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

28th October-2008
UNDEFEATED TOP THREE ON COLLISION COURSE!

With only six unbeaten teams left in the Colchester and District Table Tennis league it’s a remarkable fact that half of these appear in the top division! Following the postponement of their opening fixture with H20 Rowhedge C, Gt Horkesley A have stormed away dropping just six games in winning six straight matches. This week saw an impressive 8-2 demolition of Rayne with the dynamic duo of Richard Goodhand and Jimmy Farrow on song, unbeaten for the third time together. H20 Rowhedge B were indebted to their club workhorse Alan Burgess, standing in at the last minute to win two vital games in a 7-3 win over Walton A. Michael Andrews won the game of the night in five sets against the effervescent Colin Stallwood who won two, whilst Andrews went one better winning his three. Third placed H20 Rowhedge C are third with a game in hand and it was another club official, John Andrews that came up trumps as his team squeezed past Walton B 6-4. Andrews close win over Walton stalwart Dave Binns sealed the win by the narrowest of margins 11-8, 11-13, 13-11, 13-11. St Mary’s A move up to fourth as they finally won, 9-1 against Gt Horkesley B with Gary Young and Greg Green in good form, undefeated. Ian Brown was Horkesley’s sole winner as his team face a struggle to avoid a swift return to the Second Division. Pete Simmonds was another Rowhedge player inspired when ‘playing up' as his two wins were crucial in the ‘A’ teams resurgence with a 7-3 win over bottom team Walton C. Kevin Gowlett recorded a maximum with Paul Meikle winning two for Walton.

H20 Rowhedge D are storming Division Two following two more big wins. They trounced Lawford A 10-0 and a resilient Clairmont 6-4 with Fred Button taking six wins and Mark Smith recording his first maximum. Paul Tracey’s return continues to impress as his three excellent wins helped Clairmont to a well earned 5-5 draw with the other promotion favourites Walton D. On a sad note the news of ex-Clairmont player Mark Britton’s death was a shock to all that played with him. Mark represented Clairmont for four seasons and was an extremely consistent performer after learning his table tennis under the auspices of coach Len Barton at Gt Horkesley. He will be sorely missed by all that played with, or indeed, against him. Pegasus A move up to fourth thanks to Steve Noble’s treble and the fact Jobserve could only field two players as they won 7-3 to remain unbeaten.

A win and a draw have propelled Lawford B up four places to second in Division Three. Mark Nowers remained unbeaten as his team beat Pegasus C 7-3 and drew 5-5 with Tollesbury B.

There is no stopping the two H20 Rowhedge teams in Division Four as they sit in first and second place nine points clear of third placed St Mary’s D. It was the youngsters from the ‘H’ team that accounted for St Mary’s in an excellent 6-4 win with Jake Elms-Larkin just missing out on his maximum 11-7 in the fifth end to veteran John Lander who also won two. The youngsters also completed wins against Gt Horkesley F 7-3 and Lawford E 9-1 where Sam Burrows and Thomas Lewis shone, winning three apiece. Leaders Rowhedge G completed two big wins with Darryl Lott unbeaten in both, joined by Colin Powell in an 8-2 win over Lawford D. CRGS B were their other victims, 9-1 with Brett Angel this time joining Lott unbeaten. Previous to their defeat, St Mary’s had won three straight with Roy Cole their star, unbeaten as he remains for the season. Gt Horkesley E have lost their unbeaten record following two defeats.