The big dogs in the top Division of the Burnham & District Table Tennis Winter League met this week in what could have been a big-winner-takes all battle. A battle did ensue and Cold Norton B were the surprise victors on the night but the tight margin of that victory means that Fambridge can still nick the title at the death – so all eyes on the final round of matches and the League adjudicators calculator.
A strong Fambridge side travelled to Cold Norton this week knowing that a high scoring victory would probably secure an unexpected title and leave Cold Norton B weeping tears of what might have been. Despite illness and injury in the Norton camp they fielded what would traditionally be their strongest line-up but would their bodies hold up across what was surely to be an eventful evening. Sky and TNT were both in town to record and broadcast the ‘Battle of Burnham’ so everyone was on edge. The opening game set the scene as Fambridge supremo and England’s finest John Poysden took an early 2-1 lead over the recovering Eric Green. From somewhere deep inside Green fought back to square the match at 2-2 and then the decider went to a tense deuce battle – with both players having match points in the tit-for-tat rallies that took this one match over the ½ hour mark. Eventually Green won through 16-14 and that swing of 2 points may be the difference come the reckoning hour. What a start! Keith Adams then pulled one back against the injured Ian Wall before a very focussed Sam Lowman got the better of Bruce Kettle to put Cold Norton 2-1 up. Poysden avenged his early 5 set loss with a 5 set victory over Wall to maintain the rollercoaster scoring. Cold Norton then turned the screws with 2 wins on the bounce – a 5 set battle that saw Green turn the Kettle off, and Lowman out loopylooped Adams. The doubles was crucial – and another 5 setter for the in-house crowd and the millions tuned in across the world. Green and Lowman let a 2-1 lead slip as Kettle and Adams took the tight 4th set 13-11 – but this only served to rouse the Norton pairing and they won out 11-6 in the decider – another crucial battle won on the night. At 5-2 the Norton Boys were in shock and their final point came as Sam Lowman wrapped up his hat-trick and the overall 6-4 victory against Poysden. So the teams are 2 points apart with just one round of fixtures to go – watch this space.
Elsewhere in the top Division there was an alphabetical upset in the Woodham derby when B defeated A – great to see some of our younger players hitting hat-tricks. Peter Harverson took his second treble of the season, and Harry Sawford bagged his third, with thridwheel Eamonn Hall taking two points, only losing out to Dan Piglet who nicked the A team’s only singles point of the evening. Mapledene B had an excellent win over Cold Norton A with some notable victories within the 7-3 scoreline. Simon Jacob continues his fine run of form with another treble that takes him into the tournament as a real contender for a Finals Night feature. Jacob’s toughest match was a comeback 5-setter against the lively Matt Stringer. In fact Stringer was strung out all evening as he was subjected to two further 5 set skirmishes. He almost lost out against Penhold wizard Colin Chatfield despite taking an early 2-0 lead. Chatfield fought back but Stringer just had the edge in the decider as he won out 11-8. However he couldn’t hold out against the tricky style of David Jacob and in the final leg it was the consistent and thoughtful style of Jacob that took the points against the more flamboyant Stringer style. Between them Chatfield and David Jacob did get the better of Stringer in the doubles – a short one for Mr Stringer as it only lasted 4 sets! For Cold Norton Charles Sweeny took two points on the night to keep the scorecard respectable.
The battle for supremacy in Division 2 took a well earned break this week leaving us time to focus on the amazing battle at the other end of the table where 5 teams are now separated by just 2 points and race to be relegated is as tight as an otter’s pocket. Cold Norton D remain on the precipice with just 2 games to go but curried up an unexpected win this week against a strong Mapledene C side. A 6-4 victory wasn’t quite enough to jump off the bottom but they are now in a 3 way tie for the automatic relegation slot. Neil Want hit two wins including a tight 12-10 in the fifth delight over Lin Roff, no doubt the winning shot was a dodgy net. Rob Harris also chipped in with 2 wins, and then combined with Want for the doubles bonus. Tony Forster added the final point with another 5 setter as he came from behind to get past the tricky Mike Johnston. For Mapledene both Denis Squirrell and Roff took two wins for their haul across the evenings play. Maldon C lost out to Blackwater B by a 7-3 margin and that puts them level at the bottom with both Maldon B and Cold Norton D. The Maldon trio team took a real Quelching at the hands of Blackwater B as they succumbed to the cultured play of talisman Simon Quelch. Quelch took his hat-trick although struggled to get past the defensive nous of Brian Riedling and only eventually won out at 14-12 in the decider. Merv Perriman was in fine fettle with two 3 leg victories and then just lost out to Marty Englander 11-9 in the fifth. Woodham C in full uniform took a well earned 6-4 triumph over the tricky Cold Norton E trio. In a friendly atmosphere where little was at stake every player took at least a point. For Woodham Alan Dadswell and Skippy Perry hit braces, as did Dick Wyman for the Nortonians. Special mention to Oscar Wyman who won another point for his team as he defeated last year’s Roy Davis Cup winner Allan Steel in straight sets. Next week sees the much anticipated top of the table clash to see if Maldon A will falter under the burgeoning challenge of Blackwater A.
Positions in Division 3 are largely confirmed already but a full set of fixtures this week saw Champions Blackwater C hit another 10-0 whitewash. This week’s hapless victims being St Lawrence. A hat-trick of trebles for Gary Smith, Peter Davenport and Tina Hutchinson. Maldon E had a very good 7-3 return against Blackwater E with John Leavett in cracking form with another hat-trick to his name. Blackwater D edged a tight one against Blackwater F courtesy of a fine display from Jason Bush. Bush went unbeaten in singles and doubles as his D team ran out 6-4 winners, with Keith Thompson the best of the F side with 2 wins on the night. In the final match of the week Tim Huxtable took centre stage as his hat-trick helped his Maldon D side secure a draw with Woodham D. In support of the mighty Huxtable, team supremo Shirley Carroll took 2 wins, only losing out in a 4 setter with Woodham’s top player Simon Thomas.
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Eamonn Hall, Press Officer
Burnham & District Table Tennis League
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Pic 1 – Sam Lowman (Cold Norton B) with the most important hat-trick of the week
Pic 2 – Colin Chatfield versus Matt Stringer in a 5 set marathon this week.
Pic 3 – Peter Harverson taking his hat-trick for Woodham B this week.
Pic 4 – Colin Chatfield and David Jacob pairing up for an excellent doubles bonus
Pic 5 – Dick Wyman and Alan Dadswell go toe-to-beard
Pic 6 – Division 1 table.
