in the fifth. Player of the match, however, was Invicta’s Sarah Ball who recorded her first hat trick of the season. Matchpoint stay bottom of the table despite their win.
At the other end of the table third placed Hockley C met second in the table Matchpoint B and a John Lott inspired team saw them race to a 5-2 lead before two late wins for Hockley restored respectability for the home side. Featured match of the night was the clash of octagenarians Lott and Mike Worship. These two opponents have met many times over the years and games are normally evenly spread but this time it was Lott who emerged victorious in four sets. Lott was ably supported by Alex Bowden who won two but young Max Mayo missed out. Worship picked up two wins and there was a point each for Neal Klyman and Paul Strutt. Matchpoint are now level on points with Stanford B at the top of the table but have played one game more.
In the final game of the week Canvey B moved into second place by just edging out Runnymede 5-4. Terry Giddens was the POTM with a fine hat trick and there was a point each for Des Duffield and Tony Westwell. For Runnymede Andrew Humphris and Steve Wisbey both won two but Tina Hutchinson just missed out going to five sets against Westwell having led 2-0.
Player of the Week – Elliot Brackenbury
Team of the Week – Matchpoint C
Week 7
Stanford B continue to set the pace in Division 2 of the Southend League beating fourth placed Hockley C 7-2 to give them their fifth straight win, and are now two points clear of Matchpoint B with a game in hand.
John Handscombe and Adrian Armstrong both remained unbeaten with Mark Downey adding the other point. Brian Bissenden and Paul Ogden picked up a point each for Hockley and Bissenden came within two points of winning another going down in the fifth set 11/9 to Handscombe in the last match of the night.
Whilst Matchpoint B unexpectedly lost points against Stanford C, winning 5-4, Canvey B took full advantage thrashing Matchpoint C 9-0 to close the gap between them to just two points.
Matchpoint’s best efforts came in the first three games at Canvey with Roger Sherman extending Trevor Hayes to five sets eventually going down 11/6 in the deciding set. Alwine Jarvis then took a set off Des Duffield and Zach Samuels took a set off Terry Giddens but after that the final six games all finished in three sets. A comprehensive win for Canvey which leaves Matchpoint some 7 points adrift at the foot of the table.
The match between Rawreth Megazone D and Runnymede featured a clash between two seasoned veterans who are probably more at home in Division 1 than Division 2. Rawreth’s Gus Heath had only lost one games so far this season and Runnymede’s Tony Millward was unbeaten so their match was crucial to the result of this game. Not surprisingly it went to five sets with Millward winning 11/5 in the decider. That win put Runnymede 3-2 ahead on the night and they extended that to 5-2 before Rawreth won the last two singles. Milllward remained unbeaten and Andrew Humphris provided the backup with two wins, whilst for Rawreth, Heath finished with a brace and there was a point each for Graham Back and Steve McQuillan. Rawreth stay above Runnymede in the league by four points.
Matchpoint B were probably expecting an easier game than they got against Stanford C who have only one win to their credit so far. In the event it all went down to the last match of the evening when Max Mayo beat Mark Farley in straight sets to clinch a 5-4 win. With youngsters Mayo and Lotte Mills in their side Matchpoint had to rely on the experienced Dennis Squirrell who won all his games but was extended to five sets against Tony Papasifakis and Martin Winter coming back from 2-1 down in both matches to claim victory. Mayo finished with two wins for Matchpoint and for Stanford, Winter recorded a brace with a point each for Papasifakis and Farley.
Week 8
The top of the table clash between leaders Stanford B and second placed Matchpoint B, both unbeaten, failed to live up to expectations this week. Matchpoint could only field two players and it was left to teenagers Max Mayo and Lotte Mills to take on the very experienced Stanford team of Rob Salvage, Russell Bright and Adrian Armstrong. The result was a comprehensive 9-0 win for Stanford who now sit eleven points clear of their rivals and have a game in hand. Favourites beforehand to get promotion they are now clear favourites to win the league outright.
With third placed Canvey B without a game Hockley B moved level with them on points after an 8-1 victory against Invicta B. Mike Worship and Paul Ogden both recorded maximums and there was a brace for Paul Strutt whilst Steve Lennox grabbed the consolation point for Invicta. Just two games went the distance on the night Lennox’s win finishing 11/9 in the decider whilst Ogden got the better of Mike Keeble winning 11/8 in the fifth after Keeble had battled back from 2-0 down. Invicta stay sixth in the table.
Bottom of the table Matchpoint C sprang the surprise of the week with a last ditch 5-4 win against Rawreth Megazone D. Player of the match was Rawreth’s Richard Kidd who was unbeaten on the night albeit he was pushed all the way by Roger Sherman before edging home 4/11 14/12 11/6 10/12 14/12. Sherman however went on to win his other two games and he was supported by Alwine Jarvis who picked up her first two wins of the season. With the scores level at 4-4 it was down to the final game of the evening and captain Ollie Milchard overcame the disappointment of losing his other two games by defeating Steve McQuillan in four sets. Jaspreet Singh had got Rawreth’s other point by beating Milchard in another five set marathon, coming from two sets down to win the decider 13/11.
Teenager William Evesham was the star of Hockley D’s 6-3 away win at Runnymede. He won all his games as Hockley recorded only their second win of the season and that included a marathon five set match against Tina Hutchinson where he fought back from a two set deficit before clinching the game 11/8 in the decider. Hockley actually lost the first two games of the evening before rattling off six games on the trot. Last game of the evening saw Hutchinson engaged in another five set match against John George and was again pegged back from a two set lead before, this time, winning the decider 12/10. That gave her two wins on the night with Steve Wisbey adding the other point also beating George. For Hockley Ben Cook recorded a brace with George getting the other point.
DIVISION 3 Reports from Dave Woolmer
Report for Weeks 3 & 4
Basildon B continue to head the table and remain unbeaten. They have stretched their lead to 6 points but have played a game more than their closest rivals, Evolve and Matchpoint D. Two narrow 5/4 wins maintained their momentum and they made full use of their squad with 6 different players turning out for them in these matches. Skipper Andy Roff kept up his unbeaten record with a maximum in the first match against Hockley E.
Teddy Kent recorded a fine hat-trick for Evolve as they overcame Canvey C 7/2. Good support came from Leo Goodey and Ben Berwick with two wins each. Evolve remain in second place.
Matchpoint D travelled to the Meggazone to take on Rawreth E and emerged with a convincing 8/1 win. Unbeaten performances here from Richard Sloman and Thomas Adcock, with Graham Back picking up the sole point for the home side with a win over Samuel Morgan.
Invicta C headed up the A13 to play Stanford D, but were on the wrong end of a close 5/4 encounter. Randy Santiago was the hero for Stanford with a hat-trick, ably backed up by Andrew Jessop who recorded a double. The following week they were up against a youthful and inexperienced Hockley F team, and their trio of Trisha Winter, Keith Baxter and Brendan Raja proved to be too good for the youngsters and 9/0 was the inevitable outcome. Mention should be made of Perry Lazell who led Trisha by two sets to love before eventually going down 8/11 in the final end.
Hockley E had a couple of matches, the first of which was a 5/4 defeat at the hands of Basildon B. All the Hockley players contributed on the night, with captain Gary Beck leading the way for them with wins over Richard Riebold and Michael Elemide. Their second match was a trip to Westcliff to take on Hadleigh Forum D. The result here was a 6/3 win for the home side, with Douglas Brown unbeaten on the night for Forum. Douglas had good support from his wingmen, Todd Barker with two wins and Dean Johnson recording a single win.
The match between Rawreth Meggazone E and Hadleigh Forum D was a brief affair. Forum were only able to field 2 players for this match, but only one of them, Ivan Arabadzhiev actually arrived in time to take part! Fair play to Ivan though, he played his 3 games straight off, recording wins over Edward Philcox and Jane Slack before heading off for an early bath.
So Basildon B are top with 27 points from 4 matches, followed by Evolve, 21 from 3 and Matchpoint D, 20 from 3.
Report for Weeks 5 & 6
Basildon B increased their lead at the top of the table gaining maximum points from their two matches against Hockley F and Canvey C. Skipper Andy Roff and Richard Riebold recorded two maximums with Dave Walton and Anton Kudyniuk also unbeaten.
Second placed Matchpoint D also recorded two wins. Richard Sloman and Blake Stewart led the way with unbeaten performances in a 7/2 victory over the youthful Evolve side, whose points came from Reuben Stracey and Miles Bygrave who got the better of Jeff Gritzman. Their second match produced a much closer outcome. All six players were on the scoresheet as Matchpoint just got the better of Hockley E with a narrow 5/4 win. Richard Sloman was the MOM with a maximum.
Invicta C were only in action once over these two weeks. A solid team performance saw them return from their trip offshore with a 6/3 victory over Canvey C. Two wins each for the trio of Trish Winter, Andrew St John and Brendan Raja, but none of them could get the better of Steve Kemp, although Brendan and Andrew pushed him all the way to a fifth set.
Another match where all six players scored points for their team was the clash between Stanford D and Hadleigh Forum D. The result was a 5/4 victory for Forum, with captain Todd Barker taking the MOM honours with a perfect maximum. For Stanford, Mandy Till and Karen Kempster recorded their first wins of the season. Forum were in action again the following week, but on this occasion their win was much more convincing. Hockley F were their opponents and 9/0 their margin of victory. The evergreen Douglas Brown was the player of the match here, but Hockley came so close to gaining what would have been only their second point of the season. Amelia Taylor led Ivan Arabadzhiev by 2 sets to 1 only to fall agonisingly short, losing the final 2 sets 10/12, 8/11.
Hockley E were 7/2 winners over a two-man Rawreth Meggazone E side, with Gary Beck and Robert Garlick unbeaten. Mike Webb and Ro Brett scored the points for Rawreth with wins over Ben Brown.
Mike and Ro were also on the scoresheet the following week as Rawreth took on Stanford D. Their teammate Graham Back also contributed to a 5/4 win over Stanford D for whom Randy Santiago recorded a treble.
So, after 6 rounds of matches, just two teams remain unbeaten, Basildon B and Matchpoint D. Basildon top the table with 45 points from 6 games, with Matchpoint second on 32 points, having played a game less. Invicta C are in third place with 29 points from 5 matches
Report for Weeks 7 & 8
Hockley E have moved up to second place in the table after two big wins. They travelled to face Stanford D in their first match and a good team performance resulted in a 7/2 win. Gary Beck was the player of the match, turning in an unbeaten performance, ably supported by teammates Ron Rogerson and Robert Garlick who recorded two wins apiece. Randy Santiago with the points for the home side. Their second match saw them take on a junior Hockley F team, who are finding the going very tough. A 9/0 scoreline was not unexpected, and only one set was dropped in achieving this.
Canvey C are another team who are struggling. Another two defeats mean they are still searching for the first win of the season. Their first match was against Hadleigh Forum D who are showing some good form. Todd Barker and Douglas Brown were unbeaten for Forum in their 7/2 win with Ivan Arabadzhiev adding the extra. Despite Che Martin’s maximum, Canvey slipped to another defeat on their visit to Rawreth Meggazone E, 5/4 the score in favour of the home side with Edward Philcox, Ro Brett and Graham Back all on the scoresheet.
Invicta C remain in third place in the league after a 7/2 win away at Evolve. Keith Baxter was unbeaten in this one, supported by David Youngman and Jonathan Gould with two wins each. Ben Berwick with a double for Evolve.
Hockley F picked up a couple of points when Rawreth Meggazone E came to visit. James Evesham was their hero with wins over Mike Webb and Edward Philcox, and he came so close to a hat-trick in his game with Ro Brett. Despite the setback of falling two sets behind, he fought back to level the scores only to fall short at 9/11 in the decider.
Stanford D inflicted the first defeat of the season on Matchpoint D with Randy and Jake Santiago both unbeaten for Stanford. Jeff Gritzman and Blake Stewart were the point winners for Matchpoint. 7/2 was the final score.
League leaders, Basildon B remain unbeaten following a 7/2 victory over Evolve, a match in which Andy Roff surrendered his 100% winning record, going down in 5 sets to Nova Narayanan. Indeed, Andy only just scraped past Ben Berwick, losing a two set lead before edging home 15/13 in the final end. Ross Letham was the hero for Basildon with a maximum.
Basildon top the table by 12 points from Hockley E, and by 16 points from Invicta C in third place. 1st Basildon B played 7, 52 points. 2nd Hockley E played 7, 40 points. 3rd Invicta C played 6, 36 points.
