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

1st November-2009
IT’S AS YOU WERE AT THE TOP!

The top four teams clashed in Division One of the Colchester and District Table Tennis League with very little between them in both results. First met second in the form of H20 Rowhedge A and Gt Horkesley A, the top two teams last season and the reigning champions won a tightly fought match 6-4. Richard Goodhand, changing his bat from the previous weeks defeat by Fred Button, clearly made the right choice, duly completed a timely maximum. Antony Greenwood, Michael Andrews and Steve Joslin were his victims, Joslin particularly unlucky in only winning one on the night, losing to Goodhand and Mike Wright both deuce in the fifth end. Despite Goodhand’s best efforts Rowhedge extended their lead at the top to twelve points. In the fourth versus third clash honours were even between H20 Rowhedge B and St Mary’s A in a pulsating encounter. Kevin Gowlett was the man-of-the-match winning his three despite suffering from a heavy cold. He is the first player to beat both Gary Young and Greg Green in the same night and they both in-turn were the first to beat Rowhedge’s Andy Mudie as they won two apiece. Walton A shaded the battle with their B team, 6-4 as Kevin James won three on his first outing for the seasiders, joined by Pete Burrows. Fred Button made it eleven wins in his last twelve games and along with the undefeated Phil Smith lead Rowhedge C to an 8-2 win against Gt Horkesley B.

Walton D press on in Division Two with a 9-1 win over Pegasus B, Martin Edwards and John Hobson as usual the main protagonists. Pegasus however, did manage a draw against their ‘A’ team while Toby Turner and Paul Woolnough went one better, winning two each, albeit both beaten by the ‘A’ team number one Steve Noble who was undefeated. Lawford A remain on the tail of Walton in second place as they overcame St Peters 8-2, Graham Mortimer back to his best following three maximums and three two’s he saw off Ian Carter in straight sets, who won two for the visitors. Gt Horkesley C remain third following an impressive debut from Tony Bull who won two in a 6-4 win over H20 Rowhedge I. Alan Burgess completed a fine individual performance inflicting a rare defeat on Wudong Lui who won two. H20 Rowhedge D are up to fourth courtesy of another big win, 9-1 against Lawford B that sees the two teams swap positions! Peter Kirkland and Pete Simmonds both won their three matches.

Walton E extended their lead at the top of Division Three as the beat second placed Tollesbury A 8-2. James Denyer inflicted most damage, retaining his one hundred percent record, with Paul Freeman coming closest to beating him eventually going down in five sets as he won the two points for the Blackwater team. St Mary’s B climb clear of the relegation area with an excellent 7-3 win over H20 Rowhedge E despite Brett Angell’s best efforts that saw him win two just losing to Mick Isom 12-10 in the final set, as Isom enjoyed his best result since the first match of the season, winning three.

In Division Four Lawford C go second despite being held 5-5 by a spirited H20 Rowhedge H. Phil Daley starred for Lawford winning his three and Hangyi Li picking up her first win for Rowhedge. Lawford D move up to fourth following a big 9-1 win over St Mary’s C to leapfrog them. Nigel Foakes and Roger McNaughton were unbeaten as were the three Pegasus E players in a 10-0 win over Gt Horkesley E as they go one better into third.