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

2nd December 2008
St Marys Inflict second cup defeat on Gt Horkesley A

St Mary’s scored a second cup victory over Colchester & District League Division One leaders Gt Horkesley A in three weeks. This time it was in the Kiltie Cup for Division One teams that saw local rivals St Mary’s A come out of the blocks running, sprinting into a 4-0 lead. Following a five set win in the opening doubles, Gary Young won another marathon against Horkesley captain Richard Goodhand with some fantastic rallies in a tactical battle. In the following singles Martyn Green and Sue Welham beat Mike Wight and Richard Ingle, both in four sets to set up victory. This was secured when Young beat Wright in three ends and with Green winning both his singles the match finished 6-3 to the West Bergholt club. This sets up an interesting Group One decider between St Mary’s and H20 Rowhedge C who previously lost 5-4 against Gt Horkesley. Richard Goodhand starred playing at number three winning three out of four of his games, the last an impressive five set win over Kevin Gowlett. With two teams qualifying all three clubs are in with a chance of reaching the semi-finals, with the possibility of Gt Horkesley missing out!

In the Minor Cup for Division Four teams, league leaders H20 Rowhedge G suffered a surprise defeat 5-4 at Gt Horkesley E. The all ladies team are steaming up the table following a spate of postponements and are now third following a 6-4 win against their ‘D’ team. Denise Thompson was unbeaten in both matches as was Chris Jones in the cup match.

H20 Rowhedge D are steaming on in the Handicap Cup, making good use of their squad as they crushed St Mary’s A 8-1 to lead the group. John Stubbings was once again unbeaten as was Phil Smith who broke St Mary’s resistance with a spell of four consecutive final set wins after the teams had traded wins. In the same group Rayne A beat Pegasus E 7-2, where Stan Flint’s win over Ian Whiteside caught the eye in their only singles success. Graham Farmer was again unbeaten joined by Steve Elms. In Group Two H20 Rowhedge F thrashed Pegasus D 9-0, Andrew Harvey and Brett Angel were undefeated. The best match of the night was a 24-22 last set win for Ed Rudge over Jon Richie to match his colleagues. In the all Gt Horkesley clash the ‘E’ team came out 8-1 winners as the under-dogs continued the winning theme with Jennie Clarke taking two fine singles wins against Chris Gouldthorpe and Amy Sparkes who was the ‘A’ team’s only winner. The Gt Horkesley ‘E’ team completed a busy fortnight with another win against same club competition, 5-4. Things were much closer here with no fewer than five games going the full distance. Dale Young was the man-of-the match but despite winning both his singles and a doubles his ‘D’ team just missed out. Pegasus A look good bet to progress in the competition and they made light work of Gt Horkesley C 8-1. Steve Noble and Pete Mills made good use of their handicaps were unbeaten. H20 Rowhedge H beat Lawford C 6-3 with James Elms-Larkin the only unbeaten singles player on the night. In Group Seven Jobserve accounted for H20 Rowhedge D also 6-3 thanks to the wily Roger Warren’s and Brian Spellor’s double brace of wins. Colin Powell suffered a rare defeat, it was Tony Eversden that achieved the feat despite a six point deficit. However, Daryl Lott was once again the star winning his singles in a close 5-4 win that was clinched with Powell’s and Jess Page’s last gasp doubles win.