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

26th November-2009
TOP TEAMS SUFFER DEFEATS IN FIRST ROUND OF KNOCKOUT CUP

There were early defeats for both H20 Rowhedge A and Gt Horkesley A in the Colchester and District Kiltie Cup group matches. Division One leaders H20 Rowhedge A, unbeaten in the league suffered a 5-4 defeat at the hands of their ‘B’ team with Kevin Gowlett, John Andrews and Andrew Mudie all winning one apiece and crucially two of the three doubles. The ‘A’ team started brightly with Michael Andrews and Antony Greenwood beating Gowlett and Mudie respectively to add to their early doubles win to open a 3-0 lead. The ‘B’ team fought back to level the match but Michael Andrews beat his namesake to wrestle back the initiative. Mudie squared the match once more, defeating Steve Joslin and Gowlett and John Andrews beat Greenwood and Michael Andrews to secure the win in their first match in Group Two.

In Group One St Mary’s A accounted for Gt Horkesley A by the same score line. Gary Young led the way with exceptional straight set wins over Richard Goodhand and Mike Wright. Greg Green and Sue Welham picked up a singles win each, with Goodhand securing a good win over Green in four sets for Horkesley. Welham sealed the win beating Colin Bennett and was unlucky early on, losing a two set lead over Mike Wright. Rayne, playing in the same group whitewashed Walton E 9-0 to head the section which leaves things wide open in both groups.

The best match in the Intermediate Cup came in Group Three in the all Pegasus match. The ‘A’ team came out on top 6-3 despite Toby Turner’s two wins including a 12-10 success in the fifth end against Steve Noble. In Group One Walton E saw off Pegasus D 6-3 with Chris Petrov winning his two singles as did Paul Woolnough for Pegasus. Lawford A went one better winning 7-2 despite Brett Angell’s best efforts as he won both his singles for Rowhedge E. Mark Nowers was unbeaten in all four of his games including both doubles.

St Mary’s C had little trouble in a 7-2 win over Pegasus F in the Minor Cup Group One thanks mainly to Paul Weston and Neil Storey. In Group Three Lawford C defeated their ‘D’ team 6-3 with Phil Daley in good form, winning both his singles. Essex University are one of the favourites and they beat Pegasus E 6-3. Rob Bozier and Chester Chung were unbeaten in the singles and won their doubles together.

Back in the league and in Division One H20 Rowhedge B beat Gt Horkesley B 10-0 and with their strong squad should improve on their fourth place and could potentially be serious title contenders. In Division Two second placed Lawford A beat leaders Walton D 7-3 with Graham Mortimer playing through the pain of a broken hand, winning two, along with team mates Mark Nowers and Dan Farrow. John Hobson won all three points for the seaside team. New signing Bryan Spellor won two for H20 Rowhedge I and along with another Alan Burgess maximum their team won 6-4 against their ‘D’ team. Walton E push on at the top of Division Three with an 8-2 win over St Mary’s B. The big story of the week however, was father and son Mark and Sam Burrows both losing their unbeaten records to Peter Sear in a 6-4 win over second placed Lawford C. Mark didn’t go down without a fight losing 13-11 in the fifth set as Sear excelled!