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

6th April 2010
WALTON PIP LAWFORD TO DIVISION TWO TITLE!

Walton D, with a last gasp 9-1 win over Gt Horkesley C have pipped rivals Lawford A by just one point to the Colchester and District Table Tennis Division Two title. Walton started the match needing four points to gain promotion and nine to win the Division swept all before them with John Hobson, and Felipe Rodriguez both unbeaten and Filipe’s sister Annabelle weighing in with two wins, just missing out to Steve Holland in five sets. This was an under strength Gt Horkesley team although Walton were without their talisman Martin Edwards, in effect for their last two games. This settles the last of the promotion and relegation issues which, following a record number of postponements due to the bad weather represents quite an achievement!

Walton D made it a ‘double’ winning the Intermediate Cup (Division Two and Three) 5-4 against Lawford A. Edwards and Hobson were again the stars winning all four of their singles and Edwards teaming up with Annabelle Rodrigues to win a crucial doubles. Dan Farrow put up brave resistance winning both his doubles and a singles but without Graham Mortimer Lawford just fell short.

In the Minor Cup Final (Division Four) University of Essex beat Lawford C 5-3 as Rob Bozier went through the evening unbeaten despite some spirited defiance from Ian Sherwood and Andrew Jones, who scored an excellent four set win over Chester Chung. Peerapat Jatukannyaprateep beat Phil Daley in five sets to settle the match and avoid going to a final game decider.

The Kiltie Cup final between H20 Rowhedge A and B has been postponed to Friday 9th April.

The University of Essex completed a unique ‘treble’ when, as expected, they won the Handicap Cup 5-1 against Dedham . Messrs Davidson, Bozier and Chung won all the singles also a tight three set opening doubles and lost their one point to the pairing of Andrew Franklin and Nigel Parker. This completes a hugely successful return for the University to Colchester Table Tennis following an absence of over thirty years and hopefully bodes well for the future of both university and Colchester League.

H20 Rowhedge H stormed their way to the Handicap Doubles title, beating Lawford C 5-0 although a closer look at the scores shows a different story. Three of the four games went the full three set distance and could have gone either way. Rowhedge’s successful trio of Thomas Lewis and Jimin and Jane Li completed a fine season for them and despite their defeat, Lawford’s Peter Sear, Ian Sherwood and Phil Daley can feel well proud of their efforts, just missing out on promotion by three points and finishing runner’s-up in two cups!

Players are reminded the AGM and trophy presentations will be held once again at the Colchester Indoor Bowls Club on Wednesday 21st April starting at 7:30pm.