Former champions Liberal A have livened up the title chase in the Braintree Table Tennis League with a surprise defeat of last year’s winners Netts A.

They were indebted to Brandon Crouchman, whose three singles were no surprise, but also to Scott Dowsett, who was in his best form for some years.

Dowsett’s wins over James Hicks (11-7, 11-7, 11-7) and Andy Holmes were revenge for defeats at their hands earlier in the season and he added Antonio Beckles’ scalp for good measure.

Crouchman and Dowsett took the doubles as well to give Liberal A a 7-3 victory, which, together with Rayne A’s 9-1 victory over Black Notley B, narrows the gap at the top to three points – and Rayne have a match in hand.

Rayne’s win was notable for the one they didn’t win, an excellent victory for 15-year-old Omar Wasi over Paul Lucas.

Rayne C strengthened their hold on third place with a 10-0 win over Liberal C while an unbeaten Ken Lewis led Sudbury Nomads to a 6-4 win over Notley A.

Netts B are eight points ahead in division two although neither of their two most recent wins came easy. They needed three wins from Jon Hill to ease them past Sudbury Wanderers 6-4 before Szczepan Ziobro was the only one to beat Adi Kamma in the 7-3 win over Rayne E.

Second-placed Rayne D were held up by a top-form Peter Pond, who took his three singles in the draw with Notley E.

Sean and Adam Clift took all seven in Notley D’s 7-3 win over Netts C while Louise Hartshorn’s impressive run continues. She won her three singles in Wanderers’ draw with Notley F, making it 14 wins in her last 18 singles.

Notley C gained revenge for a 7-3 defeat by Rayne F in the first match of the season by winning the return fixture 9-1 – and with five of the same players on duty. Rev Matthews and Gordon Fairchild were unbeaten.

Netts D continue to rule in division three but their three pursuers all crept a smidgen closer. Netts’ three players all had to give second best to John Barrett – only the second defeat this season for Charles Calisin – in the 7-3 win over Finchingfield while Rayne G, Great Yeldham and Notley G won 10-0, 9-1 and 8-2 respectively.

Sudbury Strollers needed the doubles to clinch a 6-4 victory over Notley H, for whom Ben Southgate was unbeaten.

The previous week, Doug Sanders’ three wins helped Yeldham to a draw with Notley I while Mel Cooch was unbeaten in Notley G’s 6-4 win over Rayne G.