Sudbury Nomads’ potential challenge for the Braintree Table Tennis League title encountered its first hiccup last week when they were held to a draw by Black Notley A.

Having won their first three matches, Nomads appeared to be on course to justify forecasts of a possible tilt at the title, but they found a resolute Notley side a tough nut to crack.

Aron Jordan was unbeaten for Nomads but two each from Luke Burridge and Sam Burrows plus one from Steve Noble gave Notley a share of the points.

The surprise was a nil evening for Karl Baldwin after a superb start to the season in which he had won eight out of nine.

Leaders Netts A, with a reserve, dealt comfortably with their own B team 7-3.

Rayne A came up against a top-form Neil Freeman, who remained unbeaten, but neither of his Notley B teammates could add to the scoreline.

The most notable feature of Liberal A’s 7-3 win over their own B team was the sight of Peter Hayden’s name on the scoresheet.

Hayden, six times men’s singles champion, has been out of action for four years waiting for a knee operation and agreed to step in as a last-minute replacement.

A somewhat handicapped Peter Hayden turned out to be little different from a fit one. He won his three sets.

In division two, leaders Rayne C saw off the team in second place, Netts D, with a convincing 8-2 scoreline.

Matthew Brown and Dave Marsh were unbeaten.

Notley’s C and D teams share third place one point behind after their wins of 9-1 over Rayne D and 7-3 against Finchingfield A respectively.

Jamie Brooks and Lawrence Grantham were unbeaten for the C team and Jim Davy came as close as possible to joining them, missing out at 12-10 in the fifth game to Peter Rickwood.

For the D team, Graham Chinnery and Matt Stephenson were undefeated.

Richard Whiteside won his three singles for the third match running for Rayne E but that could not prevent his team falling short by 6-4 against Yeldham Whitlocks A.

Report by Ron Fosker