The big news this week is that we have a new name at the top of the Premier Division table and that is Rawreth B. Two big wins against their nearest rivals in week 7 and 8 of the season puts them now firmly in the title contender category. Whether they can stay there or not will depend on them remaining as consistent as they have been to date but currently they show no signs of letting up. In week 7 they comprehensively beat their A team 8-1 with the two Dan’s, Zeffie and Young taking a hatrick of wins and Keith Adams chipping in with two, just Chris Penrose recording any success for the A side with a 4 set win over Adams.
Fresh from that impressive victory Rawreth B then took on the current champions Thorpe Bay A and they were similarly dispatched by the same Rawreth B players 7-2. As we know Thorpe Bay A hardly ever lose any matches so this was quite the seismic event. Dan Young was again in great form and took his three singles with Dan Zeffie and Adams taking two apiece losing to Mark Stones and John Poysden respectively. It has been a great start to the season for Paul Brown’s side but as we know we can never write off Thorpe Bay A whose consistency over a full season is always impressive. We will watch with interest as to how the rest of the season unfolds.
To round up the other matches from week 8, Brand Identify recording a huge 9-0 win over Stanford, Hockley A consigned Rawreth A to their second defeat in two weeks with Sanjay Saptarshi the star with his three wins
There were also wins for Basildon A, 5-4 over a two man Invicta A side with Arun Joy taking the player of the match honours and a much needed win for Hadleigh Forum 6-3 over Rayleigh Mill despite a hatrick of wins for the Mill’s Duncan Taylor, two wins each for Martin Turner, Berti Makolli and Dave Bassett in this one.
Report by Duncan Taylor
Having seen their relegation rivals Hadleigh Forum C record their first win of the season in Division 1 last week, Stanford Le Hope B had to find a way to respond. They travelled to Mapledene and recorded an impressive 6 – 3 away win, for only their second victory of the campaign. Stanford’s veteran Adrian Armstrong was unbeaten and deservedly took the player of the match award. Jake Nelson won two, and Rod Savage another. John Tendler was Mapledene’s best player with two wins, while Mike Johnston added one more.
Hadleigh Forum C were overcome 7 – 2 on their trip to Canvey A. Stalwart Ray Wilson was yet again the star for Canvey, taking yet another hat trick. Team mates Peter Cray and Trevor Hayes (playing up from Division 2) both collected two victories, but both were unable to overcome Forum’s Paul Fawell, who took both points for Forum.
The battle between Hockley B and Hockley C for the top of the league spot continues. This week, courtesy of a slightly better result, the B team have extended their lead to three points.
A most enjoyable match between Hadleigh Forum B and Hockley C was played in a good spirit. William Evesham was deservedly the player of the match award, but there was some fine play and powerful shots from all the Hockley youngsters. Elliot Brackenbury added two victories to Will’s three to give Hockley C a 5 – 4 away win. Captain Dave Woolmer was in fine form for the home side, recording two successes. Team mates Anthon Ranjit-Singh and Mick Tappenden took one win apiece.
Hockley B’s lead over their second placed C team was increased by virtue of their 6 – 3 away win at third placed Rawreth C. Not for the first time, Joe Odegbami was Hockley’s hero, comfortably winning all his three match-ups. Keith Abbott added two more and Stuart Adshead one. Gary McCarthy won two for the home side and Adi Kamma another.
Report by David Barnes
Four matches to report on in Division 2 the week we celebrate Guy Fawkes Night and there were four sparkling victories to celebrate, the winners in each game all now sitting in the top four positions in the league.
Second in the table Canvey B started the week with a bang winning 8-1 at Stanford C. Although the score may suggest otherwise and no game went beyond four sets, there were, nonetheless, some very close games. Set scores of 11/9 12/10 13/11 15/13 16/14 and 19/17 give ample proof of that. Trevor Hayes and Terry Giddens both recorded hat tricks and Des Duffield won the other two but was beaten by Jake Santiago to deny the whitewash. Stanford drop to fifth as a result.
The guys of table toppers Wakering rocketed through their match against Matchpoint C completing a 9-0
win in double quick time. Seven matches did not go beyond three sets but there was almost a hiccup as Paul England had to fight hard to overcome Ollie Milchard in five sets 11/8 9/11 11/8 8/11 11/8. Callum Turner and Mick Grout made up the winning Wakering team.
Matchpoint B would have been hopeful of a win against Invicta B who had lost their last four games so, when Trisha Winter came back from two sets down to edge out Roger Sherman in five sets in the opening match, they must have feared the evening would turn into something of a damp squib. However the reverse happened and it sparked a surge of home wins as they completed an 8-1 victory. John Lott recorded a perfect hat trick, Hannah Harbour maintained her 100% record in the league and Sherman won his other two games to condemn Invicta to another defeat.
Hockley D completed a 7-2 win at home to Runnymede to maintain their position in fourth and whilst their trio of Brian Bissenden, Howard Collins and Paul Strutt were generally in command they found the energetic Steve Wisbey revelling in the space available performing like a jumping cracker retrieving shots from the unlikeliest of angles. He led Player of the Match Bissenden 2-1 at one stage before going down in five sets, beat Strutt in four sets and then came back from two sets down against Collins to clinch his second win.
Team of the Week – Canvey B
Player of the Week – John Lott
Report by Paul Strutt
Table-topping Invicta ‘C’ continued their unbeaten run in Division 3 with a 7/2 victory over Canvey ‘C’. Skipper Mike Keeble led from the front with a straight sets hat-trick, ably assisted by Steve Lennox, who also went unbeaten. Scott Giddens, in his first season, and Che Martin scored the Islander’s points with wins over David Barlow.
Martin Winter led the way for Stanford ‘D’ when visited Matchpoint ‘D’. His hat-trick was completed without any fuss and with no sets conceded. Andrew Jessop and Karen Kempster provided good support with a pair of wins each, although neither could get the better of David McHattie.
Hockley ‘G’ were a player short when they took on Evolve ‘B’, but a double for George Higgins and a single win for Amelia Taylor meant that they shared the points available on the table. For Evolve, Zac Eighteen was the POTM with an unbeaten performance.
The match between Evolve ‘A’ and Hadleigh Forum ‘D’ was a close affair but, in the end, the greater experience of Jan Thorpe and Douglas Brown proved decisive. A hat-trick for Jan and a brace for Douglas won the day for Forum. All three Evolve players got on the score sheet, a win each for Miles Bygrave and Edward Feeley, and a double for Sasha Syderenko that included a good win over Douglas.