WINTER LEAGUE 16-17 WEEK 15 REPORT

Sdttl 2016/7 Season Week 15 Reports

Premier Division    A very interesting week at the top of the Premier Division table with all three of the title contenders dropping points. Our current leaders Rawreth A, who have played a game more than their counterparts, scraped over the line with a 5-4 win over fourth placed Lentern A. Tony Halling went unbeaten as expected and there was a win apiece from Kevin Read and Charles Sweeney. The Lentern points came from two wins for Terry Guymer and a win each for Django Fung and Wale Bada.

Second place met third place this week as Hullbridge A and Thorpe Bay A went head to head with the result a 6-3 win to Thorpe Bay A. This was a real team effort with two wins each for John Poysden, Paul Sayer and Paul Whatton, none of whom could get the better of the in-form Kevin Caldon.

Hockley A only had two players due to late sickness call-off and as a result went down 8-1 to Castle Point A. There was an excellent win for Matt Stringer over Chris Jacob in five sets, and a customary five-setter for Barrie Delf against Tim Pang which went Delf’s way again. Richard Jackman played his solid defensive game to win comfortably and take the player of the match.

It was a similar story for Customs A who with a full side would have had their work cut out against a strong Rayleigh Mill team of Peter Radford, Minda Sinkus and Colin Chatfield but with only two players were really up against it. And so it proved with a 9-0 victory for the Millers.

Finally this week a fine win for Warehouse A as they sneaked past Hadleigh Forum 5-4 which in no small part was down to player of the match Berti Makolli, who had two outstanding wins playing up from Division 1.

Duncan Taylor, Premier Div. DRS

Division 1    Leaders, Hadleigh Forum B, march on relentlessly at the top of the table this week with a 9-0 win over Hullbridge C. The unbeaten Forum team of Gus Heath, Dave Woolmer and Tony Jacks took no prisoners with no game going more than 5 sets. It was a baptism of fire for young Dan Zeffie who played up and had a taste of the level of opposition they are likely to face next year if promoted form Division 2. This dropped Hullbridge into 11th in the league.

Invicta A are in 2nd , some 29 points behind Forum, but had a good 6-3 win over 3rd placed Canvey A. Steve Marr was again in top form for Invicta winning all three of his games, although playing two close 5 setters against Terry Giddens and Ray Wilson. Michael Piper added two, narrowly losing his third in 5 sets to Ray Wilson who added two for Canvey.

Rawreth C are in 4th, with a game in hand over the teams above them. This week, they had a very good 7-2 win over much-improved, Hullbridge D side, who included James Goddard playing up from their Division 2 side. The strong Rawreth side led by Colin Clements with 3 wins was ably backed up by Chris Aukett and Trevor Ward with two wins apiece. Matt Rolfe scored the two points for Hullbridge D, and is having a good season, averaging just below 80% wins.

Another team with a game in hand is Lentern C who are in 5th on level points with Rawreth C. This week they won a close encounter with bottom club, Castle Point B, by 5-4. MOTM was Mike Grout for the Castle Point team who won all of his games, but with Mark Jupe and Wayne Farmer picking up tow each for Lentern, it was left to Pat White to add the sole point for victory. Castle Point look to be in some trouble at the bottom with the teams immediately above them now putting daylight between them.

Warehouse B are having an inconsistent season and this week went down 6-3 to Lentern D. Tamas Mezo played up for Warehouse and was unlucky in a couple of his games not to get a win, but it was left to James Marshall to pick up all 3 points and the POTM for Warehouse. A solid team performance from Peter Pond, Sue Body and Peter Lucraft, each winning two each scored the vital points for the Lentern team.

Finally, Hockley B picked up a good 6-3 win over Lentern B, who have now failed to win in their last 6 games. A maximum for Dave Colwill all in straight sets backed up by two from Dennis Squirrell set them on the path to victory. Paul Sims scored two good wins for Lentern and another point from Steve Appleby in a close 5 setter against Keith Abbott was all that Lentern were able to muster, who now find themselves at the wrong end of the table.

Barrie Delf, Div 1 DRS

Division 2   Leaders Hullbridge E started the New Year in fine form, disposing of lowly Invicta B 9 – 0. The trio of youngsters, Adam Jackman, Daniel Zeffie and Reece Harris-Griffiths again, all scored maximums.

There were a couple of ‘derbies’ this week. In the first, Canvey B entertained Canvey C. Young Harry Keys turned in an excellent maximum for the C team. However, two each from the B team’s Archie Blackburn and Tony Westwell, together with one win from Lee McGonagle gave them a close 5 – 4 home win.

Rawreth D were at home to two-man Rawreth E in the other derby. Despite the numeric advantage, it was the E team who ended up 5 – 4 winners, thanks to a Matthew Barber hat trick and two wins for Botond Meze. The match was notable for the first outing of the season for SDTTL’s Chairman.

Another maximum from Basildon Hospital’s Kevin Smart ensured his side’s 5 – 4 victory at Castle Point C, despite two wins each for the host’s Sean McNabb and David Jacob.

Hockey C kept themselves in contention with a 9 – 0 home win over bottom side Castle Point D. Neal Klyman, Joe Lock and Stuart Adshead were all too strong for their visitors.

Hat tricks from Ron Coutts and Rob Skews were instrumental in RESSC’s 7 – 2 away win at Wakering. Stewart Mills and Paul England shared the home side’s points.

Ian Tuckey again starred for Runnymede. His three wins contributed to a 5 – 4 victory at Warehouse C.   The one win each for team mates Tina Hutchinson and Barbara Shed were crucial. James Spenser’s two victories made him the best of the home side.

David Barnes, Div 2 DRS

Division 3   

No sign of any New Year hangovers at Stanford Le Hope B as they started with a bang against mid-table Invicta C coming out emphatic 9-0 winners. They welcomed back Adrian Armstrong after a good few weeks lay off due to surgery and he was soon back into the swing of things winning all his matches in straight sets as did Dan Harris who just pipped him for the man of the match award. Mark Farley had to work a lot harder for his wins coming back from two sets to one down in both matches against Jon Gould and Chris Gregory. Keith Baxter made up the Invicta team.

Hockley E managed to take advantage of Invicta’s defeat by moving above them into 6th place after a 7-2 win against Hullbridge H. The juniors just did not get the rub of the green on the night with some big games lost at crucial times. 10 year old Toby Zeffie was the stand out player for Hullbridge picking up a couple of very good wins, but Ron Rogerson was the man of the match winning all his three games backed up by braces from Gary Linzell and Kevin Blythe.

Warehouse D were also big winners crushing Hullbridge F 8-1 but three games went to five sets so the score could have been a lot closer. Sue Reece took Dave Walton to five going down 11-9 in the fifth and Ann Lane did the same losing 11-8 in the fifth to Tamas Mezo, but Sue did get some reward coming back from 2-0 down against Conrad Gomes to win the last three sets 12-10 11-5 12-10 and claim their consolation point.  Warehouse stay third in the table.

Holding on to fifth spot are Hullbridge G who managed a 6-3 win at Warehouse E despite only having two players. Tony Molisso and Lewis Ritchie came through unscathed against Les Carroll, Mike Webb and Joe Bennett but Lewis had to work hard against Mike losing the first two sets 11-6 12-10 before coming back to win the crucial fifth 12-10 and then the last two sets 11-6 11-9.

Closest match of the week was the game between Rawreth F and Customs B and, thanks to a hat trick from Richard Kidd, they just edged the youngsters out 5-4. It was left to Dean Johnson to see the Tax men home winning the last game of the evening with the scores level at 4-4. Dean finished with a brace as did Kennan Ford for Rawreth and Cho Waai Man and Charlie Kauders-Boothby both picked up a win each. Alex Clark missed out for Customs.

Team of the WeekStanford Le Hope B for their crushing defeat of Invicta C

Player of the WeekRichard Kidd for his match winning hat trick against Rawreth

Paul Strutt, Div 3 DRS


Author: via Southend Table Tennis League
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