Two successive 9-1 wins have taken Black Notley E to the top of division three of the Braintree Table Tennis League.

They followed their win over Netts E by beating Rayne G by the same score. Ken Wilding and Peter Davenport were unbeaten while Ian Rubens earned Rayne’s point with a win over Jacqueline Smith at 11-9 in the deciding game.

The win takes Notley E six points ahead of Finchingfield B, who have a match in hand.

Notley teams were also successful in the other two matches in the division. The F team overcame Sudbury Drifters 7-3 where Sudbury’s new signing Graham Turner won his three singles, all in straight games.

Notley H had a 6-4 win over Yeldham Whitlocks B, for whom Steve Willis was undefeated, including a victory over Wayne Wilson, beaten only three times in 21 sets up to that point.

It was close, though: 8-11, 15-13, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9.

In division two, leaders Rayne C were back in normal mode after their first defeat the previous week by recording an 8-2 win over Notley D. Rayne’s new signing James Grimston, making only his second appearance of the season, was unbeaten, just as he had been in the first.

Netts D moved to within touching distance of second place but could only muster four sets against Yeldham A. Roy Hooper and Doug Sanders took Yeldham’s six sets between them, three for Hooper, two for Sanders plus the doubles.

Rayne D follow two points behind after a 6-4 win over Sudbury Strollers. It’s the fifth time in seven matches that Strollers have had a 6-4 scoreline, three in their favour and two against.

After registering their first win the previous week, Finchingfield A made it two in a row with a 7-3 victory over Netts C Peter Clark took his individual record to its logical conclusion. After winning none in his first outing, where he had to retire injured, he has now won one, two and three in his next three matches.

In division one, Sudbury Nomads moved up to second place after a 9-1 win over Notley B.

Karl Baldwin and Aron Jordan were undefeated, while Neil Freeman ensured Notley B did not go home empty-handed by getting the better of Richard Fifield.

Nomads are on 49 points, with the next four teams all bunched up behind them: Netts B, who have played one more match, on 48, Liberal A on 47, Notley A 44, and Rayne A, who have a match in hand on the two teams above them, on 39.

Rayne A suggested they could soon move up by beating Netts B 6-4. John Andrews was unbeaten.

Notley A and Liberal A faced each other and took home five points each. No one won all three or lost all three. Steve Noble for Notley, Alistair Hill and Ashley Skeggs for Liberal took two each.

Rayne’s B team ended a run of five defeats by overcoming Sudbury Wanderers 6-4, despite three wins from Wanderers’ Colin Moss.