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

14th January-2009
FOUR WAY TITLE RACE IS CLOSEST IN YEARS!

Colchester & District Table Tennis Division One leaders Gt Horkesley A lost for the second time in a month to current champions H20 Rowhedge A 6-4, the result leaving the title race open to at least four teams. Dave Cole was once again unbeaten, a feat nearly emulated by Kevin Gowlett who only missed out on a maximum to Richard Goodhand in the opening game 12-10, 11-6, 5-11, 10-12, 11-13 in the match of the night. Goodhand won two but with Rowhedge pulling out all the stops in playing ‘B’ team number one Michael Andrews the holders took the match winning the last three games. Andrews was back to form with his ‘B’ team winning two but despite Gary Young’s best efforts in beating him and winning his other two games St Mary’s were also beaten 6-4. Mike Shore’s brace included wins over the Green father and son duo with Martyn going the full distance eventually going down 11-9 in the fifth set. Fourth place is occupied by H20 Rowhedge C who beat Gt Horkesley B 8-2, Dave Moss being Rowhedge’s only victor over Ian Brown as he won three and Brown two. Rayne move up to fifth following a convincing 9-1 defeat of Walton C who appear doomed for the drop! Walton’s only success came in the doubles as Jon Hill, Steve Elms and Ian Whiteside all recorded maximums. In the all-Walton clash honours were shared 5-5 with Colin Stallwood lacking support for the ‘A’ team as he took his three against the ‘B’ team.

Clacton veteran Phil Smith lost his unbeaten record to Wudong Liu in the top of the table clash in Division Two but H20 Rowhedge D still extended their lead at the top to eighteen points, winning 8-2. Fred Button starred winning his three including a rare three set defeat for Liu who won two. Gt Horkesley C are joined in second place by Walton D who without Martin Edwards needed to win their last two games to gain the draw. John Hobson stepped up to the plate winning in five sets whilst the final encounter of the evening was even closer with Filipe Rodriguez edging past Roger Warren 11-9 in the fifth end. Clairmont won their first game of the season, 6-4 against Tollesbury A as both face a relegation struggle. Roger Clarke won three in a two-player Tollesbury team that are now just three points ahead of the victors.

In Division Three leaders St Peters suffered only their second defeat of the campaign following an injury to their number one Ian Carter that saw him concede both the doubles and his last singles. He had however, already been on the receiving end of a George Berry three straight sets win earlier in the evening as Dedham won 9-1. Lawford B closed the gap to five points as they beat third placed H20 Rowhedge F 8-2. Mark Nowers was once again their key player winning all three of his games in straight sets. Fourth met fifth with form reversed as Pegasus C accounted for Tollesbury B 7-3 to jump over their rivals. Paul Woolnough excelled with three wins which included a tight five set victory over Martin Lewis, who won two. CRGS A remain without a win following a 10-0 hammering by Pegasus D.

Division Four top team H20 Rowhedge G extended their lead with an 8-2 win over Gt Horkesley D with the promising Brett Angel scoring his third maximum of the season. Second placed Rowhedge H won 6-4 against third placed Gt Horkesley E to give them a four point breathing space.