Division Champions Basildon A having no game this week, second place Matchpoint A completed their last fixture of the season away to Rawreth Megazone C. Yet again Harry Sawford was unbeaten and took the POM award. Team mate Stephen Heard added two more wins to give them a 5 – 4 away victory. Adi Kamma won two and Garry Hartgrove and Paul Brown one each for the home side. Matchpoint’s win leaves them one point behind Basildon, with the leaders having one more match left to play. Matchpoint have pushed them all the way this season and deserve much credit for keeping interest in the title going almost to the wire.
The bottom two sides, Hadleigh Forum C and Wakering, met at Forum for both side’s final fixture for the season. A 6 – 3 home win was not enough to change Forum’s position propping up the division. Not for the first time this season, Wakering’s Callum Turner was unbeaten. However, Forum’s trio of Paul Fawell, Mark Everard and the much-improved Todd Barker each took two wins to ensure the victory.
Mapledene took a 5 – 4 home success over a two-man Brand Identity B side. Mick Grout was player of the match for the visitors. His three wins were hard fought including an 11 – 7 fifth set victory over Dawn Baldry and two four set wins. Dawn and John Tendler pitched in with sufficient success to edge the result, leaving the observer to wonder what might have been if Brand had had a third player.
Congratulations to Division 1 Champions Basildon A. They finished off their season in fine style, winning 6 – 3 away to Brand Identity B. Unfortunately, though, for the second week in a row, Brand were not able to field a third player. Nonetheless, these six points mean that Basildon finish six points clear of their nearest rivals. In Arun Joy and Les Hoey they have two players who have topped the divisional averages, only losing half a dozen times between them all season. They have been ably supported by Rob Burton, Stephen Walters and Jenne Seibolt. This week’s win came courtesy of another Arun hattrick with a pair being added by Stephen and one for Jenne. Mick Grout was again Brand’s best player taking two wins. Dale Gutteridge added one.
Canvey A have had a good season, finishing in third place. In their final match of the campaign they overcame Mapledene 5 – 4 at home. Captain Ray Wilson again provided the foundation for the win. His three undefeated won him another POM prize. Two wins from Bob Skews sealed the win. Mapledene’s skipper, Andy Seaman, was their best player, too, winning a pair of victories. Dawn Baldry and Lin Roff won one each.
In an enjoyable end-of-season match Hadleigh Forum B entertained Rawreth Megazone C. The visitor’s Garry Hartgrove was a class above the Forum players, taking all his rubbers. However, the home side, of Mick Tappenden and Jim Stait, led by stalwart David Woolmer, each managed two wins apiece to finish up 6 – 3 winners.
Report by David Barnes
