The Central Essex Summer Table Tennis League is underway with six mini divisions and as usual it features teams from the Chelmsford League and as well as neighbouring Leagues. Often you find very familiar opponents playing for teams you wouldn’t necessarily associate them with.

There have been a surprisingly high number of 5-0 scorelines in the first division, four to be exact. Chelmsford A (James Donald and Wilson Tram) scored a fine 5-0 win over Chelmsford C. James Donald beat Shirish Basant Rai 13-11, 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8 in the opening game and they never looked back after this. Chelmsford X were even more dominant against Hockley. Brothers Saul and Harry Chivers not only won 5-0 but they captured all five games 3-0. Chelmsford X repeated the feat against Chelmsford B. Harry Buckle and Harry Chivers were the aggressors this time. No mean feat as the Chelmsford B side included Simon Jarvis. Danbury A also won 5-0 (with the five 3-0 wins) against OCA A. Eric Green and Babul McLeod were the inform players.  Danbury A did well to beat Chelmsford A 3-2. Eric Green excelled. He beat James Donald (11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 6-11, 11-7) and Wilson Tram (11-5, 11-9, 11-7). Chelmsford C beat Chelmsford B 3-2. Shirish Basant Rai dominated with excellent wins over Waseem Qureshi (11-7, 12-10, 11-3) and Simon Jarvis (11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7).  Perhaps the result of this round occurred at the Melbourne Centre where Chelmsford C beat Danbury A 4-1. Shirish Basant Rai had another match to remember. He beat Eric Green 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 and Babul McLeod 11-9, 11-9, 11-8.  In the game of the night Babul McLeod retrieved a 6-10 deficit in the fifth end to beat Paul Nicol 2-11, 13-11, 11-8, 12-14. 17-15. Quite a battle !.

Danbury B have made a good start in division two. Sanjay Saptarshi and Eamon Hall raced to a 5-0 win over Danbury D. Well played Eamon Hall. He scored two superb wins against Steve Buer (3-0) and Chris Buer (3-1). Sanjay Saptarshi was also on form against Danbury F. He defeated both Tony Forster (3-1) and Ken Sheard (3-1) as Danbury B won 3-2. The last game of the match went all the way and Forster and Sheard pipped Dan Pigott and Sanjay Saptarshi 11-9, 3-11, 11-9, 3-11, 12-10 in a widely fluctuating doubles. Danbury B made it three wins out of three by beating Danbury C 3-2. Sanjay Saptarshi retained his 100 % record with wins over Sam Phillips and David Gatheral.  Galleywood A notched up two wins. John Holland and Mark Glenister defeated Danbury C 3-2 after John Holland had won twice. He beat David Gatheral 4-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8. With James Hicks replacing Holland they beat Cold Norton 5-0. Mark Glenister scored a five game win over Tim Cramphorn (11-8, 6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5). Galleywood lost narrowly 3-2 to Ramsden A. Gary Ward was the Ramsden sharp shooter. He saw off Bryn Thomas (11-9, 10-12, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8) and John Holland (5-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5).  Cold Norton ran out 4-1 winners against Danbury E with Dick Wyman and Neil Want taking all four singles. The match between Danbury C and Danbury F saw no single player remain undefeated. Danbury C won 3-2 courtesy of a 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8 doubles victory for David Gatheral and Sam Phillips against Tony Forster and Peter Lucraft. Danbury E did well to beat Danbury D 3-2; good going as Chris Buer was unbeaten for Danbury D. John Tendler pipped Steve Buer 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10 after a real nail-biter.        

Division three looks like being closely fought. Of the seven scorecards received six matches were decided 3-2. The exception was the 4-1 win that Chelmsford D recorded against Ramsden B. Nikita Tkachuk beat John Gagg (3-1) and Rob Kemp (3-1). Where do you start when you report on the other games ?.  Chelmsford D also beat Danbury G 3-2. Nikita Tkachuk was again to the fore with wins over Dave Marsh (3-1) and Dave Meah (3-0). Nikita and Alex Tkachuk sealed the victory by beating Dave Marsh and Dave Meah 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 in a well contested doubles encounter. The match between Chelmsford D and OCA C saw three games decided in the fifth end. Richard Baxter was undefeated for the Old Chelmsfordians team and Richard Upson came through a five end thriller against Adi Kamma (11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 10-12, 16-14). Robert Kemp was undefeated for Ramsden B against Danbury G but it was Danbury who emerged as 3-2 winners. Kemp prevailed against Dave Marsh, just, 12-10, 12-10, 10-12, 11-7. Chelmsford F edged home 3-2 against OCA B. Charlie Donald (two wins) and Harrison Hill (one win) came out on top in the singles. Michael Richardson drew a rare blank losing 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 6-11 to Harrison Hill and 7-11, 11-8, 9-11, 10-12 to Charlie Donald. Luke Richardson did well to beat Harrison Hill 11-9. 9-11, 12-10, 11-6. Hockley B led by an undefeated Joerg Poeschus beat Chelmsford F whilst Hockley B beat OCA C. Dan Patynski beat Richard Baxter 7-11, 11-1, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9; Richard’s first loss of the Season.   

Blackwater A are off to a flying start in division four. Alan Scammell and Denis Balic beat OCA D 5-0 and OCA E 4-1. Farooq Ahmed was on target for OCA E with a hard-fought 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 victory against Denis Balic. Buttsbury A did well to beat Chelmsford E 4-1. Kevin Willis was undefeated beating Dave Parker 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7 and Rev Mathews by a last gasp 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 margin. Chelmsford E did better against Ramsden C, wining 3-2. This time Rev Matthews won his five ender. He beat Dave Carter 11-7, 12-10, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8.  Danbury L won twice, 3-2 on each occasion. Denis Crapnell was undefeated against both OCA D and Buttsbury A. Caroline Cole was on target for Buttsbury A, defeating David Smith 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 13-11. OCA D surged into a 3-0 lead against Ramsden C. Three five enders went their way with Tom Barker giving them a winning start with a 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 3-11, 16-14 victory against Colin Barham.  Ramsden C hit back with Dave Carter defeating Tom Barker 11-7, 11-18, 12-10 and they eventually lost 2-3. Ramsden C in turn beat OCA E 3-2. No one player dominated and the Ramsden players – Kevin Smart and Colin Barham and the OCA duo – Farooq Ahmed and Dave Bishop shared the singles.

Buttsbury B made a winning start in division five. Jamie Elliott and Ben Brown ran out 5-0 winners against Blackwater B and with Lucy Elliott replacing Ben Brown they beat Danbury J 4-1. Galleywood B were 4-1 winners against Danbury K. in a match where Will Goodchild was undefeated. Nathan Blore edged out Steve Martin 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9. In another 4-1 result Chelmsford Leopards beat Danbury J. Cleon Fernandes led the way with an unbeaten outing.  It was 4-1 again when OCA F beat Danbury K. Matthew Porter was poised at two games all with Martin Knights but he raced away with the fifth end to win 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-2, not a result you might have expected after four evenly contested games. Danbury J (Ken Wilding and Graham Naggs) called the shots against Blackwater B and they ran out 5-0 winners.  In a closer game Blackwater B beat OCA F 3-2. Phil West gave Blackwater a winning start by beating Matt Porter 11-5, 11-5, 8-11, 8-11. 12-10.

Chelmsford G look to be the team to beat in division six. Ben Chivers and Alesha Ellis-Austin ran out 5-0 winners against Chelmsford Tigers and Todd Martin and Ben Chivers saw off Danbury L, again, 5-0. Todd Martin had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Jo Hart 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 4-11, 11-9. Chelmsford G made it three wins out of three by beating Chelmsford Lions 4-1. Pavanaj Srinavasamurthy was on target for the losers with a 5-11, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9 win over Emilie Guilloux. Blackwater C are in second place and Dave Benstead and Jackie Treacy also won 5-0, beating Chelmsford Tigers.  Blackwater C won a closer game, 3-2 against Chelmsford Lions. Luv Goel was undefeated for Chelmsford Lions with wins over Chris Rolison (11-7, 11-7, 12-10) and Blaydon Farmer (11-6, 17-15, 11-5). In another close game Blackwater C beat Chelmsford H 3-2 – Dave Benstead winning twice. He had to dig deep to get the better of Peter Davenport 11-7, 7-11, 15-13, 12-10.   Chelmsford H impressed against Buttsbury C with Sheng Bing Zhu and Jacqui Smith carrying all before them, winning 5-0, whilst Writtle won all four singles against Buttsbury C but missed out in the doubles. Noah Middleton / Viraan Babbar did well to beat Paul Aarons / Paul Cockrell 11-5, 11-4, 5-11, 11-9.  Buttsbury C also missed out 4-1, against Danbury L. Callum Walker came good, with a hard fought 8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9 win against Jo Hart.  Chelmsford H added three points to their tally by beating Writtle 3-2. Sheng Bing Zhu won the tightest game of the night; 12-10, 11-3, 8-11, 10-12, 13-11 against Barry Gould. Writtle in turn beat Chelmsford Tigers 5-0, with Barry Gould and Paul Arrons calling the shots.  

Steve Kerns Press Officer Central Essex Summer Table Tennis League