WITHOUT doubt the match of the season happened when St Josephs entertained Selex A in their Brentwood Table Tennis League Premier Division fixture.

Although the result was a 7-3 win for visitors it hides the part played by Alex Abbott in the match – up against the champions for the past three seasons and who are champions elect once again – Abbott claimed a hat trick of wins which included a first defeat of the season for Paul Sayer in five – Abbott taking the first end 13/11 with Sayer collecting the next two 11/8, 11/7 but Abbott held his nerve in the fourth to win that end 12/10 and followed up with an 11/8 fifth end win to remain unbeaten himself this season from fifteen starts. The trio from Selex, Chris Knight, Jon Stokes and Paul Sayer all defeated the St Josephs remaining players Sue Hickman and Robbie Burton.

Billericay Sports A hold on to second place and collected a 7-3 home win over Billericay A – the home side enjoyed the best of Babul McLeod who was unbeaten but needed all of his expertise against Dave Carter – losing two of the first three ends McLeod managed to take the final two ends to 11/8, 11/9 – Carter later enjoyed another five end struggle – winning against Bruce Kettle who held an advantage going to the final two ends but being unable to close the game down. Dave Calleja picked up two points for Sports which coupled with one for Kettle and three for McLeod plus the doubles win gave them their seven point victory. Kevin Worthington picked up two wins, Carter one win and John Gagg drew a blank.

In the First Division Writtle B fared quite badly in their latest two matches – at home to Billericay Sports D they only escaped a whitewash by picking up the doubles point against their opponents Mick Joslin, Malcolm Henstock and Brian Cole – three of the singles were completed in four ends and one Anne Lockhart versus Henstock went to five – so no joy for the home side in a 9-1 defeat at home with Kevin Barber, Martin Goddard and Lockhart scoreless. Writtle’s next match was another defeat 2-8 – away at Buttsbury A who fielded Paul Sturton, Caroline Cole and Tony Nettleingham against Francis Whitbread, Kevin Barber and Martin Goddard – Sturton was rarely troubled and picked up his wins all three straight – Cole lost to Goddard and Nettleingham lost to Whitbread despite winning the first two ends.

Billericay Sports D enjoyed a 7-3 home win over Billericay C with Malcolm Henstock undefeated.