Colchester & District Table Tennis League News

 

Lorrie Austin completed an amazing nights Table Tennis with a straight sets win over Toby Turner to secure the Colchester & District Table Tennis League Intermediate Cup for Gt Horkesley B against Pegasus A. In a pulsating match and with the score at 4-3 to Horkesley, Austin upset the form book with an impressive counter-attacking game that left his Pegasus opponent shaking his head. Earlier both players were involved in titanic struggles, with Austin two sets and 10-5 up against Steve Noble only to lose the next seven points! At two sets all Noble then squandered four match points as Austin clawed back to 10-all! The Pegasus skipper eventually won 10-12, 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 13-11! This put Pegasus 3-1 ahead at that stage, a score belying the teams respective positions in the league. In the previous game Turner had fought back to beat Gt Horkesley star player Wudong Liu 9-11,11-5,10-12, 11-7, 12-10. Liu had also come back from two sets down against Clive Forster. The turning point for Gt Horkesley came at 3-1 down and two sets to one down in the doubles where Austin and Lloyd Bennett-Smith fought their way back to win the fourth consecutive five setter. This was the most competitive of matches with every game a cliff-hanger but was ultimately played in an excellent spirit with Gt Horkesley completing a Division Two and Cup ‘double’.

In The Minor Cup Pegasus D and H20 Rowhedge H were involved in an even closer match that went right to the wire as Alistair Woodcock and Nick Murray won 13-11 in the final end of the last game to grab a 5-4 win for Pegasus. Rowhedge were without young star Jane Li, instead playing Ben Jackson and had he converted his game points in the fourth end of the penultimate game against Kevin Turner would have been Rowhedge’s hero but it was not to be, as ultimately Pegasus won all three doubles. Jimin Lee and Oliver Reynolds were unbeaten in their singles.

Antony Greenwood capped a tremendous season adding a league and cup ‘double’ to his Men’s Singles and Doubles titles as his H20 Rowhedge A team beat Tollgate A 5-1 to win the Kiltie Cup. The match was closer than the score line suggested none more so than Tollgate’s only game winner Greg Green when he beat Michael Andrews 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 14-16. 11-9. Steve Joslin came back from two sets down to beat Nigel Hodder and Greenwood beat Gary Young in four. Once again the doubles proved decisive with Rowhedge winning both to regain the title.

In the Team Handicap Cup Final Pegasus D beat H20 Rowhedge G 8-1 with Paul Woolnough, Alistair Woodcock and Kevin Turner victorious. Alastair Woodcock won all four games he was involved in, including a tight match sealing game 21-10, 19-21, 22-20 against Tom Lewis.

There was a marathon match played between H20 Rowhedge F and Pegasus E in the Team Handicap Doubles Cup that eventually went the way of the Rowhedge side, 5-4. No fewer than eleven of the twenty-three sets played were decided by just two points in an attritional match that saw Colin Powell, Nigel Claydon and David Sacker eventually come out on top!

H20 Rowhedge were finally crowned Division Four champions, thanks to father and daughter, Jimin and Jane Li and Oliver Reynolds. Pegasus D join them in promotion to Division Three.

Gt Horkesley C won their final two games by convincing margins to secure the Colchester & District Table Tennis League Division Two title. The team, consisting of Wudong Liu, Lloyd Bennett-Smith and Lorrie Austin had not led the Division at any point up until last week, sealed the title with a 7-3 win over H20 Rowhedge D despite Alan Burgess’s best efforts. He beat all three Horkesley players, exacting revenge on Wudong Liu for his defeat in the first half of the season. They celebrated in style with a 10-0 whitewash of Clairmont who were without the prolific Paul Tracey, it must be said. Walton D join them in promotion and in the words of a somewhat pessimistic Gt Horkesley C captain Bennett-Smith “A thumping win… our team looks forward to receiving many such thumping’s next year!!” Their success is a true team effort as Austin missed all but one of the first half of the season’s games, Steve Holland, Phil Wolski and Mike Emerson all doing their bit when ‘playing up’. At the bottom Walton E avoided the ‘wooden spoon’ but not the drop, just edging out Tollesbury A by a point, who finish bottom.

Pegasus B join Division Three champions St Peters in Division Two next season as they won the requisite four points against their ‘C’ team in a 7-3 victory. Tony Eversden and Paul Woolnough won three apiece with David Haslam and Mike Sant being the other team members during their successful campaign.

In the Intermediate Cup Gt Horkesley C have their eyes fixed on a ‘Double’ as they accounted for Walton B 5-0 with their usual personnel to join Pegasus A in the final. They must start as favourites but maybe not if Toby Turner continues his fine form, that has helped the University win the regional cup competition and finish as runner’s up in the league that means they compete in next season’s National University League. Pegasus D accounted for their ‘E’ team 6-3 to reach the Minor Cup Final where they will meet H20 Rowhedge H who beat their ‘I’ team 9-0.

There was a bizarre finish in the semi-final of the Handicap Cup between University of Essex and H20 Rowhedge G which, when poised at 4-4 was conceded by the University as they had overrun their finishing time of 10:00pm having won the first end of the deciding doubles! H20 Rowhedge Captain Darryl Lott had won both his singles and it was a shame match had to end in such circumstances! In another close semi-final Pegasus D edged out Dedham A 5-4 with neither side ever leading by more than one game. The Handicap Doubles semi-final between Gt Horkesley D and Pegasus E was just as close with the Pegasus team again coming out on top 5-4. Barry Steggles, Paul Weston and Vic Little were the triumphant Pegasus players. H20 Rowhedge F had a more comfortable passage beating their ‘E’ team 5-1 thanks to Colin Powell, Nigel Claydon and David Sacker.

Both Handicap finals are to be played on Wednesday 30^th March at the Tollgate Table Tennis Club, Holmwood House School starting at 7:30pm. The Knockout Cup Finals are the following night at the Rowhedge Table Tennis Club, Rectory Road starting at 8:00pm. Spectators are welcome at both venues.

Newly crowned Colchester & District Table Tennis League Division One champions H20 Rowhedge A will meet runners-up Tollgate A in the Kiltie Cup Final. Rowhedge beat Tollgate’s B team 5-1 whilst Tollgate’s A team accounted for Walton 5-2. There were notable wins for Paul Davison over Steve Joslin (-11, 8, -12, 6, 13) and Walton’s young James Denyer against Veteran’s champion Nigel Hodder (3, -6, 7, 10), but apart from that both teams progress was relatively straight forward. Rowhedge’s Michael Andrews and Antony Greenwood along with Tollgate’s Gary Young and Greg Green were all undefeated in their singles. Pegasus A survived a ‘banana-skin’ against their ‘B’ team in the semi-final of the Intermediate Cup, Toby Turner (4 wins) excelling with a superb five-set victory (7, -8, -9, 8, 9) over Ian Whiteside (1 win) that set the tone as his team won 8-1.

In the Handicap Cup quarter-finals Dedham A and Pegasus C fought out the closest match of the round with Dedham just edging it 5-4 thanks mainly to Marlene Smith’s best efforts as she won both her singles as her team came back from 3-0 down. Doug Green also won two singles but missed out when teamed with Nigel Parmenter in the final, decisive doubles against Roy Cole and Marjorie Culham 21-16 in the third end. Dedham A will now meet Pegasus D in the first semi-final who beat a one-player H20 Rowhedge H 7-2. The other semi-final will be contested between holders Essex University, who beat Clairmont 5-0 and H20 Rowhedge G.

In the Handicap Doubles Cup quarter-finals Gt Horkesley D and Lawford D fought out a 5-4 thriller with the ladies from Horkesley taking the final doubles -20, 19, 15 to win by the narrowest of margins. Chis Jones continued her good form winning five out of six of her the doubles games she was involved in. Pegasus E accounted for their A team 6-3, Helen Woolnough winning four of her doubles for the ‘E’ team. In another inter-club match H20 Rowhedge E beat their ‘C’ team 6-2 and Walton B succumbed to H20 Rowhedge F 5-1 after winning the first game!

In the League it’s pretty much as you were with the Division One relegation issue still undecided although Lawford A need only four points from their last match games to ensure they stay ahead of Walton C. In Division Two Gt Horkesley A need six points from two matches to win the title as Walton D slipped up losing 6-4 at Clairmont. Both Tracey’s were in top form, Paul winning three and Mike two. H20 Rowhedge F still await their fate in Division Three as they are second having finished their matches, three points ahead of Pegasus B who still have to play their ‘C’ team needing four wins to ensure promotion. H20 Rowhedge H must surely win Division Four needing just three points from their final two matches, remaining the only team unbeaten in the league!

Players are reminded the AGM and Presentation Evening has been moved forward to Tuesday 12^th April at the Colchester Indoor Bowls Club, the usual venue.

With the preliminary groups nearing completion in the Colchester & District Table Tennis League cup competitions H20 Rowhedge I came out as surprise 5-4 winners against one of the favourites Gt Horkesley C. Ed Rudge starred winning his two singles and combining with Lajos Zsisku to win the final doubles with the match at 4-4. Lajos also had a fine five set doubles win with Ed’s sister, Alice against Jennie Clark and Denise Thompson, 12-10 in the final end. In the Intermediate cup Group One Pegasus A accounted for Lawford C 8-1, Lawford’s only success coming through Tom Malster’s fine win over Steve Noble. Toby Turner and Clive Forster were both unbeaten for Pegasus. In Group Two H20 Rowhedge F had a walkover against Essex University, the same as H20 Rowhedge D and Walton B against hapless Dedham A in Group Four. In the same group Walton B made light work of H20 Rowhedge G 8-1 thanks mainly to James Denyer and Tony Oswick who went through the card undefeated. Pegasus B beat H20 Rowhedge E 7-2 in Group Three with Mike Sant unbeaten, supported by Ian Whiteside who won both his singles.

In the Handicap Cup pick of the matches was Essex University’s 5-4 defeat of H20 Rowhedge E. Despite Peter Kirkland’s best efforts, winning both his singles. Adam Bowes with three wins was the University’s star player, his only defeat coming at the hands of veteran Pete Giles in three very close sets. Lawford B in winning the first five games effectively sealed the match running out 7-2 winners against Gt Horkesley E. Tom Malster once again impressed along with Phil Daley who was unbeaten in both singles and doubles.

The halfway stage has been reached in the Colchester and District Table Tennis League and the Division One title race is the most exciting in many years with Gt Horkesley A heading the way one point clear of Tollgate A and Tollgate B who have all played the eight matches along with current champions H20 Rowhedge A who have played a game less. Incredibly it is fifth placed H20 Rowhedge B who boast the best record, the only team without defeat, nine points behind Gt Horkesley with two games in hand, one of which is against their ‘A’ team. Gt Horkesley A secured the Christmas number one spot with a 9-1 win over lowly Lawford A, Mark Nowers claiming the only Lawford point, an excellent four set win over Colchester Veteran’s champion, Mike Wright. Aimee Sparkes and Colin Bennett both were unbeaten for Gt Horkesley. Tollgate B beat Walton C 10-0 thanks to three wins each for Martin Hogg, Trevor Carter and Martyn Green with Martin Edwards taking all three to four sets without success.

In Division Two Gt Horkesley C closed the gap to ten points with a game in hand as they join Walton A as favourites for promotion. Wudong Liu recorded his sixth maximum of the season in Horkesley’s 9-1 demolition of Pegasus A, joined by the ever-reliable Lloyd Bennett-Smith. Steve Noble was the Marks Tey based teams only winner on the night beating Steve Holland who was playing up, in four sets.

Holland went one better when representing his own ‘D’ team in Division Three in winning all three in their 6-4 defeat of Pegasus C. Pete Witton won two for Horkesley as did John Richie for Pegasus.

Dedham B beat CRGS 7-3 with the school’s Jacky Leung going through the first half of the Division Four season undefeated with twenty-seven straight wins. Marlene Smith, Steve Gibson and Seth Spencer all won two for the victors.

Pick of the Handicap matches this week was H20 Rowhedge G’s 5-4 defeat of Lawford A thanks mainly to Tom Lewis who won both his singles and the vital final doubles with Darryl Lott. Pegasus E came back from 4-3 down to clinch a last gasp 5-4 victory over H20 Rowhedge H with Vic Little crucially beating Jane Li in the penultimate game of the night and Paul Weston and Barry Steggles sealing the win with victory in the doubles over Jimin Li and Oliver Reynolds. Dedham A fought out another 5-4 win over their ‘B’ team as Marjorie Culham for the ‘A’ team and Seth Spencer the ‘B’ team, won both their singles each. St Peters A made up for last weeks close defeat by winning one of their own by 5-4 against H20 Rowhedge E with Dave Jones the only player unbeaten in the singles. As in the Kiltie Cup Gt Horkesley A surrendered a 3-2 lead, losing the remaining four games with Maggie Earle again in good form winning her singles, beating both Aimee Sparkes and Mike Wright.

In the Minor Cup Lawford D surprisingly beat Gt Horkesley E 7-2 considering their relative league positions. Steve Marr and Ivan Jarrad both went through the evening victorious.

Tom Malster was on top form for Lawford C winning his two singles and crucially both doubles including the last match-winning game. Paired with Richard Spence, and the match in the balance at four-all, the pair saved five match points to eventually beat Roger Warren and Ian Carter, 8-11, 4-11, 12-10, 16-14, 12-10 and seal the victory 5-4. Earlier in the evening the two Ian’s – Carter and Sherwood had gone the full five set distance with Carter again just missing out deuce in the fifth end! In another close encounter Pegasus B beat their ‘C’ team 5-4 with no player unbeaten, Tony Eversden the pick of the bunch, winning both his singles. The first three games all went to five ends, with the ‘C’ team taking two of them but in the penultimate game Dave Haslam pulled out the stops when beating John Bloyce from two sets down to seal the match. Gt Horkesley B from Division Two proved too strong for H20 Rowhedge F, winning 8-1, with Nigel Claydon providing the only bright spark when beating Phil Wolski, who, playing at number one apparently for tactical reasons had a good win over the tricky Colin Powell in a game that went all the way. Wudong Liu and Lloyd Bennett-Smith went through the match undefeated in both singles and doubles.

The same pairing, joined by Neil Storey also won by the same score-line in the Handicap Cup. It was Liu that suffered their only defeat this time as Steve Mar spared Lawford’s C’s blushes with his team’s single win, the only game that went the full three sets. Pegasus C thrashed H20 Rowhedge I 9-0, John Bloyce again in good form winning his games along with Nigel Parmenter and Jon Richie. Finally Essex University staved off a Walton A comeback as Rob Bozier was undefeated in a 6-3 win.  No fewer than six of the games went to three sets for which the university won the lion’s share.

Roger McNaughton and Maggie Earle were the toast of Lawford as they won a close three set doubles encounter to seal a 5-4 victory over Gt Horkesley C in the Colchester & District Table Tennis Handicap competition. In a fluctuating match Lawford led 4-2 at one stage only to be pegged back following good wins by Phil Wolski; 21-19 in the deciding set against McNaughton and Pete Witton over Nigel Foakes. No player went unbeaten but it was Lawford’s clean sweep in the doubles that ultimately won them the match. Gt Horkesley C did manage to beat their ‘A’ team 6-3 reversing fortunes in the doubles, winning all three themselves this time! Richard Goodhand did his best for the ‘A’ team winning both his singles as did Pete Witton for the victors. In another inter-club encounter H20 Rowhedge G took on their ‘A’ team and once again it was the Division One team that suffered defeat as Daryl Lott, Tom Lewis and Jake Elms-Larkin won all their singles in a fine 7-2 victory. Michael Andrews can gather some comfort from his two doubles wins. Walton A won another tight match, 5-4 at St Peters despite losing the last two games. John Owen was Walton’s star man winning both his singles as conversely; Hazel Hume did well for the telecoms team winning both doubles she was involved in. H20 Rowhedge H hammered Lawford C 9-0, dropping just two sets along the way as Grant Donaldson, Oli Reynolds and Jane Li all went through the evening undefeated. Pegasus A had a comfortable 7-2 win over Gt Horkesley E with Steve Noble and Toby Turner both winning their singles, and Turner both doubles. There was a good consolation win for Peter Witton over the experienced Clive Forster in three sets. Pegasus B matched their ‘A’ team’s win when beating H20 Rowhedge I by the same margin.  Tony Eversden was the man-of-the-match, unbeaten in all four of his games. Marlene Smith, Marjorie Culham and Roy Cole put together an excellent all-round team performance as they beat H20 Rowhedge F 6-3 despite Nigel Claydon’s best efforts as he won both his singles.

In the League there three re-arranged matches one of which was a hard fought 5-5 draw between Walton E and Gt Horkesley B in Division Two. Jon Hill won his three on debut for Gt Horkesley that included a close five set win over James Denyer.

There were mixed fortunes for the University of Essex as they caught up their backlog of fixtures with a 6-4 win over Division Three joint leaders St Peters with Julian Capron and Rob Bozier both unbeaten. Without both these players they were not the same force and Rob King and Mike Shorney took full advantage, both taking maximums for Tollesbury B in a 9-1 win that takes them up to fourth.

In the Colchester & District Table Tennis Kiltie Cup Walton A overcame Walton C by the maximum 9-0 score line. The match pitted the Rodriguez family in opposition. First up it was father versus daughter, Ferdy and Annabelle and it was Annabelle who won, albeit in five close sets, coming back from two one down to win; 11-8, 11-13, 9-11, 11-8,11-8. Ferdy’s son Felipe made lighter work, beating his father in four ends. Joining the Rodriguez offspring’s unbeaten was John Hobson as the seasiders A team qualify for the semi-finals.

Walton B also had a good win over H20 Rowhedge D in Group Four of the Intermediate Cup. Unfortunately Rowhedge could field only two registered players and despite Alan Burgess winning his two singles the Walton team of Paul Meikle, Mark Gale and Chris Petrou won 7-2. In the same Group Dedham A accounted for H20 Rowhedge G 5-4 with Marlene Smith winning her two singles. Rowhedge’s Mark Burrows was particularly unlucky as he won all four games he was involved in, but Dedham’s overall strength saw them through. Group Three saw better fortune for Rowhedge as their ‘E’ team beat Pegasus C from Division Three 8-1. Peter Simmonds, Tony Price were unbeaten and it took a herculean effort from Pegasus C’s John Richie to inflict Peter Giles only defeat 13-11 in the final end to claim their only success of the night. In Group Two Lawford B accounted for H20 Rowhedge F by the same score thanks to George Berry and Nick Galley although Peter Armes just missed out to Rowhedge’s Colin Powell in Lawford’s only defeat.

Group Three of the Minor Cup saw Pegasus D beat Lawford E 8-1. Nick Murray and Kevin Turner were undefeated, whilst Maggie Earle beat Andrew Cousins, to take her team’s solitary point.

In the Handicap Cup competition Clairmont A from the Second Division continued their good form beating Gt Horkesley A 7-2 with Mike Tracey using his handicap to good effect, the only player to go through the evening undefeated. H20 Rowhedge D went down 5-4 to Dedham A and must have been rueing the fact once again they could only field two eligible players. Peter Sears three set win over Sandy Isaacs was the clincher as she and Alan Burgess won the rest of the games they were involved in. In another Dedham versus Rowhedge encounter Dedham B beat Rowhedge B by the same score despite John Andrews best efforts, winning both his singles. Dedham B then did suffer a reverse to H20 Rowhedge F, 6-3 with Colin Powell the only player to win both his singles. Rowhedge then squared the club battle with Dedham as their ‘B’ team beat Dedham A 6-3. This time John Andrews was duly rewarded for a further two singles wins. Pegasus C beat Gt Horkesley D 8-1 with John Richie and Doug Green both on-song, without defeat. Mitchell Davidson’s four wins, two singles and two doubles, led his team to a comfortable 7-2 win over St Peter’s A to conclude the latest round of cup matches.

With the Colchester & District League matches taking a mid-season break attention has turned to both Knockout and Handicap Cup events. In the Kiltie Cup, open to all teams, Tollgate B pulled a rabbit out of the hat when coming back from 3-0 down to steal the match against Gt Horkesley A, 5-4! Tollgate’s Martyn Green won both his singles as did Richard Goodhand for Gt Horkesley but it was the doubles where the match was won with Martin Hogg successful in both his, including the final mixed match partnering with Sue Welham, beating Goodhand and Aimee Sparkes in three straight sets to clinch victory and go through to the semi-finals. In the All-Rowhedge Group the ‘A’ team gained revenge over their ‘B’ following last season’s defeat as they won 6-3. Michael Andrews and Steve Joslin both won two but there was a notable win for David Moss inflicting a rare defeat on Antony Greenwood.

Lawford C accounted for St Peters by the tightest of margins in the Intermediate Cup (Division’s Two & Three), 5-4 as Tom Malster and Richard Spence clinched the final doubles in the final set, 12-10 against Roger Warren and Ian Carter. Earlier Malster and Hazel Hume were both undefeated as the match see-sawed, but it was Malster who took the man-of-the-match winning all four games he was involved in. In Group Two Gt Horkesley B defeated a spirited University of Essex 6-3, thanks mainly to Wudong Liu, a former UOE student, who won both his singles, including the match of the night versus Rob Bozier 11-9 in the fifth end. Liu also beat Mitchell Davidson who himself had a good win against Lloyd Bennett-Smith in five sets.

In the Minor Cup – for Division Four teams, Pegasus D thrashed Lawford E 8-1 with Nick Murray and Kevin Turner teaming up to win their doubles as well as their singles.

In Group One of the Handicap Cup, Pegasus D beat Walton B 6-3 with Alistair Woodcock making the most of his handicap, winning all four of the games he was involved in. Pegasus C beat Pegasus B 5-4. From 1-0 down Pegasus C won four on the trot as Doug Green, Nigel Parmenter and John Richie shared the bragging rights for the ‘C’ team. In the same group Gt Horkesley E easily beat H20 Rowhedge I 7-2 with Chis Jones and Denise Thompson undefeated after Thompson and Jennie Clarke lost the opening doubles of the night. H20 Rowhedge H defeated a strong Gt Horkesley B team 6-3 as Jane Li continued her meteoric rise winning her two singles. Pegasus E beat Lawford C 5-4 also in Group Four with Barry Steggles leading the way. The first match in group Six saw H20 Rowhedge E beat Walton A 6-3 with no fewer than five games going the full three set distance with Peter Giles winning both his amongst those. Lawford B unsurprisingly beat Pegasus A 6-3 with their higher handicaps, Ian Sherwood starring, as he went through the night without defeat. Finally, in Group Eight, H20 Rowhedge G beat their ‘C’ team 7-2 despite Fred Button’s best efforts, winning the two points for his team as did Tom Lewis for the victors.