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

22nd September 2008
Reigning Champions Held In Thrilling Draw

Colchester & District Table Tennis League Division One Champions H20 Rowhedge A struggled to a 5-5 draw at St Mary’s A. Having trailed at one stage 5-2 they were indebted to the man who was unbeaten last season, Dave Cole. Indeed he was their only winner up to the eighth game as Kevin Gowlett suffered 3-0 defeats at the hands of Gary Young and a first ever defeat by Martyn Green. Green junior joined forces with Young taking the doubles and at this stage the Rowhedge team were on to lose back to back matches against the West Bergholt team. However, Kate Wadling’s determined five set win and Kevin Gowlett’s defeat of his former team-mate set up a thrilling finish with Gary Young taking the first two ends against Dave Cole. Some of Young’s play was outstanding especially his retrieval in one unbelievable rally. At deuce in the third Cole was on the ropes but wiggled his way out 13-11, took the fourth 11-9 and stormed through the fifth set 11-3 to square the match. H20 Rowhege’s B team are the early pace-setters and despite only fielding two players squeezed past Walton B 6-4 with both Michael Andrews and Mike Shore unbeaten. Walton B suffered the same consequences against their ‘A’ team going down 6-4 once again to a two-man team. Dave Binns starred winning his three with debutant Neil Crook taking the notable scalp of Kevin James, the only win achieved on the table by the second string. Crook was again in good form winning two for the third Walton team in the top flight as they surprisingly beat Rayne A 6-4. Andrew McEwan won his three for Rayne with John Rice winning twice for Walton including a 12-10 win in the final end against Jon Hill. Gt Horkesley A made light work of their ‘B’ team 10-0 thanks to Messrs Goodhand, Leith and Aimee Sparkes as Ken Lewis recorded a rare duck.

Pegasus B are the surprise leaders of Division Two thanks mainly to the inspirational form of Toby Turner. He has won five out of six games played and only lost his unbeaten record in the final match of the night in an excellent 6-4 win over newly named Jobserve. Roger Warren was his tormentor and despite his fine unbeaten individual performance Tony Eversden and Mike Sant’s four wins proved the catalyst for Pegasus. Gt Horkesley C are second and they got back to winning ways with an 8-2 thumping of new boys Clairmont although four games went the full distance all won by Horkesley! Wuidong Lui was the star man scoring a maximum and there was a welcome return to Paul Tracey to the league after a long absence as he beat Phil Wolski.

In Division Three St Peters lead thanks to their second win, 6-4 at Lawford B, Ian Carter winning three with two good wins for Annette Thorpe. Tollesbury B remain unbeaten as they were comfortable 8-2 winners over Lawford C. John A Moore called on his veteran skills to take his three wins. St Mary’s B are third despite being held 5-5 by CRGS John Sorrell once again proving impossible to beat dropping only one set all night.

Darryl Lott is the star of Division Four and he led H20 Rowhedge G to the top with three fine wins in a 9-1 victory over Lawford E. Geoff King joined him unbeaten with Maggie Earle the only Lawford winner beating Jess Page. Pegasus E and St Mary’s D shared the spoils with Roy Cole on song for the West Bergholt team as Pegasus moved to second place. Colin Powell made an impressive unbeaten debut for H20 Rowhedge H as Lawford D suffered another 9-1 defeat.