The notion that Sudbury Nomads could wrest Netts A’s Braintree Table Tennis League crown off them lasted only until the two met head to head in the sixth week of the season.

It was then that the champions put the pretenders firmly in their place – with a 10-0 victory.

Netts had used six different players in their first five matches, but in this match for the first time they brought together their A team of last season, Paul Davison, James Hicks and Andy Holmes.

The result was that their opponents rarely got a look in. Ken Lewis stretched Davison to five games and Richard Fifield did likewise to James Hicks, but they both went down 11-5 in the decider. Of the other sets, three were decided in four games and five in three.

Black Notley A have proved to be something of a surprise package so far. Fifth last year, as Notley B, they moved up to second place with a 7-3 win over Rayne B.

The evening was a personal triumph for Steve Noble, who outscored his teammates, something he had not managed this season – or for the whole of last season. He won all three singles as well as the doubles with Luke Burridge.

At the other end of the table there was a first win for Sudbury Wanderers, 7-3 over Liberal B, which lifted them from ninth to seventh. Fifield, who turned out for Nomads the following day, was unbeaten this time.

Division two’s reputation for close results continued with a 5-5, two 6-4s and even top team Rayne C joined in with a closer than might have been expected 7-3 win over seventh-placed Yeldham Whitlocks A.

Behind them, Notley C were held to a draw by Finchingfield A – the first time the latter have avoided defeat – but nonetheless moved up to second place in view of Netts D’s 6-4 defeat by Rayne D. Jamie Brooks was unbeaten for Notley C and Dean Andrews for Rayne D.

Sudbury Strollers introduced new signing David Fiddeman, but his three singles were not enough to stave off a 6-4 defeat by Netts C.

In division three Finchingfield B maintained their 100 per cent record with a 7-3 win over Notley G.

Lucien Nolan-Bradford kept his own unbeaten record but was stretched to 11-9 in the fifth by Ben Southgate.

Behind them, an unbeaten evening for Tim Townsend and Dave Whiting gave Rayne F an 8-2 win over Sudbury Drifters to keep them in second place.

Notley E moved ahead of their own H team by beating Netts F 7-3 – Netts’ first defeat – while the H team were being held to a draw by Notley F. Dave Parker was unbeaten for Notley E.

Yeldham Whitlocks B meanwhile picked up their first win of the season, 8-2 over Netts E, where Steve Willis was the only one to beat Tony McShane.