Sdttl 2015/6 winter League Reports - Week 31
Premier Division.
As with the Barclays Premier League in the football, only two teams can mathematically now win the Premier Division this season. Our ‘Leicester’ are Rawreth A who just need to hold their nerve in their last match following a good 6-3 win in their penultimate encounter against Rawreth B. Southend Men’s singles champion Tony Halling maintaining his 100% record with three wins backed up with wins for Kevin Read and George Reeves, two for Keith Adams for the visitors. In the week when Riyad Marez, picked up the player of the season title in the Barclays Premiership, if we were to hand out similar it would surely go to Halling who has picked up 7 man of the match displays along the way.
Our Tottenham Hotspur who are waiting for any slip by the leaders are Thorpe Bay A who like their premiership counterparts are keeping up the pressure with a 9-0 win over Warehouse A.
Lentern B are playing the part of Aston Villa and their future will be in Division 1 next season as they went down 6-3 to their A side, Lewis Ewers with a hattrick for the victors.
To complete the report this week there were two mid table battles, the first of which seeing Peter Radford, fresh from winning the over 70s at the VETTS Western Masters, in good form, winning three and leading his Rayleigh Mill side to a 6-3 win over Hadleigh Forum A.
Finally there was a welcome return from injury from Ben Warner whose two wins helped his Rawreth D side to a 5-4 win over Castle Point A. Man of the match in that one was on the losing side however as Richard Jackman won all three games against Warner, Reece Seddon and Cameron Gray.
Regards, Duncan Taylor
Division 1.
Hockley A’s promotion is now confirmed as Division Champions and our congratulations go out to them and the Hockley club and we look forward to them testing themselves in the Premier next year. To reinforce their dominance, they played Invicta A this week and came away with a 9-0 victory. Dave Colwill, Matt Stringer and Tim Pang were the successful team, with none of the Invicta team able to make any impression.
Congratulations also go to Customs A who are confirmed as runners-up and again we look forward to seeing them in the Premier next year. This week Customs beat Lentern C 7-2, thanks to Brian Rackham ('MOM Brian Rackham, because I don't get many hat tricks!! And I haven't had one this season (MOM) and we clinched promotion!!! :-))' and Roy Thomas maximums. Lentern were able to secure safety and will be looking to improve their position next year in the Division.
Rawreth E faltered in the latter stages this year but managed to overcome Canvey A 6-3 in a match where no-one was unbeaten. A real team effort with Colin Clements ('Very tight fought match, with 4 games going to the 5th end all won by Rawreth E. First win in at least 25 years for Colin Clements over Ray Wilson.') , Gary McCarthy and Mike Worship all gaining two wins for Rawreth, while Ray Wilson scored two for the Islanders.
Rawreth E also had a 9-0 walkover victory for the earlier reversed Canvey A fixture. This fixture was due on the 17/12/15 at Rawreth but Canvey A could not get a team out and as they will not be able to field a team the points were awarded to Rawreth (it will not affect Promotion/Relegatin positions).
Hullbridge C seem to be suffering with the loss of ageing dodgy captain, Bill ‘Mourinho’ Smith, who we hope to see back soon. Warehouse B took full advantage to come away with an 8-1 victory. Full points for Andrew Paton and Mickey Baker with two from Tony Wright saw them through, the consolation point for Hullbridge scored by Lin Attridge.
Hadleigh Forum B seem to be finding their early season form and won 6-3 against Lentern E. Player of the match Tony Jacks came away with a maximum supported by Dave Woolmer with two, Martin Archie scoring two for the Lentern team. Dave’s comments on the match summed it up ('Tony jacks in good form with his new pimpled bat on both sides (should ban the lot of them). Martin Archie frustrated Dave Woolmer with a 3 straight win. Wayne Farmer was unlucky with the amount of nets against him at vital points. Tony Jacks was the star player on the night.')
The winning streak for Hadleigh Forum C came to an end as they were only able to field two players against Lentern D, who won 5-4 and means that they have avoided relegation. A hattrick from consistent Russell Bright did make them fight all the way, but a win each for Peter Lucraft and Peter Pond over Tony Mace plus three forfeit points was enough to see them through. They will now need to regroup and try to improve next year.
Finally, there was a bottom of the table clash between Hockley B and Runnymede, with Runnymede running out 7-2 winners, pushing Hockley into the bottom spot but with a game in hand. Tony Coeshall and his pimpled bat proved the mainstay of the Runnymede team, unbeaten on the night, and ably supported by Tony Millward and Dmitry Kisil with two apiece.
It may be a warning that these two teams were the promoted teams from Division 2 last year and shows the difference in standards between Divisions 2 and 1 as they both had no real problems in the lower Division. However, I am sure they will both bounce back quickly and learn from the experience they have gained this year.
Regards, Barrie Delf
Division 2.
Canvey C pulled themselves clear of the relegation zone with a 7 – 2 home win over two-man fellow strugglers Warehouse C. Stuart Curham and Archie Blackburn were the stars for Canvey, while Graham Back and Conrad Gomes each won one for the visitors.
Canvey’s B team are at the other end of the table and had a comfortable 8 – 1 win on their trip to Warehouse’s D team. The hosts are staring at a relegation spot and only Dave Walton could add a single win to their points tally. Talbot Wiseman and Des Duffield recorded maximums for Canvey.
Current leaders Castle Point B maintained their standing with an 8 – 1 home victory over Rawreth G. Regulars Keith Neville and Tony Ayliffe recorded hat tricks and Rawreth’s single win was courtesy of Aaron Crisp.
Castle Point’s C team are propping up the division and offered little resistance when visiting Hockey C, going down 8 – 1. The home team’s Josh Copeland and man-of-the-match Brian Bissenden were not troubled. Richard Riebold’s was responsible for Castle’s only win.
In a mid-table fixture, home side Basildon Hospital overcame Wakering 7 – 2, thanks to maximums from Sid Hills and Mike Smith. Stewart Mills and Cliff Noakes gained the visitors’ points.
And finally, another mid table clash resulted in Ressc taking the 9 points against Rawreth C who were unable to field a team. But st this late stage in the Season, it does not adversely affect the Promotion or relegation prospects of any other team.
Regards, David Barnes.
Division 3.
“Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” – that was the Canvey D theme song as they thumped Warehouse E 8-1 to clinch promotion and put one hand and four fingers on the Division 3 Champions trophy. They now need just 1 point from their final game against second placed Invicta B to clinch the title and you just can’t see them slipping up even against a very experienced Invicta side. Youth will have it’s day and Canvey’s two young stars Craig Aukett and Harry Keys should see them home.
There were the usual hat tricks for Craig and Harry against Warehouse with two from Terry Castille, Steve Chaffey scored the face saving point for the home team.
Invicta B saw their title hopes slip away as they dropped vital points in two hard fought games against the Hullbridge teams. They overcame the F team 6-3 thanks to braces from Richard Verrinder, John Golding and Mike Keeble but Paul Ogden took the man of the match award only dropping one set all night. Those wins took Paul to second place in the averages and it’s a shame his performances this season won’t be rewarded by playing in the 2nd Division next season.
With every point vital Invicta went into their match against Hullbridge G given every opportunity to grab all 9 points as they faced a 2 man Hullbridge team including the inexperienced Lewis Ritchie. Invicta however, did not field their own talisman Richard Verrinder and, in a very hard fought match, came away with another 6-3 victory which, in the circumstances, has cost them any realistic chance of pipping Canvey for the title. Dave Booroff was the man in form for Hullbridge winning all 3 games including two 5 set matches against John Golding and Mike Keeble. John, Mike and Chris Gregory all got the better of Lewis but this was a great opportunity missed for Invicta.
Elsewhere there were two games to report on for both Hockley D and E. In the ‘derby’ match between the two it was the E team, surprisingly, who came out on top edging home 5-4 thanks to a third hat trick in successive games for Ron Rogerson. He was backed up by Jim Nariel who won two. Gary Linzell, playing up from the F team, won two for the D team with David Cross and Laurie Witte adding the other points.
The E team did not fare as well in their next match losing 7-2 to Rawreth H. A Ryan Williams hat trick and two each for Finlay Cameron and Sam Nunn saw Rawreth home with Jim Nariel grabbing both points for the visitors.
Hockley D’s other game was a straight forward 8-1 win against Rawreth I for whom Keenan Ford picked up the consolation point. David Cross, Laurie Witte and two for Phil Pond gave Hockley the points.
No doubt about my Team of the Week that’s Canvey D for winning promotion and my Player of the Week is Paul Ogden for his hat trick against Invicta.
Regards, Paul Strutt
