Kim Shead won all four of his singles matches to finish the season top of the player averages with ten wins from ten as his Chelmsford A side took the division one title with victories over its closest competitors.
Division 1
Two wins in a week against their closest two competitors was enough for Chelmsford A to clinch the division one title. Kim Shead and Simon Jacobs went undefeated as Chelmsford beat second-placed Danbury A 5-0, the doubles contest was the closest match of the evening with Shead and Jacobs beating Ian Whiteside and Sanjay Saptarshi in the fifth game having seen a 2-0 lead disappear. Shead was joined by Sami Osman as Chelmsford edged the Buttsbury A duo of Evie Knaapen and Jamie Elliott 3-2. Again, Shead won both of his matches with the Chelmsford duo recovering from 2-1 down to win the doubles. Going into that clash, Buttsbury had given themselves a chance of catching Chelmsford at the top with a 5-0 victory over Blackwater thanks to two wins apiece for Wudong Liu and Harrison Hill.
At the other end of the table, South Woodham Ferrers A gave themselves an end of season boost as they overcame fellow strugglers Writtle A 4-1. Woodham’s Graham Briggs won both of his matches while partner Chris Hancox bested Pete Layzell before missing out 3-2 to Writtle’s Trevor Collin.
Division 1 standings: C: Chelmsford A (26 points from 6 matches), 2: Danbury A (18 points from 6 matches), 3: Buttsbury A (18 points from 5 matches).
Division 2
In a tense climax to the season, Danbury B are the division two champions amassing 24 points from their 7 matches which was two points ahead of their closest rivals Chelmsford C. Danbury, Chelmsford, Cold Norton A and OCA A all posted identical records of five wins and two losses from their seven fixtures with fourth placed OCA A a mere four points behind the winners. James Grimston won twice as Chelmsford C beat OCA 3-2 in a fixture which Chelmsford went 3-0 up giving them hope of catching Danbury in the table. OCA hit back with Luke Richardson getting the win over Alesha Ellis-Austin as well as taking victory in the doubles match. Cold Norton clinched a respectable third place with a 4-1 win at OCA B. Dan Anderson finished the season with 11 wins from his 12 singles matches though he had to recover from 2-1 down to beat OCA’s Tom Barker. Kevin Willis won twice as Buttsbury B earned a 4-1 away win at Galleywood A. Willis won both of his matches by a 3-1 scoreline while his teammate Gary Carr beat Nathan Blore 3-2 before falling to Bryn Thomas having led 2-1.
Division 2 standings: C: Danbury B (24 points from 7 matches), 2: Chelmsford C (22 points from 7 matches), 3: Cold Norton A (21 points from 7 matches).
Division 3
With Hutton B confirmed as division 3 winners and Buttsbury C as runners-up, third-place position was on the line in the matchup between Cold Norton B and Buttsbury D. It was Buttsbury D who moved into third thanks to a 3-2 away victory – this was despite two single victories for Norton’s Peter Harverson. Scott Perry won twice as South Woodham B edged Maldon A in a close encounter. Perry came back to beat Marty Englander in four prior to getting the better of Chris Ravehill in three. Ravenhill was the back-to-back player in the Maldon line-up and in the previous match had just recovered from 2-0 down for victory against Alex Wilson. OCA C could still finish third with three or more points against South Woodham B in the outstanding fixture.
Division 3 standings: C: Hutton B (19 points from 6 matches), 2: Buttsbury C (19 points from 6 matches), 3: Buttsbury D (14 points from 6 matches).
Division 4
Division four champions Danbury C slipped to a 4-1 away defeat at Writtle B. Writtle’s Paul Aarons won both his matches – his second required a recovery having seen Ken Wilding fight back from 2-0 down. Teammate Michael Anthony had earlier beaten Wilding over four very close games before falling victim to Danbury’s Graham Naggs in three. Hutton C took runners-up position from Buttsbury F with a 4-1 home win over Chelmsford E thanks to two wins apiece for Charlie Gould and Billy Andrews. Gould recovered from 2-0 behind to beat Peter Davenport with his three winning games being a tense 12-10, 11-9, 14-12.
Division 4 standings: C: Danbury C (26 points from 7 matches), 2: Hutton C (20 points from 7 matches), 3: Buttsbury F (19 points from 7 matches).
Division 5
Chelmsford F took runners-up position in division five thanks to a 5-0 win over Hutton D with two wins apiece for Ben Robinson and Amir Chetitah. Vicente Deco won both matches as Hutton E won 4-1 over Buttsbury H. Deco’s opener against Callum Walker was a close contest which ended 11-5, 12-10, 11-13, 14-12 – Walker later being involved in a second five-game match this time coming back from 0-2 to take the victory against Archie Giles 3-2.
Division 5 standings: C: Buttsbury G (29 points from 6 matches), 2: Chelmsford F (19 points from 6 matches), 3: Hutton D (17 points from 6 matches),
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Jeremy Hill, Press Officer
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