Southend League Premier Division
A player of the match performance from Simon Jacob saw Brand Identity to their second win in two weeks. Simon picked up three wins against Basildon A dropping only one game in the process. Brother David picked up two wins and the final win came from Adam Jackman giving a final scoreline of Brand Identity 6, Basildon A 3.
Mitchell Jones of Stanford A picked up his first of what I’m sure will be many maximums this week as he delivered three comprehensive wins over Dan Patynski, Sanjay Saptarshi and Tarun Goel of Hockley A. It wasn’t quite enough to get his team over the line as their only other win of the night was Martin Archie over Tarun Goel leading to a 5v4 win for Hockley.
Another really tight affair at Rawreth on Wednesday night as Thorpe Bay A rode into town and recorded a 5-4 win over their hosts Rayleigh Mill. Player of the match was a Miller though as Liam Squirrell went undefeated. Duncan Taylor managed a win over Chris Ballard for the Mill but that was it for the Millers as two wins a piece for John Poysden and Ian Wall and a single win for Ballard over Steve Sawyer was enough for Thorpe Bay to take the overall victory.
In the final match of the week, Hadleigh Forum overcame Invicta 6-3. Neil Barker starred with three wins over Tony Ayliffe, Andrew Murray and Malcolm Henstock. Barker was backed up by Martin Turner with two wins and Berti Makolli with one win. Andrew Murray the best performer for the home side as he got the better of Turner & Makolli.
Report by Duncan Taylor
Division 1
After just two rounds of matches in the new season, both Hockley teams stand proudly at the top of the division.
The B team sit top of the shop courtesy of a comfortable 8 – 1 home victory over Stanford Le Hope B. Maximums from player of the match Joe Odegbami and David Colwill, together with two wins from skipper Stuart Adshead, made it a torrid evening for the visitors. Stanford’s Rob Salvage got their side’s one victory to avoid embarrassment.
Will Evesham led the way for Hockley C when they demolished visiting Wakering A 7 – 2. In a nail-biting opening contest there were some great rallies. Will secured a 12 – 10 win over Paul England in the fifth set to take the rubber for the home side. Will’s younger brother James stepped in for his first game in this division demonstrating some excellent forehands, but was overcome by the experience and variation of shots from Martin Shaughnessy. The scores tell the story and there were some excellent displays of table tennis from both teams. Jaspreet Singh’s counter attack and serves caused a few problems, but James overcame both to secure the winning game for Hockley. Man of the match goes to Will for his composure in leading the team and securing a maximum, although Stephanie Haddrell also contributed a hat trick of successes.
Elsewhere Canvey A bounced back from a home defeat last week to overcome hosts Basildon B 5 – 4. The home side’s Chudi Ukpaka proved impossible to beat on the night. However, two wins from Canvey’s Peter Cray, playing in his first match of the season, together with two wins from the ever-reliable Ray Wilson, and a single victory for Bob Skews, got their side over the line. Kieran Wood took the remaining point for Basildon.
There was a ‘local derby’ this week when Hadleigh Forum C entertained their B team. The B team’s veteran Mick Tappenden gave his C team colleagues a lesson with an unbeaten performance, helping his side to a 6 – 3 win. Team mate Anthon Ranjit-Singh chipped in with two victories, and Tony Jacks added another. Paul Fawell took two wins for the home side, narrowly losing to Mick in the fifth set. In a close final rubber of the evening, the C team’s Mark Everard edged to victory over Tony 12 – 10 in the final set of five.
Report by David Barnes
Division 2
Invicta B sit proudly joint top of the division alongside Matchpoint B after a 5-4 win against Matchpoint C. The newly promoted team followed up last week’s 9-0 humbling of Runnymede with a closely fought win although Matchpoint’s Samuel Morgan took the POTM award with his second successive hat trick. Andrew St. John and John Blackman both won two games for Invicta with Sarah Ball adding the fifth win. Roger Sherman got Matchpoint’s other point.
Matchpoint B will be a force again this season and they brushed aside the challenge of Stanford C 8-1 with hat tricks from Dennis Squirrell and Hannah Harbour who took the POTM award not conceding a set. Surprise of the night was Stanford’s Chris Crooks defeat of seasoned campaigner John Lott. Lott led by two sets to one but was edged out 12/10 in the fourth with Crooks winning 11/5 in the decider. Crooks went close again to another win in his next match against Squirrell, 2-1 down again he took the fourth to level and then lost a marathon fifth set 17/15.
Canvey B sit in third place after an 8-1 mauling of Basildon C. Kevin Walsingham and Des Duffield were both undefeated with Tony Westwell picking up a brace. Dave Walton got Basildon’s solitary point. No matches went to five sets but Westwell’s match against Andy Roff racked up an incredible 97 points in only four sets, Westwell winning 11/6 12/14 15/13 14/12.
Final game of the week saw Runnymede go down at home to Hockley E. Richard Kidd made his debut for Hockley in the winter league, captained the side and achieved a hat trick to boot! He was adequately backed up by Richard Coulon with two wins and Ross Collins, playing up from the F team, also with a brace. Steve Wisbey did his best for Runnymede winning two games and also led Kidd 2-1 before losing the fourth set 11/9 and the fifth 11/5.
Player of the Week – Hannah Harbour
Team of the Week – Matchpoint B
Report by Paul Strutt
As we enter the second week of competition in Division 3, it is Invicta ‘C’ who are the early front-runners. Maximums from Mike Keeble, David Barlow and Harry Venables gave them a resounding 9-0 win over Matchpoint ‘D’. Matchpoint’s Cooper Hill pushed David Barlow all the way, but couldn’t secure the point for his team, finally succumbing in the 5th set. Harry Venables continued his fine unbeaten run, in what is his debut season in the League.
The first Hockley ‘derby’ of the season proved to be a tight affair, with the youngsters of the ‘G’ team coming out on top in a 5-4 thriller against the ‘F’ team. All 3 ‘G’ team players contributed to this win, although none of them could topple Ross Collins who was deservedly the POTM.
Wakering ‘C’ unveiled three new players, to our League, as they entertained Stanford ‘D’. Two of the newcomers, Jacek Bednarek and Joanna Gaudini, got on the score sheet, but it was the visitors who came away with a 7-2 victory, thanks to hat-tricks from Martin Winter and James Parker and a single win for Karen Kempster.
Report by David Woolmer