The rearranged top of the table clash in Division 1 of the Southend League took place during the interval of league fixtures for the Closed Championships. Matchpoint A entertained Basildon A. Matchpoint came out 5 – 4 winners. However, the closeness of the result means that the visitors remain favourites for the title, with a small cushion going into the last few rounds of fixtures for the season. Harry Sawford was Matchpoint’s star again. His hat trick included a close five-setter against Arun Joy that Sawford eventually won 12-10 in the fifth. Team mates Alex Deacon and Stephen Heard added one win each. For Basildon, Les Hoey and Arun Joy won two each.
Matchpoint didn’t have a fixture this week. Basildon were away again, visiting Wakering. Les Hoey took the POM award with an unbeaten evening and Arun Joy and Rob Burton won two each in a 7 – 2 away win. Callum Turner and Paul England took one win each for the home side.
An impressive 8 – 1 home win over Rawreth Megazone C has pushed Canvey A up into third place. Andrew Murray won all three of his rubbers quite comfortably to take the POM prize. However, Ray Wilson was also undefeated. His win over the visitors’ Garry Hartgrove was the closest of the night, with Wilson taking the fifth set 11 – 6. Wilson and Murray were well supported by Joanna Hills who got two victories. Hartgrove got Rawreth’s consolation.
A keenly fought “local derby” between The Hadleigh Forum B and C teams was conducted in a good spirit and a competitive manner. The C team took a narrow victory 5 – 4, thanks to two wins each for Dave Thomas and Paul Fawell. Mark Everard got the other success. However, none of the ‘away’ team could overcome the B team’s skipper Dave Woolmer, who put in a POM performance. Mick Tappenden got the other point.
Stanford B are the Division 2 champions after their 6-3 win at Canvey B this week. They have been favourites all season to take the title and, with just one game to go, regulars Rob Salvage, Adrian Armstrong and Mark Downey completed the job they started 25 weeks ago. John Handscombe and Russell Bright made up the Stanford squad who have been top of the table since week 2.
The match against second placed Canvey wasn’t quite as straightforward as it might have been however, and was tied at 3-3 until a late flourish saw them win the final three games. Rob Salvage completed another hat trick with two wins for Armstrong and one for Downey. Canvey’s points came from a win for each of their team, Tony Westwell, Des Duffield and Kevin Walsingham.
This result didn’t just have a bearing on the title but also on who finishes second. Canvey and Hockley C have been battling it out in recent weeks but Hockley were unable to take advantage of Canvey’s defeat as they slipped to a 5-4 defeat at Rawreth D. With one game now to go both teams sit level on points so all will be decided next week. Canvey have the slight advantage as they face bottom of the table Invicta B whilst Hockley face their own D team.
Richard Kidd was the man who did the damage for Rawreth clinching a hat trick and with a brace from Amar Al-Soufi they actually led 5-2 before a late flurry from Hockley narrowed the gap. Paul Ogden won two for Hockley and there was a point each for Neal Klyman and Tony Molisso.
At the other end of the table the relegation issue was also decided as Matchpoint C pulled off an excellent 6-3 win at Stanford C whilst bottom of the table Invicta B crashed to a 9-0 defeat to Matchpoint B. That left Invicta 10 points adrift of their rivals with one game left to play.
Ollie Milchard was Matchpoint C’s star, as he has been all season, chalking up another hat trick and was backed up by a brace from Roger Sherman and a point from Zach Samuels. Chris Crooks won two for Stanford plus a single win for Vaughan Chambers.
Matchpoint B’s demolition of Invicta came courtesy of veterans John Lott and Dennis Squirrell and a first hat trick of the season for young Lotte Mills. Matchpoint sit in fourth place and still have an outside chance of finishing second if the teams above them slip up.
Team of the Week – Stanford B
Player of the Week – Ollie Milchard