Northlands have returned to the top of Division 1 of the Southend Summer League after chalking up two 9-0 wins and now sit 7 points clear of Basildon and still with a game in hand. Their large squad of top ranked players continue to carry all before them and it is now just a question of how many individual games they might lose as they certainly won’t lose any matches on this form!
They started their week with a rearranged match at Hockley where Kim Shead, Dan Zeffie and Peter Barrett did the honours. David Chenery came closest for the home side leading 2-1 at one stage against Dan Zeffie before Dan stepped up a gear winning the last two games 11/5 11/5.
Two days later they were in action again against Invicta, Kim partnered this time by Paul Brown and James Elliott but no game went beyond four sets.
Second placed Basildon kept up their winning ways with a 7-2 win at RESSC. Tarun Goel and John Tendler got the points for the home side both getting the better of Garry Hartgrove and RESSC almost got a third point in the final doubles of the evening when John Holland and Tarun took on Ian Wall and Garry. Ian and Garry took the first two sets only to see a strong fight back ending in a decisive fifth set. Needless to say Ian and Garry took it 11/6. Les Hoey was POTM winning both his singles. Basildon are 21 points ahead of Brand Identity in third place who have no less then three games in hand.
Final game of the week saw Canvey take on Stanford and the away team travelled home with a 7-2 victory the match actually being level at 2-2 at one stage. Des Duffield and Kevin Walsingham got the Islanders off to a good start beating Peter Weatherall and Mark Downey in a closely fought five set match coming back from two sets down to win the last three 12/10, 13/11, 12/10. Two singles wins for Peter and Robert Salvage put Stanford in front only for Des to level things up with a straight set win against Mark. After that though it was all plain sailing for Stanford winning the next four games and then claiming the final doubles as Tony Westwell had to withdraw due to a back injury – fortunately not serious. Canvey stay bottom after this with just four points won from the four games played so far.
