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

16th March-2009
ROWHEDGE YOUNGSTERS CLINCH DIVISION ONE TITLE

H20 Rowhedge B beat their ‘A’ team, last season’s champions 6-4 and in doing so became one of the youngest sides ever to win the Colchester and District Table Tennis League. The victorious team comprising of Michael Andrews, Mike Shore and Mark Mulley are all under twenty-one and despite Dave Cole’s best efforts the ‘A’ team without Kevin Gowlett there was only ever going to be one outcome. Andrews and Shore are former and current Colchester Junior champions and following Anthony Greenwood’s departure critically secured the services of Brentwood’s Mark Mulley, studying at the Essex University . It was certainly a case of move over the old guard and welcoming the new this season and speaks volumes for Rowhedge’s youth policy especially with newly crowned Men’s champion Greg Green learning his table tennis as well under the auspices of John Andrews and Alan Burgess and previously Rik James. Incredibly the team that lead for most of the season Gt Horkesley A were playing H20 Rowhedge C simultaneously at the same venue in what turned out to be one of the closest finishes in years! Whist they won 7-3 they needed to turn around a four point deficit but ultimately fell just short, three points adrift of Rowhedge B. Their team had a strong Ipswich connection led by Richard Goodhand, new Vets champion Jimmy Farrow and Mike Wright. H20 Rowhedge C finished a creditable third following their 6-4 win against a St Mary’s team boasting both Colchester Men’s and Ladies Champions as well as the Men’s runner-up. John Andrews grabbed the scalps of both Green and Gary Young but succumbed in three straight sets to Sue Welham! At the bottom Gt Horkesley B and Walton C are relegated.

H20 Rowhedge D made it a ‘double’ for the Rowhedge club as they close in on their own ‘treble’, undefeated with seventeen straight victories to win Division Two. Phil Smith and Fred Button top the averages joined by Phil’s son, the up-and-coming junior Mark Smith, they should have a good chance of staying up next season. They will be joined by surprise package Gt Horkesley C led by Wuidong Liu, along with Lorrie Austin, Phil Wolski and Steve Holland. Walton D have faded to fourth place following a 6-4 defeat at Pegasus A. It’s still all to play for at the foot of 6the table with Clairmont sitting just out of the bottom two having finished their games tantalisingly six points clear of Pegasus B who have two games in hand. Tollesbury A are bottom, four points further back with one game to play.

Following their mid-season crisis St Peters A have won Division Three, bouncing back with three straight 9-1 victories. Hazel Hume headed their averages dropping just five games from forty-two played along with the dependable Ian Carter and Dave Jones. Pegasus C, Lawford B and Dedham are fighting out the remaining promotion spot with Lawford the favourites. CRGS A finish bottom without a win joined by Lawford C, over forty points adrift of safety!

H20 Rowhedge G clinched the Division Four title by just three points following a 9-1 defeat by Gt Horkesley A who are also promoted, a further four points ahead of H20 Rowhedge H in third place. The Rowhedge squad led by Daryl Lott, Geoff King and Jess Page were bolstered by Brett Angel and Colin Powell and can be well proud of their achievement! Gt Horkesley’s ladies team of Chris Jones, Denise Thompson and Jennie Clarke have enjoyed their best ever season with Thompson and Jones third and fourth in the averages and Clarke’s improvement probably making the difference!