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

3rd November-2008
MAGNIFICENT ANDREWS ENDS GT HORKESLEY RECORD

A magnificent effort by Colchester Men’s Singles runner-up Michael Andrews helped H20 Rowhedge B end Gt Horkesley A’s superb unbeaten six match run to close the gap to just three points at the top of the Colchester & District Table Tennis League Division One. In completing his maximum Andrew’s downed the previously undefeated Ipswich star Richard Goodhand 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9 as well as Mike Wright in three straight sets and Richard Ingle in four. He was backed up by Mike Shore , who in the words of Goodhand was ‘electric’ as he won two, including a second defeat for the Ipswich captain. Brentwood former county junior Mark Mulley completed the rout with two wins on debut to seal an 8-2 win that leaves the championship race wide open. H20 Rowhedge’s C team are one to benefit in third place as they emulate the ‘B’ teams one hundred percent record with a narrow 6-4 win over Rayne. Essex county player Steve Kerns was at his best winning three for the Braintree club including a three set win over ETTA regional Development Officer John Andrews. His team are ten points adrift of second place with a game in hand. St Mary’s A resurgence continued as they recorded back to back wins this time by the maximum 10-0 score against lowly Walton C. Greg Green reeled off his third straight triple with Sue Welham returning to form winning her three as the West Bergholt team move up to fourth.

There is no stopping H20 Rowhedge D at the top of Division Two as they ended Pegasus A’s six match unbeaten start to their first season in this division. Phil Smith made it twenty-four consecutive wins aided by Fred Button as the pair dominated proceedings once again in a fine 8-2 win as their team move fourteen points clear. Gt Horkesley C are trailing them but continue to punch above their weight in holding on to second place. This week they beat Jobserve 7-3 thanks mainly to another immaculate performance by Wuidong Liu despite Roger Warren pushing him to five sets, going down 11-9 in the fifth end. Toby Turner was back to his best winning three for Pegasus B in a 7-3 success over Clairmont although his team went down 6-4 at Tollesbury A, they still close to within two points of Jobserve and safety. Tollesbury could not match H20 Rowhedge E however in an 8-2 defeat with Pete Giles the pick of the Rowhedge players wining his three untroubled.

St Peters stretch their lead to five points with a game in hand over second placed Lawford B at the top of Division Two as Lawford C ironically lost to both! The telecoms team won 9-1 whilst a Peter Armes treble secured a 7-3 win for Lawford’s ‘B’ team despite an excellent five set win for Andrea Alleyne over the prolific Mark Nowers. Pegasus C move up to third and they enjoyed success over their ‘D’ team 9-1, Nigel Parmenter’s win their only point despite four games going the full distance. Ed Rudge again impressed for fourth placed H20 Rowhedge F, his maximum taking the team to a 7-3 win over Dedham . George Berry’s return to the Dedham team heralded an emphatic 8-2 win over St Mary’s B, his triumphs inflicting John Sorrell’s first defeat of the season. John Moore won three for Tollesbury as they drew 5-5 with St Mary’s B.

Chris Chandler went through the evening unbeaten as H20 Rowhedge H take over at the top from their ‘G’ team in Division Four as his team won 7-3 against third placed Pegasus E.