Chelmsford X – hard hitting brothers Saul and Harry Chivers lead the way in division one of the Central Essex Summer Table Tennis League with a commanding 19 points from five games. A 3-2 win against Danbury A came about via an unbeaten performance from Harry Chivers who got the better of Babul McLeod (11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4) and Eric Green (5-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5). A 5-0 victory against Chelmsford C puts them firmly in the driving seat. Harry Chivers fought back from 2-0 down to beat Paul Nicol 9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5. Chelmsford C produced an inspired performance to beat Hockley A 4-1. Mark Allaway excelled, beating Ian Wall (4-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9) and Oliver George (11-6, 11-9, 11-8). OCA A’s Paul Lucas retained his 100 % record against Chelmsford A but it was Chelmsford who won 3-2. Lucas was hard pushed to beat Wilson Tram 9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6. Danbury A emerged as 4-1 winners against Chelmsford B. Eric Green beat Waseem Qureshi (14-12, 11-7, 11-5) and Simon Jarvis after a tight 11-9, 13-11, 9-11, 11-9 encounter.

Leaders Danbury B made it six wins out of six in division two by beating Ramsden A 4-1. Dan Anderson, in his first appearance of the Season stole the show. He beat Gary Ward (11-5, 9-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5) and Trevor Collin (11-4, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7).  Danbury E were very much in charge against Danbury winning 5-0. Gus Heath and John Tendler gave nothing away. Danbury E also beat Galleywood A 3-2. John Holland was undefeated for Galleywood and in a very hard doubles finale  Tendler and Gus Heath beat John Holland and Bryn Thomas 14-12, 10-12, 11-5, 13-15, 11-9.  No less than five other matches were also decided by 3-2 margins in this division. Chris Buer won twice as Danbury D edged out Danbury C, and they beat Ramsden A by the same margin. Chris Buer was again unbeaten whilst Steve Buer had to dig deep to beat Tony Ayliffe 11-6, 5-11, 14-12, 6-11, 11-8.   It was that familiar 3-2 scoreline again as Danbury D beat Cold Norton. Sanjay Saptarshi (10 wins out of 10) retained his 100 % singles record with wins against Neil Want (11-2, 7-11,11-6, 11-9) and Dick Wyman (11-7, 11-4, 11-7). Bryn Thomas was on fine form as Galleywood A defeated Danbury F. He beat Tony Forster (11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6) and Ken Sheard (11-4, 11-7, 11-8). Danbury F in turn did well to beat Danbury D. Good going as Chris Buer was unbeaten for Danbury D with wins against Tony Forster (11-0, 11-8, 12-10) and Ken Sheard (11-6, 14-12, 11-7).   

Hockley B remain undefeated in division three but four of their five wins have been by 3-2 margins so it is easy to see why this division is still fairly closely balanced. Aaryan Vatsa and Keith Abbott beat John Parodi and Robert Kemp 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 in the doubles to secure a 3-2 victory against Ramsden B whilst Joerg Poeschus won twice as they beat OCA B. Poeschus ran out a 13-11, 11-13, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 winner after a gruelling encounter against Mick Richardson. Chelmsford D were also 3-2 winners against OCA B.  Mick Richardson won twice for the Old Chelmsfordians side beating A lex Tkachuk (11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6) and Nikita Tkachuk (11-8, 11-8, 11-8) – Nikita’s first loss of the Season. Alex Tkachuk pipped Luke Richardson 11-6, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 13-11 in the closest game of the night. Danbury G put in a strong performance to beat Chelmsford F 5-0 with David Marsh and David Meah carrying all before them. Ramsden B also ran out 5-0 winners against OCA D, although the doubles could clearly have gone the other way.  John Gagg and John Parodi pipped Amanda Hogger and Richard Upson 13-11, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10. Chelmsford F beat Chelmsford D 3-2, although it was Nikita Tkachuk who was unbeaten for Chelmsford D and he has a record of 88 % (seven wins out eight). Here he beat Joachin Mapes (3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 14-12) and Harrison Hill (7-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-6).  

4-1 results were the order of the day in division four with five of the six games decided by that margin. The leaders Blackwater A were involved in three such matches. They beat Danbury H 4-1 with Alan Scammell winning his two singles. It was a hard slog against Gordon Gatheral but Scammell finally won 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8.  They also beat Ramsden C 4-1 with Denis Balic winning two very close games. He beat Sue Body (7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8) and Colin Barham (11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 7-11, 14-12). However they were on the wrong end of a 4-1 result against Chelmsford E. Rev Mathews beat both Alan Scammel (3-11, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8) and Roger Slade (11-5, 11-5, 4-11, 11-6). Chelmsford E with Keith Martin unbeaten were 4-1 winners against OCA E whilst Buttsbury A beat OCA D 4-1. Paul Sturton beat Tom Barker 11-6, 11-7, 11-7. Denis Crapnell’s two wins gave Danbury L the upper hand as they got the better of Ramsden C 3-2. Crapnell beat Kevin Smart (11-8, 11-4, 11-6) and Dave Carter (11-7, 7-11, 11-4, 11-5).

Buttsbury B – 5-0 winners against Chelmsford Leopards have a healthy five point lead in division five. Alex Ware and Ben Brown called the shots although Ben Brown had to work hard to beat Jishant Shah 8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7. Chelmsford Leopards did better against Blackwater B and Dion Fernandes and Cleon Fernandes won comfortably 5-0. Blackwater B in turn beat Danbury K 3-2. Kath Little gave them an important winning start by beating Martin Knights 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11.   OCA F beat Galleywood B 4-1. Stuart Wintle defeated Steve Peacock 12-10, 9-11, 15-13, 11-7. Galleywood B also lost 3-2 against Chelmsford Leopards. Dion Fernandes defeated Ron Salton narrowly 11-2, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8 after Salton had suffered a heavy first end set-back. OCA F were 4-1 winners against Ken Wilding. Matthew Porter beat Ken Wilding 10-12, 11-9, 5-11, 6-11, 13-11 in a game that went all the way “to the wire”.     

Chelmsford H and Chelmsford G are tied on 25 points in division six, although it is Chelmsford G who have a game in hand who are in the driving seat. When the two teams met it was Chelmsford H who won 3-2. No single player remained undefeated and Peter Davenport and Jacqui Smith beat Alesha Ellis -Austin and Emilie Guilloux 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10 in the deciding doubles.  Chelmsford G returned to winning ways by beating Blackwater C 4-1. Todd Martin had to pull out all the stops to beat Dave Benstead 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 13-11, 11-8. Chelmsford H were even bigger winners. Peter Davenport and Shengbing Zhu defeated Chelmsford Lions 5-0. However Chelmsford H missed out 3-2 against Danbury L, despite the fact that Jacqui Smith won her two singles. She beat Jo Hart 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 and Ron Tam 11-2, 11-4, 11-9.  Danbury L in turn beat Writtle 3-2. Danbury’s Ron Tam was involved in two epic games. He beat Paul Arrons (9-11, 7-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-9) and Colin Griffiths (11-9, 11-5, 21-19) Yes 21-19 !. Danbury L met their match against Blackwater C where they lost 4-1. Blaydon Farmer was unbeaten for Blackwater. Blackwater C were also on form against Buttsbury C with Dave Benstead and Anne Brewer giving nothing away. Buttsbury C emerged as 3-2 winners against Chelmsford Tigers. Noah Middleton beat Atharv Gupta 10-12, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 14-12 in the closest game of the evening. Chelmsford Lions scored their first win of the Season, beating Chelmsford Tigers 5-0. William Guilloux and Emilie Guyilloux were in control here. Blackwater C (Chris Rollinson) and Dave Benstead) did well to beat Writtle 4-1 despite losing the first game when Colin Griffiths beat Dave Benstead (5-11, 11-8, 11-2, 8-11, 11-7).     

Steve Kerns Press Officer Central Essex Summer Table Tennis League