The idea that Sudbury Nomads could take the Netts A’s Braintree Table Tennis League crown from them persisted until the two met in the sixth week of the season.
It was then that the champions put the pretenders firmly in their place – with a 10-0 win.
Netts had used six different players in their first five matches, but in this match they brought together their A team from last season for the first time, Paul Davison, James Hicks and Andy Holmes.
The result was that their opponents rarely came to take a look. Ken Lewis stretched Davison to five games and Richard Fifield did the same to James Hicks, but they both went down 11-5 in the decider. Of the remaining sets, three were decided in four games and five in three.
Black Notley A has proven to be something of a surprise package so far. Fifth last year, as Notley B, they moved into second place with a 7-3 win over Rayne B.
The evening was a personal triumph for Steve Noble, who outshone his teammates, something he had not been able to do this season – and all of last season. He won all three singles and doubles matches with Luke Burridge.
At the other end of the table there was a first win for Sudbury Wanderers, 7-3 over Liberal B, moving them from ninth to seventh place. Fifield, who played for Nomads the next day, was undefeated this time.
Division two The reputation for good results continued with a 5-5, two 6-4s and even top team Rayne C joined in with a 7-3 win over seventh-placed Yeldham Whitlocks A.
Behind them, Notley C were held to a draw by Finchingfield A – the first time the latter had avoided defeat – but still moved into second place due to Netts D’s 6-4 defeat by Rayne D. Jamie Brooks was unbeaten for Notley C and Dean Andrews for Rayne D.
Sudbury Strollers introduced new signing David Fiddeman, but his three singles were not enough to prevent a 6-4 defeat to Netts C.
In division three Finchingfield B maintained its 100 percent record with a 7-3 win over Notley G.
Lucien Nolan-Bradford maintained his own unbeaten record, but was stretched to 11-9 by Ben Southgate in the fifth.
Behind them, an unbeaten night for Tim Townsend and Dave Whiting brought Rayne F an 8-2 win over Sudbury Drifters to keep them in second place.
Notley E led their own H team by beating Netts F 7-3 – Netts’ first defeat – while the H team were held to a draw by Notley F. Dave Parker was undefeated for Notley E.
Yeldham Whitlocks B meanwhile picked up their first win of the season, 8-2 over Netts E, where Steve Willis was the only one to beat Tony McShane.
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