OCA B’s 7-3 win over Hatfield Peverel A in division two of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League represented a top-class performance by the OCA side. Kevin Worthington bagged a hat-trick and Gareth Joice and Trevor Carter both won twice. However it was Hatfield Peverel A who had the greater cause to celebrate. The three points they picked up meant they finish second with 95 points, ahead of Chelmsford D (who also scored 95 points) by virtue of that fact that they won more matches. In a totally unprecedented evenly matched division Writtle C finished fourth with 94 points.  Carrying the flag for Hatfield Peverel A were Martin Archie (73% ) with backing from Neil Freeman (49 %) and Gareth Davies (48 %).

There were still some outstanding games in division three. Maldon A, the runners-up, turned on the style to hammer fourth placed Chelmsford E 9-1. Lloyd Bennett-Smith (88 %) and Hamish Innes (84 %) were both undefeated. Adi Kamma showed up well for the losers with a 11-9, 13-11, 11-8 win over Brian Riedling. Danbury K did well to beat the higher placed Writtle D 6-4. Nicky Reece-Ford was unbeaten with wins over Malcolm Henstock (14-16, 11-5, 11-2, 11-7), Peter Layzell (11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 11-3) and Colin Barham (11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5).

Buttbury Bees edged ahead 3-2 against Chelmsford Leopards in division 2A of the Junior League. Jamie Elliott won both of his singles beating Jishaant Shah (10-12, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7) and Cleon Fernandes (11-13, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7).

Chelmsford Antelopes (Samaksh Sirohi and Arnav Kumar) stay second in division 2B of the Junior League after beating Chelmsford Jaguars 5-0. They trail Buttsbury Badgers by 10 points but intriguingly they have two games in hand.

Chelmsford B (Harry Buckle, Charlie Craig and Josh Bickles) were 5-0 winners against Chelmsford D In the Open KO Cup. Sudheep Kamma did well to take a game off Harry Buckle before succumbing 7-11, 11-9, 4-11, 5-11. Chelmsford B now face a mouth-watering semi final clash against Danbury A.  

The Division two Cup final will be an all Danbury affair. The division two Champions – Danbury G (Sanjay Saptarshi, Daniel Piggott and Eamon Hall) beat Writtle B 5-1. Daniel Piggott impressed greatly downing the challenges of Paul Sturton (11-6, 11-8, 11-6) and Trevor Collin (11-3, 11-8, 11-7). They will meet Danbury D (Chris Buer, Gus Heath and Ian Cranstone) in the final. Danbury D did well to beat Chelmsford D 5-2. Gus Heath excelled beating Harry Chivers (11-7, 11-4, 11-7) and Vineeth Kamma (9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7); the win over Vineeth sealing their victory.

Writtle E are through to the Division four Cup final. They beat OCA E 5-4 in a roller coaster semi-final, fighting back from 2-0 and 4-3 down. The last two games were tense affairs. Neil Thompson (who had previously pipped David Bishop 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8) beat David Newman (11-5, 15-13, 11-9) and in a nail-biting concluding doubles Neil Thompson / Dave Moles saw off David Newman / Russell Hall (11-7, 11-8, 3-11, 9-11, 11-8). The great comeback was repelled.

Chelmsford J (Peter Davenport, Jacqui Smith and Paul Bullock) have fought their way through to the Division five Cup final.  They beat Danbury M 5-3 after a hard fought semi-final. Jacqui Smith was involved in two five enders. She beat Ken Wilding (6-11, 12-10, 9-11, 16-14, 12-10) but missed out (14-12, 4-11, 9-11, 11-5, 5-11) to Anne Mills. Peter Davenport was undefeated with wins over Martin Knights (11-6, 11-2, 11-7) and Ken Wilding (11-5, 11-6, 11-6).

Buttsbury B are through to the Handicap KO Cup final. Their team of Jamie Elliott (handicap of 48), Oscar Hutt (handicap of 21) and Lucy Elliott (handicap of 8) always had the edge against Maldon C.  Ella Sach (handicap of 29) gave Maldon a life line by beating Oscar Hutt (18-21, 21-15, 22-20) but Buttsbury were in the driving seat and Jamie Elliott defeated 2022 Chelmsford Ladies Champion Dawn Baldry (handicap of 67) 20-22, 21-12, 21-13 to give his team a convincing 5-1 victory.  

Steve Kerns Press Officer Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League