The match between Netts A and Rayne A is not the season-defining match in the Braintree Table Tennis League as it sometimes was in the past, but their final match was not without significance.
It ended the champions’ winning streak since the start of the season, when Rayne managed to keep them to a draw.
It was Andy Holmes who had Netts to thank for maintaining their unbeaten record. He won his three sets and took the doubles match with Joe Meleschko.
Netts is still well clear at the top, but Sudbury Nomads moved two points closer with a 7-3 win over Netts B, with Aron Jordan undefeated.
Rayne A shares third place with Liberal A, who was beaten by the same score by Black Notley B, the latter’s first win of the season. Steve Kerns was undefeated for Notley, a win over Adam Cuthbert suggests something of his former self is emerging again.
The victory allowed Notley B to distance itself from the bottom step for the first time this season at the expense of Liberal B, who lost 6-4 to Rayne B. Adi Kamma won his three singles ahead of Rayne B.
In division twoleader Rayne C ended Finchingfield A’s four-match unbeaten run with a convincing 8-2 win. Paul Wellington had his best night of the season to join Matthew Brown in the undefeated category.
Netts C and Notley C, two contenders for second place, shared the points.
Yeldham Whitlocks A had a surprisingly comfortable 9-1 win over higher-placed Notley D, with both Roy Hooper and Doug Sanders unbeaten, while Rayne E climbed from bottom after beating their own D team 6-4.
Conrad Gomes, called up again from division three, played his role with two singles and the double play with Richard Whiteside, who was undefeated
In division threeleader Notley E took all 10 points from a two-man Yeldham B, while main rivals Finchingfield B took eight from Sudbury Drifters.
The final match saw a battle between the division’s two undefeated players, Lucien Nolan-Bradford and Graham Turner, who went the way of Nolan-Bradford 3-1 (6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7).
Rayne F lost ground when they could only use two players and went down 6-4 against Notley F. Conrad Gomes did all he could by getting his three singles and the double plays with Alastair Brown.
Netts F’s James Howard and Tom Verrier won all seven in their team’s 7-3 win over Notley H.
Netts E played twice in three days but are still looking for that elusive first win. They lost 7-3 to Notley G and 8-2 to Rayne G.
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