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

19th January-2009
H20 ROWHEDGE B GO TOP OF DIVISION ONE

H20 Rowhedge B got their noses in front in the Colchester & District Table Tennis League Division One title race following a 10-0 thrashing of Walton B. Despite being without the previously ever-present Mike Shore , Michael Andrews was joined by Mark Mulley and Pete Burrows in completing a clean sweep. Title rivals H20 Rowhedge A’s pretentions suffered a blow as their five match winning streak was ended when they were held to a 5-5 draw by St Mary’s A. In their last encounter it was Rowhedge that came back from 5-2 down but roles were reversed as the West Bergholt team fought back from 3-5 to share the honours. Earlier Dave Cole’s ninety-six game unbeaten record that goes back three years came under threat from Martyn Green, who led by two sets to nil and at 8-8 in the third must have thought he had a chance. But like both John Andrews and Mike Shore before, Cole drew on his exceptional talent to win the last three sets. St Mary’s Gary Young was the last player to beat Cole and both his encounters this season went the full distance without success. At 5-3 down two more five-set matches ensued with Green senior beating Phil Smith and Greg Green gaining his first win over Kevin Gowlett to tie the match. Walton A did well to also earn a 5-5 draw at home to Rayne as no player was unbeaten. Pick of the night’s games was Steve Pennell’s three set win over Colin Stallwood whilst Colin Dearman repaid the complement to Pennell, also in straight sets.

Gt Horkesley C are, like their A team are having a tremendous season in Division Two with Essex University player (as is with Rowhedge B’s Mark Mulley) winning another three games in a 5-5 draw with Clairmont . They are second with third placed Walton D suffering an 8-2 defeat at leaders H20 Rowhedge D where Phil Smith got back to maximum ways with Walton’s John Hobson inflicting Fred Button’s second defeat of the season. H20 Rowhedge E have quietly moved up to fourth place with two games in hand and with Pete Simmonds in a rich vein of form could yet join their ‘D’ team in the promotion stakes. Pegasus A were their latest victims, 6-4 with Simmonds unbeaten but without Steve Noble this was not a bad result for the Copford side with Paul Woolnough playing up, winning two. Jobserve eased relegation fears as they beat bottom team Pegasus B 6-4 despite Toby Turner’s best efforts as yet again he impressed winning his three against experienced opposition.

St Peters second defeat in as many weeks sees their victors, Lawford B move to within a point of them at the top of Division Three. Mark Nowers and Peter Armes were in tremendous form with Armes beating Ian Carter in three straight sets and downing Hazel Hume in five as his team won 7-3. St Mary’s B put distance between themselves and bottom team CRGS A with a 7-3 win as Mick Isom made a welcome return to the Colchester League winning his three after a seven year absence. Lawford B are second from bottom and did nothing to help their cause losing 9-1 against Tollesbury B. Robert King and Martin Lewis were both unbeaten. Pegasus D beat H20 Rowhedge F 6-4 with the ever-improving Andrew Harvey taking two fine wins for Rowhedge.

Division Four second placed team H20 Rowhedge H moved to within two points of their ‘G’ team hammering Lawford C 8-2 as Grant Donaldson once again caught the eye winning his three. Lawford E beat St Mary’s D 6-4 whilst CRGS B fought out a 5-5 draw with Pegasus