Stanford B continue to set the pace in Division 2 of the Southend League beating fourth placed Hockley C 7-2 to give them their fifth straight win, and are now two points clear of Matchpoint B with a game in hand.
John Handscombe and Adrian Armstrong both remained unbeaten with Mark Downey adding the other point. Brian Bissenden and Paul Ogden picked up a point each for Hockley and Bissenden came within two points of winning another going down in the fifth set 11/9 to Handscombe in the last match of the night.
Whilst Matchpoint B unexpectedly lost points against Stanford C, winning 5-4, Canvey B took full advantage thrashing Matchpoint C 9-0 to close the gap between them to just two points.
Matchpoint’s best efforts came in the first three games at Canvey with Roger Sherman extending Trevor Hayes to five sets eventually going down 11/6 in the deciding set. Alwine Jarvis then took a set off Des Duffield and Zach Samuels took a set off Terry Giddens but after that the final six games all finished in three sets. A comprehensive win for Canvey which leaves Matchpoint some 7 points adrift at the foot of the table.
The match between Rawreth Megazone D and Runnymede featured a clash between two seasoned veterans who are probably more at home in Division 1 than Division 2. Rawreth’s Gus Heath had only lost one games so far this season and Runnymede’s Tony Millward was unbeaten so their match was crucial to the result of this game. Not surprisingly it went to five sets with Millward winning 11/5 in the decider. That win put Runnymede 3-2 ahead on the night and they extended that to 5-2 before Rawreth won the last two singles. Milllward remained unbeaten and Andrew Humphris provided the backup with two wins, whilst for Rawreth, Heath finished with a brace and there was a point each for Graham Back and Steve McQuillan. Rawreth stay above Runnymede in the league by four points.
Matchpoint B were probably expecting an easier game than they got against Stanford C who have only one win to their credit so far. In the event it all went down to the last match of the evening when Max Mayo beat Mark Farley in straight sets to clinch a 5-4 win. With youngsters Mayo and Lotte Mills in their side Matchpoint had to rely on the experienced Dennis Squirrell who won all his games but was extended to five sets against Tony Papasifakis and Martin Winter coming back from 2-1 down in both matches to claim victory. Mayo finished with two wins for Matchpoint and for Stanford, Winter recorded a brace with a point each for Papasifakis and Farley.
Report by Paul Strutt
Canvey A consolidated their position at the top of the Division 1 table thanks to a comfortable 7 – 2 win away to bottom side Hadleigh Forum C. Both POM Ray Wilson and Peter Cray were unbeaten. Dave Thomas was the home side’s best player, taking both Ray and Peter to a fifth set. Eventually he got a reward when he overcome Canvey’s Lee McGonagle. Graham Farmer got one for Forum as did Lee for Canvey.
Second played third in the match where Basildon A hosted Matchpoint A. The visitors came away with a 5 – 4 victory due in no small part to a hat trick from POM Stephen Heard. Stephen’s team mates Dan Stewart and Oliver Milchard won one each to seal the win. Jenne Siebolt and Rob Burton won two each for Basildon.
A Mike Johnston maximum gave him the POM award and lead his Mapledene side to a 6 – 3 home win against Rawreth Megazone C. Andy Seaman added a further two victories and Lin Roff one. Adi Kamma took two creditable victories for the visitors and Colin Barham overcame Lin 11 – 5 in the fifth.
For their away game at Brand Identity B, Hadleigh Forum B gave an opportunity to their Division 3 player Todd Barker to gain experience at this higher level. Todd didn’t disgrace himself either, taking a set off experienced Mick Grout and Dale Gutteridge, before succumbing to Jenny Harrison in a five-setter. Dave Woolmer was POM with a hat trick and Mick Tappenden got two to give Forum a 5 – 4 win. Jenny was Brand’s best player with two victories.
Report by David Barnes