Week 2 of the Burnham & District Table Tennis Winter League and Normal Service resumed in the top division because the Shell-Shocked Pre-season favorites go back to winning ways after the disastrous opening week representations.
The three favorite teams of Division 1 have all recorded impressive 9-1 wins this week-a great start for the title defender Cold Norton B that newly promoted Stow Maries A.
Cold Norton had a great week last week without lifting a paddle, because their nearest expected rivals both fell to unexpected losses in the opening week, but the normal service was resumed because both Mapledene A and Fambridge both recorded their own 9-1 adrenaline and moral improvements.
It was a relatively comfortable Evening of Sport for Cold Norton B in the Latchingdon Arena with hat tricks for Eric Green and a ‘nine-dart’ Treble for player of the Dave Richardson match.
Captain than Anderson looked at Treble Bound himself who had already taken the scalp of Ken Sheard and Richard Storey and apparently comfortable on 2-0 against Gary Brignall, but autumn can blow hot and cold and something has changed in the weather after the Gladiators came out for the third set. Brignall became ballistic, and while the leaves fell around the fighting Anderson, he was unable to endure the storm, because Brignall took the whitework-saving point for his Stow crew.
It was a similar story as Fambridge tortured Woodham B with a professional victory. Bruce Kettle turned his losing hat trick from the opening week with an intact-winning Treble this week-no set, not even close!
John Poysden, who looked far too soft to be eligible for the crowd of more than 70, also noted his first hat trick of the season, including a tight five-setter against one of his bogey opponents Saptarshi.
On 9-0 it all went swimming for the powerful Fambridge. Saptarshi saw the last match of the night entering the Octagon to prevent Gurj Bambra, although he had a five set of anxiety against Tony Bonnici earlier in the evening where he returned from 0-2 to win. A Topsy Turvy this one and after the first Slugfest the game was str the 2-2. In the last set, Bhambra staggered while the ‘great’ Saptarshi held his nerve to win the only point of his team at death.
In the last 9-1 Bloodbath, Mapledene, an exceeded Woodham A. Woodham’s Daniel Piggott who at least offers some resistance in his competitions, lost in five to both Steve Muth and George Reeves, and then in four against Burnham debutant Dan Bronziet-a very welcome addition to the competition.
Muth and Bronziet completed their hat tricks in style. However, Reeves met with some unexpected resistance of the courageous Graham Briggs who came around like a crazy one who picked up everything that Reeves threw on him. At Deuce in the decisive set, the big money was on Reeves who held his nerve, but in another shock it went the other way when Briggs made what he later described as the best victory in his 20-year career.
A busy week in Division 2 Saw a schedule of many closer meetings. Stow Maries B completed their match against Blackwater B and the double needed to achieve a 6-4 victory. All this despite the flexible operator of Blackwater Simon Quelch brings his A-Game and goes home unbeaten for a losing player-of-the-match version.
In the Maldon Derby, everyone was able to secure at least one point for their team when Maldon B 6-4 victors came out and again needed the double bonus point to secure that winning margin. Dawn Baldry was the best of the Maldon C trio with two wins, which was matched by Steve Aspland and Colin Barrell for the victor Maldon B.
Maldon A traveled this week to Mapedene C and cherished at home with a hard -fought draw. Colin Napper and Ross Kirby both achieved two victories for the Maldonites, with Denniss Squirrell that corresponds to that for Mapledene C, and also in combination with Bill Smith for the crucial double point.
In the competition of the night and probably a long affair survived the Hamish Innes of Maldon Smith in a roller coaster with five Setter that went all the way to 11-9 in the decision maker.
Newbies Cold Norton e bounced back from their opening weekly defeat to obtain both a 7-3 victory and the cold Norton-creating rights while tore their own D-team. Hat-tricks for both Dick Wyman and Neil want, and a nod to the young Oscar Wyman who worked hard but lost his singles, but still in combination with his grandfather for an impressive double-extraction-12-10 in the fifth!
In Division 3 The Blackwater Winning Streak had to come to an end – and with a Blackwater derby planned for Monday, no genius was needed to work out when this could happen. It fell on Blackwater E to disappoint the club when they had the Blackwater F-Trio to beat them 7-3 with Keith Thompson in the lead role with a fine hat trick of victories, and a supporting role in the Doubles when Vanessa Thompson took the lead and brought the booty to home. Andy Simmonds had a good evening for the depressed E team with two wins from his three games.
Blackwater D kept their impressive start with a crunching 9-1 win over a strong-looking St Lawrence team. Trebles for Jacqui Treace and Bat Twisting Roger Tiffin, while David Sage came close to chasing his teammates but fell into the defensive Mike Burton.
To continue the theme of Good Starts Blackwater C Crushed Woodham D with an impressive 8-2 margin. Woodham’s hard Chris Crooks was the only Woodhamite who took a singles point when he defeated Peter Davenport in the battle for the youth. Crooks then collaborated with Jean Chasmer for the second point in a fiery double extraction. For the triumphant Blackwater team there were hat tricks for Andrea Alleyne and Neil Thompson-where Thompson needed all five sets to pass the in-shape crooks.
The last game of the week was another Maldon Derby – they are official as London buses. Another close fighting battle for Maldon followed and we have to wait now for the reverse fixture to see if we can separate the Maldon D and E teams after this week’s draw.
John Leavett van Maldon E was the star player at night with an unparalleled treble from Singles victories, with Shirley Carroll from the D -Team and Luca Riedling, both of whom recorded a brace of victories for most of their points. So despite the disappointing loss for the Blackwater E team, this series of results still leave the Blackwater Club in the occupy of all the top four places in the early classification.
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