Adam Buxton brought off one of the wins of the season in the Braintree Table Tennis League when he downed former men’s singles champion Brandon Crouchman in Rayne A’s 8-2 win over Liberal A.

Crouchman had been beaten only twice – once by current champion Michael Andrews – in 18 sets this season and had thumped Buxton 11-2, 11-7, 11-4 earlier in the season. But the Rayne man had his measure this time, and in straight games too: 11-7, 11-9, 11-9.

Ironically Crouchman was able to avenge his only other defeat by getting the better of Steve Pennell, who had beaten him in their meeting in October.

Zach Harrington also had a good win over Pennell but Paul Lucas, unbeaten since the first match of the season, stood above it all and took his three sets, albeit with a modicum of concern against Crouchman where he lost the first game and reached deuce in the second before taking that and the next two.

Liberal B’s relegation worries increased when they were beaten 7-3 by Rayne B, a match they may have had hopes of winning.

Evergreen Peter Hance was the main stumbling block. The day before his 75^th birthday, he won his three singles and the doubles with Keith Martin.

Black Notley B had only two players to take on Netts B. Dan Anderson won his three singles but Netts took the rest.

After their minor hiccup the previous week, division two leaders Sudbury Nomads were back in the groove with a 9-1 win over Notley E. Richard Kemp and Ken Lewis were unbeaten.

Second place is now shared by Liberal C and Notley D after Notley won the match between them 6-4.  Liberal C only had two players and it was Sean Clift’s win over the otherwise unbeaten Gary Fryatt that tipped the balance.

A week after taking his three singles for Rayne D against Notley C, Adi Kamma repeated the feat for Rayne C against the same team, helping them to a 6-4 victory.

Joe Meleschko was unbeaten in Netts C’s 7-3 win over Notley F.

In division three, the top two, Rayne E and Sudbury Wanderers, won 10-0 and 9-1 against Netts D and Rayne G respectively while Notley G also had a 9-1 win, in their case against Rayne F, for whom Stewart Grant picked up the one with a win over Jim Davy.

Seventh-placed Netts E beat eighth-placed Notley I 6-4 with three wins for Jimmy Calisin.