In Division 2 of the Burnham & District Table Tennis Winter League the battle for supremacy was heightened this week as Blackwater A moved within one point of long-time leaders and favourites, Maldon A. 

These two behemoths of the division meet each other later this month in what is being billed as ‘The Battle of Blackwater’.

Blackwater A, and their variety box of styles and rubbers, have been slowly closing in on long time Division 2 leaders Maldon A. Following this week’s 10-0 drubbing of Stow Maries B Blackwater are now within a point of the leaders and are busily prepping their tactics and sharpening their pimples for the title defining clash later in March.

The Blackwater trio of Noah Sage, Denis Balic, and Neil Freeman all hit trebles this week with Stow’s Dave Marsh putting up the most resistance with two five-setters and a long four-set loss to Balic. This Blackwaterian crew certainly have the momentum – let’s see if they have the bottle and nous to finish the job.

Elsewhere in the division Steve Aspland led his Maldon B side to a decent 6-4 victory over Dick Wyman’s Cold Norton E. Aspland notched a hat-trick only really struggling in a comeback five-setter against Wyman senior. James Raymond won two points for the B team on his call up, with young Oscar Wyamn holding his nerve in a tasty five-set victory for Cold Norton over Garry Eames. The Wyman ‘twins’ then combined for a comfortable doubles point to keep the score respectable.

Maldon C hosted Woodham C and in a friendly encounter they all agreed that a draw was the best outcome all round. The star player was Woodham’s Tim Pulham with a hat-trick of singles even though he survived a mighty comeback from Dawn Baldry to eventually overcome his foe in five sets. Woodham’s Dave Penrose had a busy evening playing 19 out of the maximum 20 legs available to him. He came through in five sets against both Baldry and Brian Riedling but lost out in four to Maldon’s best player on the night Marty Englander. Baldry and Englander paired up for the ever-so-close and ever-so-important doubles point – only squeezing through 12-10 in the decider – to ensure the draw.

In Division 3 we have already reported that Blackwater C have secured the title with weeks to go. This week they continued their winning form with a 7-3 turnover of Shirley Carroll’s Maldon D. Gary Smith was back in action and he hit his customary treble and was ably supported by Colin Barham and Andrea Alleyne with a brace of wins each.

Smith was out for revenge against arch nemesis Tim Huxtable who had robbed him of his 100% win rate only a few weeks earlier – it wasn’t going very well for Smith when he found himself 2-1 down and looking down that uncomfortable but oddly familiar barrel of Huxtable bragging rights. Smith had a word with himself, sorted out his serves, pulled his sleeves up and battled his way to a ‘revenge never tasted sweeter’ five-set victory. Huxtable did get some revenge though as he and partner James Raymond somehow took the doubles off the Blackwater Galactico duo of Smith and Alleyne.

The battle for second place is a bit of a damp squib – with neither of the protagonists showing much spirit in these crucial weeks. With Maldon D dropping points at the champions surely Blackwater D would take advantage. Instead of a much-needed boost, Blackwater D travelled to Woodham D and came away battered and bruised following a 6-4 loss. Woodham’s Simon Thomas remains in great form and hit yet another hat-trick with minimal resistance from his opponents. Thomas was well supported by Chris Crooks who edged past Jacqui Treacy 12-10 in the fifth, and beat Dave Benstaed in four sets, losing only to Jason Bush. To cement their win Thomas and Crooks squeezed past Treacy and Bush 11-9 in the final set in the doubles.

Mixed emotions for the remain Blackwater sides this week as the E team laid down a perfect set of nine singles victories but somehow then lost the doubles in a 9-1 win over St Lawrence with hat-tricks for Phil West, Kath Little, and Deb Ginn – with Mick Robinson and Nigel Brand taking the unexpected doubles point for the Baysiders.

Blackwater F struggled against a rampant Maldon E trio in an 8-2 reverse that saw Maldon’s John Leavett record his sixth hat-trick of the season. For Maldon Keith Thompson was in great form winning both his sides points with victories over Kym Eames and Patrick Coyne.

As we eagerly await the battle of the giants in Division 1 the middle order is being decided. Cold Norton C have been the surprise package this season and continue to rack up the results. This week they saw off the depleting challenge of Woodham B with an 8-2 win.

Kim Shead was on top form and hit his third hat-trick of the season that included a tough five-set battle with leftie Harry Sawford. In fact Sawford had the busiest night of anyone playing in four five-setters for just the single point against Martin Archie which he won 12-10 in the fifth after saving four match points when 6-10 down in the fourth leg. Supporting Shead were Archie and Arron Chandler who both won a brace, Woodham’s Peter Harverson taking a notable five-set victory over Chandler.

As much as Cold Norton C have impressed this year, Cold Norton A have underwhelmed. This week they drew with bottom placed Stow Maries and had Arron Chandler playing up to thank as he hit a treble of singles and combined with Steve Maltby for the extra doubles point. For Stow Richard Storey and Adi Kamma both hit two wins beating Neil Want and Maltby, with Ken Sheard adding the final point to secure the draw.