Week 1 – 2024/2025
Brand Identity B got off to a winning start to the season, thanks to player of the match Jenny Harrison’s hat trick and two wins each from Mick Grout and Dale Gutteridge. Their visitors, Hadleigh Forum C, narrowly finished bottom last season. David Thomas was their stand-out player winning both Forum’s points.
Newly-promoted Wakering were dealt a blow before the season even began, with the absence of two key players. Consequently, they could only field two players for their inaugural home game at this level against Rawreth Megazone C. Nevertheless, their Paul England made sure they didn’t disgrace themselves, winning two of his rubbers. Rawreth’s Gary Hartgrove was too strong for Paul, and took the POM award with an undefeated evening. Two wins each from team mates Colin Barham and Colin Clements ensured the away team a 7 – 2 victory.
Basildon A look like being a force to be reckoned with this season. Maximums from Les Hoey, Arun Joy and POM Rob Burton, gave them nine points against an experienced Mapledene side.
Closest clash of the week was in the match where Matchpoint A hosted Canvey A. The visitors have been boosted this campaign by recruiting the former RESSC captain Bob Skews. Two wins from Bob and two from Andy Murray, together with one win from Joanna Hills ensured Canvey a 5 – 4 victory. The home side’s Stephen Heard will consider himself unlucky to be on the losing side, despite recording a maximum. Alex Deacon got their other point.
Week 2 – 2024/2025
Canvey A continued their winning ways with a 6 – 3 home win over two-man Hadleigh Forum B. Ray Wilson earned the POM award, supported by Bob Skews and Peter Cray. The two Forum players didn’t disgrace themselves, though. Skipper Dave Woolmer won two and Mick Tappenden overcame Peter in a five-set thriller.
Forum’s other team in the division, their C team, narrowly overcame their visitors Basildon A 5 – 4. It was a team effort, with Tony Mace and Mark Everard winning two each and Graham Farmer one. Basildon’s Les Hoey took the POM prize, winning three. Jenne Seibolt got their other victory.
A Lin Roff hat trick led her Mapledene team to a 6 – 3 home success against Matchpoint A. Dawn Baldry added two wins and Mike Johnston one for the home side. Harry Sawford starred for Matchpoint with two victories, and Dan Stewart added another.
Week 3 – 2024/2025
Canvey A took full advantage of Wakering still being unable to field a full team by winning 7 – 2 away. POM Ray Wilson, Joanna Hills and Peter Cray did all the damage. For the home side, Paul England managed a brace to spare their blushes.
In a very close contest, Brand Identity B came out 5 – 4 winners over visitors Rawreth Megazone C. It was an all-round effort for Brand, with Mick Grout and Dale Gutteridge winning two each and Jenny Harrison one. Gary Hartgrove will be miffed to be on the losing side, despite his POM hat trick. Veteran Colin Clements got Rawreth’s other victory.
Biggest win of the week went to Mapledene, whose 8 – 1 home victory over Hadleigh Forum C was engineered by maximums from POM Andy Seaman and Dawn Baldry with Andrea Alleyne adding two. David Thomas’ single success ensured Forum’s blushes were slightly spared.
Hadleigh Forum B had better fortunes than their C team. A Paul Fawell POM maximum together with three from Tony Jacks and a single from Jim Stait gave them a 7 – 2 home win over Matchpoint A. there were single successes from the visitors’ Debbie O’Neil and Alexander Deacon.
Week 4 – 2024/2025
The match between Hadleigh Forum B and visitors Mapledene was actually a lot closer than the 3 – 6 final score reflects. There were five contests that all went to five sets. Any of these could have swung the other way and the result would have been entirely different. As it was, the visitor’s Dawn Baldry took the POM accolade with three wins. Team mate Charles Yeung got two and Andy Seaman one. For Forum Tony Jacks got two and Paul Fawell one.
Maximums from POM Les Hoey and Arun Joy (two players who are yet to lose this season) ensured a 6 – 3 win for Basildon away to Rawreth Megazone C. The home team of Gary Hartgrove, Adi Kamma and Trevor Ward each contributed one win apiece.
We sympathize with Stewart Mills and Paul England from Wakering. Still unable to field a full-strength team, nonetheless they are doing their best to fulfil their fixtures in a league higher than they were last season. This week they were away to Matchpoint A. The home side’s Dan Stewart, Stephen Heard and Harry Sawford were all too strong for Wakering and a 9 – 0 defeat ensued.
If there are any players out there of Division 1 standard who do not yet have a club, Stewart Mills at Wakering would be delighted to hear from you.
Report by David Barnes