Southend & DTTL 2017-8 Week 30 Report
Premier Division
Two big results this week which could well help to decide the destination of this year’s title with Thorpe Bay A now in pole position to go one better than last year. Their lead is only one point but as the title last year was settled on games difference every victory from here on in is going to be crucial. Thorpe Bay really showed their title credentials by beating third placed Rawreth A 7-2. James Denyer and Alex Abbott beat both George Reeves and Charles Sweeney but the highlight of the match must be the great win for Paul Sayer over Tony Halling in what must be Halling’s only defeat for some time in the Southend league. It gave Sayer three wins and the man of the match award although he was pushed all the way by George Reeves, coming through 15-13 in the 5th game.
As if a Halling defeat was not surprise enough, there was also a very rare defeat for Hullbridge A’s Kevin Caldon. Caldon and his teammates Reece Seddon and Stuart Gibbs came up against a very in-form Minda Sinkus who won all his games for Rayleigh Mill and put a dent in Hullbridge’s title defence. There was also good wins for Colin Chatfield over Stuart Gibbs and Reece Seddon and for Seddon himself who came back from 2-0 and 10-8 down to record his first ever victory against the Miller’s Duncan Taylor.
The two Youngs (Gary and Daniel) did most of the damage to Stanford le Hope this week to ensure a 6-3 win for their Hullbridge B side. Gary with three wins and Daniel with two backed up by Dick Wyman who recorded a win over Ryan Sutcliffe. It was clearly a good week for father/son combinations as Chris and Simon Jacob went unbeaten against Warehouse A, only a win for Kim Shead over Barrie Delf prevented the whitewash.
Finally this week Rawreth B were only able to field 2 players this week, however that was enough (just) for them to take the spoils 5-4 against Hadleigh Forum B. Babul McLeod was the hero picking up 3 wins beating Ben Matthews, Mick Tappenden and Tony Jacks. Matthews picked up a good win over Mike Hayes.
Duncan Taylor DRS
Division 1
With 3 of the top 5 teams all to play each other over the closing weeks, there will be an exciting end to the season, where every point will count. Canvey is the only exception and will have the easier run-in and may be the surprise package.
Warehouse B kept up the pressure at the top with an impressive 8-1 win over Hockley B, putting them at the top due to the number of matches won. Mark Rudland and Berti Makolli again put in great performances to score 3 each, with Tony Millward scoring 2. Dennis Squirrel scored the consolation point for Hockley although there were another couple of games that went to 5 sets and could have gone either way. This leaves Hockley level on points at the bottom of the table, but probably capable of overhauling Hadleigh Forum who have played more games.
Canvey A kept pace with Warehouse with an equally impressive 8-1 win over Rawreth C and are level on points albeit having played a game extra. Ray Wilson and Harry Keys scored 3 each and Peter Cray two, in a match that only had one 5 setter. Colin Clements scored the sole point for Rawreth which leaves them comfortably in the lower mid-table.
Hullbridge E have moved back into 3rd and are 8 points behind with a game in hand. They were made to fight all the way this week with a hard-earned 5-4 win over Brand Identity B, who look to have secured their first Division status for next year. The match was delicately balanced at 4-4 with Dan Zeffie taking the last match to give the youngsters victory, but with 3 x 5 setters going their way things could have been different. 2 wins each for Adam Jackman and Dan Zeffie and one from Will Skelt was enough to see them home, with Mike Grout and David Jacob scoring to each for Brand.
Hullbridge C have kept their hand in the game with a 7-2 win over Customs A, but have played more games than those around them and are 9 points off the lead. Matt Rolfe seemed to recover some form to take a hat trick, including the scalp of Roy Thomas, and was backed up by two each from Mike Johnston and Rod Maclennan. Roy scored the two points for Customs which probably sees their challenge drop off for this year leading them in the upper mid-table finish.
Hockley C had a strong 8-1 win over bottom club Lentern C to consolidate their mid-table position. Alex Barnetson and Josh Copeland scored maximums with two from Stuart Adshead. Peter Pond scored the consolation for Lentern, who will be looking to overtake Hadleigh Forum in the closing weeks.
In the final Match, Invicta A won 6-3 against Hadleigh Forum C to compound their problems at the bottom of the table. A strong performance from Tony Ayliffe with his first maximum for the season gave Invicta the basis for their win with Steve Marr adding two and Neil Daines one for the overall victory. Charles Yeung salvaged two points for Hadleigh with Graham Farmer with one for the total points for Hadleigh.
Barrie Delf DRS
Division 2
In only his third game playing up for second placed Rawreth D, Jan Thorpe showed his pedigree, winning all three of his ties in his side’s comprehensive 7 – 2 win at Wakering. Jan was well supported by young Bradley Nunn, also playing up, and experienced Colin Barham, both of whom won two. Zac England and Nigel Cook each won one for the home side.
In Canvey C’s match at home to Hullbridge F’s youngsters, Andrew Murray again won all his three games. However, he was engaged in a thriller with William Skelt. Andrew went into a two-set lead. William managed to win 15-13 in the third and came storming back to win the fourth. Andrew had to rely on all his experience to nick the fifth set 13-11 but only just. Credit also goes to Hullbridge’s Harrison Sadler for his two good wins. James Skelt, although only in his first season, performed really well, playing up from Division 3. Eventually, with one win each from Geoff Banthorpe and Simon Baker,
Canvey eventually edged an enjoyable contest 5 – 4.
Rawreth E claimed a much-needed 7 – 2 home victory over a two-player Runnymede. Andy Deadman was the home side’s star player with two wins, whilst jack Himphen-Jones and Harrison Creak, playing up, won one each. Barbara Shead won both the visitor’s points.
RESSC managed a 7 – 2 away win at Invicta B. Both Rob Skews and Mike Worship were again unbeaten, although the home side’s David Barnes took both to five sets. David and Andy Humphris each gained one win for the home side.
Basildon Hospital’s Clive Beauchamp, after being out with injury for over the six months, made an immediate impact on his return, winning all his matches in his side’s 7 – 2 win over Canvey B. Chudi Ukpaka also won all three for the Medics. Lee McGonagle and Joanna Hills got one each for the visitors.
David Barnes DRS
Division 3 A
A distinct lack of games to report on this week and, at the time of writing, only one in this Division.
Hockley E ran out emphatic winners 8-1 away at Invicta thanks to hat tricks from Jason Stringer and Gary Linzell and a brace from Andrew Strutt. Jason was obviously out to show where his son has got his talent and determination from as he twice came back in five set matches being 2-1 down against Rob West and 2-0 down against the experienced Keith Baxter, but his unusual style of penholder grip and pimpled bat proved too much for his opponents. Gary maintained his fine form only dropping one set all night and Andrew won his matches against Rob and Chris Gregory but Keith proved once again to be his nemesis giving Invicta their consolation point. This was Invicta’s fifth straight defeat and leaves them one but bottom in the table.
Division 3 B
Two close 5-4 matches saw Rawreth H pip Hullbridge I and Rawreth G edge Rochford in this half of the Division.
In the clash of the youngsters Ben Hoskins took man of the match honours winning all his games against Rawreth H but his team still lost in the last game of the evening when Noah Unstead overcame Josh Jones in four sets to give Rawreth the win. Four matches went the distance with Josh twice missing out to Harrison Creak and Alice Cole whilst Noah came back from 2-1 down to beat Joseph Buscombe.
Rawreth G and Rochford played out a similar match it going down to the last game of the evening where man of the match Robert Wood beat Oliver George in straight sets to clinch the win. Robert was backed up by wins each for Charlie Kaunders and Jodie Robertson whose win was the first for her in the league. David Jenkins and John George shared four points for Rochford with both winning five set matches against Charlie.
These wins were the first for the two Rawreth sides and now leaves Warehouse D at the bottom of the table.
In view of the lack of matches I have awarded only one Player and Team of the Week Award
Player of the Week – Jason Stringer
Team of the Week – Rawreth H
Paul Strutt DRS
