The match between Netts A and Rayne A is not the season-defining fixture in the Braintree Table Tennis League that it has sometimes been in the past, but their latest clash was not without significance.

It brought to an end the league champions’ run of victories since the start of the season as Rayne managed to hold them to a draw.

It was Andy Holmes who Netts had to thank for sustaining their unbeaten record. He won his three sets and took the doubles with Joe Meleschko.

Netts are still well clear at the top but Sudbury Nomads crept two points closer with a 7-3 win over Netts B, with Aron Jordan unbeaten.

Rayne A share third place with Liberal A, who were beaten by the same score by Black Notley B, the latter’s first win of the season. Steve Kerns was unbeaten for Notley, a win over Adam Cuthbert suggesting that something of his former self is re-emerging.

The win enabled Notley B to step away from the bottom rung 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 for Rayne B.

In division two, leaders 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, joining Matthew Brown in the unbeaten category.

Netts C and Notley C, two contenders for the runners-up spot, shared the points.

Yeldham Whitlocks A had a surprisingly comfortable 9-1 win over the higher-placed Notley D, with both Roy Hooper and Doug Sanders unbeaten, while Rayne E climbed off the bottom after beating their own D team 6-4.

Conrad Gomes, once more called up from division three, played his part with two singles and the doubles with Richard Whiteside, who was unbeaten

In division three, leaders Notley E took all 10 points from a two-person Yeldham B, while main rivals Finchingfield B took eight from Sudbury Drifters.

The latter match meant a contest between the division’s two unbeaten players, Lucien Nolan-Bradford and Graham Turner, which went Nolan-Bradford’s way 3-1 (6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7).

Rayne F lost ground when they were only able to field two players and went down 6-4 to Notley F. Conrad Gomes did all he could by taking his three singles and the doubles with Alastair Brown.

Netts F’s James Howard and Tom Verrier took all seven in their team’s 7-3 win over Notley H.

Netts E played twice in three days but are still searching for that elusive first win. They lost 7-3 to Notley G and 8-2 to Rayne G.