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

25th November 2008
H20 ROWHEDGE B SHOW MERCY IN CUP

Colchester & District League Division One title contenders H20 Rowhedge B showed their pedigree with a 5-0 win over Rayne in the Kiltie Cup. Michael Andrews once again was in top form beating Steve Kerns in three straight sets and was joined by Mike Shore who beat Steve Elms in four sets, the final end an amazing 20-18! Showing strength in depth Peter Burrows stepped up to beat Jon Hill 13-11 in the final set and two doubles wins sealed the victory. One mystery remains however, as the opening rounds are in groups the two sides may regret not playing to a finish, as all points count towards qualification!

In the Intermediate Cup Gt Horkesley C made light work of Division Three leaders St Peters 7-2 thanks to four good singles wins from Wuidong Liu and Lorrie Austin as their ‘double’ dreams of promotion to Division One and Cup success continues. H20 Rowhedge D are the team most likely to stop them as they hammered Jobserve 9-0 with only Brian Spellor winning any sets for the Tiptree team as Fred Button, Phil and Mark Smith ran amok. Walton D also had an easy win, 8-1 over Clairmont as Annabel Rodriguez dropped the only point to Paul Tracey and Martin Edwards and John Hobson remained unbeaten. Stepping in at short notice, Doug Green was the star for Cup holders Pegasus A, his maximum overshadowing two good wins for Mark Nowers for Lawford B in a 7-2 win. A Toby Turner brace led the Pegasus B team to an excellent 5-4 success to land a ‘double’ over the top two Lawford teams in the Intermediate cup.

Gt Horkesley D’s 7-2 win in the Minor Cup was inspired by mother and son Yasmin Ticquet and Dale Young who not only won all their singles but teamed up to win their doubles as Lawford C were brushed aside. Pegasus C made it three wins for Marks Tey teams, winning 7-2 against H20 Rowhedge H as messrs; Little, Cousins and Flint won all six singles.

Two of Division Two’s top three teams met in the Handicap competition with Walton D squeezing home 5-4 against Gt Horkesley C. Wuidong Liu’s four start saw him beat Martin Edwards 21-17 in the third end and a five deficit against Annabel Rodriguez. However, it was Martin’s wife Chris Edwards who shone, winning both her singles to secure the win. Clairmont won 6-3 against H20 Rowhedge H but the games were a lot closer than the score line suggested. Six matches went the full three set distance with James Tindle’s brace catching the eye. H20 Rowhedge E’s Mick Buckley rolled back the years in beating club mate John Andrews 21-6, 21-16 as his team beat the Rowhedge C team 6-3. Pete Simmonds was unbeaten in the all Rowhedge clash. Lawford D accounted for H20 Rowhedge G by the same score line as Maggie Earle and Steve Marr went through the evening unbeaten.

Back to the League and H20 Rowhedge D matched their cup result with an 8-2 win over Jobserve. Lawford A avenged their cup defeat to Pegasus B despite Toby Turner’s best efforts in beating all three Lawford players including Graham Mortimer but his two-man team went down 7-3. In Division Three George Berry’s six wins lifted his team out of danger as they beat CRGS A 8-2 but lost 7-3 at Tollesbury B. Gt Horkesley E are slowly closing in on the top following a 9-1 defeat of Lawford D as Chris Jones and Denise Thompson won three apiece.