News & Views from the Colchester Table Tennis League
with Press Officer Martyn Green

13th November-2007
COLE MAXIMUM LEADS H20 ROWHEDGE A TO VICTORY

David Cole led reigning Colchester & District Table Tennis League Champions H20 Rowhedge A to a 6-4 victory in the battle of Rowhedge against their up and coming ‘B’ team. Cole, who has not played regularly this season, was the senior player in every way as he overcame stiff resistance in Michael Andrews 14-12, 12-10, 11-3 in the opening game. A potential upset was on the cards against sixteen year old Mike Shore as Colchester’s Men’s champion met the Junior champion and Shore set off like a train opening a two set lead. Cole however, drew on all his experience running out a 7-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5 winner. His final game against Antony Greenwood sealed a 6-4 victory as he powered past his opponent in three straight sets. Kevin Gowlett had two good wins against Greenwood and Shore but lost out to Michael Andrews who won two, Greenwood one and Mike Shore overcoming Greg Green 6-11,11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 9-11 in yet another epic encounter to gain revenge on his Essex Assessment trials defeat earlier in the season. This win means the ‘A’ team are top at the season’s half way stage, five points clear of their ‘B’ team who suffered their first defeat in this encounter.

St Mary’s A are the surprise team and they consolidated third place ten points behind the Rowhedge teams as they had their biggest win of the season 8-2 against Dedham A. Martyn Green secured his first maximum of the season dropping just one set and was joined by arguably the player of the season Gary Young who is second in the averages to the undefeated Dave Cole having dropped just three games in twenty-four. Fourth placed H20 Rowhedge C won only their second match so far at bottom team St Mary’s B who are already looking doomed for the drop despite enlisting the help of ex-Britannia star Ian Brown. He won only once in an 8-2 defeat as he lost to both Dave Moss and Alan Burgess. John Andrews broke his wretched run of four matches without a win but was Chris Gouldthorpe’s second victim of the season in a tight five setter. Moss was again on form as he won three against Dedham A collecting the notable scalp of Mike Wright in the process as his team drew 5-5. Rayne drop a place to fifth as Walton A’s Martin Hogg scored the win of the season beating Steve Kerns in three straight sets but despite this his team went down 6-4 as al three Rayne players won two. Dedham A added to St Mary’s misery with a 6-4 , Mike Wright back on the maximum trail with an impressive three set win over fellow Ipswich player Ian Brown who is yet to win three in as many attempts!

Division Two leaders Walton C were held for only the second time this season by Gt Horkesley B to a 5-5 draw due mainly to Graham Mortimer’s battling maximum, the highlight of which was a symmetrical 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 over Colin Dearman as Mortimer stretched his unbeaten record. Phil Smith was in prime form – matching his son this week in recording three wins for H20 Rowhedge D against St Peter’s for whom David Jones surprisingly overcame Lawrence Wilcox but his side still went down 8-2. Third placed St Mary’s C were once again indebted to Martin Edwards in a 5-5 draw with fellow promotion candidates H20 Rowhedge D. Gt Horkesley C overcame a two-player Anchor Press 7-3 with Widong Liu collecting his first maximum in this division. Lawford A are out of the bottom two thanks to a 9-1 thrashing of another two-player team Tollesbury A, who replace them in the relegation zone courtesy of John Seabrook and Mark Nowers trebles.