After just a few early rounds of the Burnham & District Table Tennis League season we now have 3 clear favourites for the divisional titles.   All 3 leading teams are the only 100% win rate teams left in their respective divisions, and all have come out of the blocks like a ping pong bat wielding Usain Bolt. 

Cold Norton A remain at the top of Division 1 but fell foul to the paddles of new favourites Mapledene A this week.  Mapledene A had Steve Muth and new signing Jordan Allen to thank for their close, but important, 6-4 victory over their championship rivals.  Muth won all 3 of his singles, all in tight 4 and 5 setters, and Allen had debut victories over Charles Sweeny and Neil Want but lost out to the rejuvenated Steve Maltby in a tense 5 setter having been 2 sets up.  Muth and Allen then combined for the key doubles point to secure the overall win.  Maltby was the best of the Cold Norton trio with an extra win over Babul McLeod, again coming from behind to win out 12-10 in the decider.  That leaves Mapledene A the only unbeaten team in the top division and now the bookies favourite for the crown.  Fambridge kept up their challenge with a comprehensive 9-1 triumph over 2-player Mapledene B.  Hat-tricks for stalwarts Mark Stones and John Poysden, with the sole Mapledene point coming from Colin Chatfield’s inspired 5 set turnover of Bruce Kettle.  Champions Woodham A edged past this year’s surprise package of Cold Norton C.  Woodham’s Chris Penrose was back to his best with an impeccable hat-trick, and he combined with his Captain Dan Piglet for a straight sets doubles point.  4 matches, 12 legs, job done!  Just as well as the Hot Norton pair of Arron Chandler and Kim Shead were in the finest of fettles as both players skirted past Woodham’s Piglet and Tony Bonnici in quick fashion for their team’s points haul in the 6-4 overall loss.  Hot Norton C seem destined to completely avoid another flirtation with the relegation zonoids this season thanks largely to the inclusion of Sam Lowman and the recent excellent form of Mr Chandler.

Division 2 leaders Maldon A came up against their toughest challenge of the season so far when they faced Woodham D this week, but took it all in their stride and posted a 7-3 winning margin with Lloyd Bennett-Smith the slayer in charge with a perfect unbeaten evening.  Bennett-Smith was ably wing-manned by Colin Napper who won 2 singles and the pair partnered up for the extra doubles bonus.  For Woodham, their young star Peter Harverson did the most damage with a straight sets victory over the very tricky Brian Riedling, and then a revengeful 4 set triumph over the very choppy Napper – an excellent scalp for the emerging Woodham player.  This victory leaves Maldon 4 for 4, and sitting very comfortable, if not that pretty, at the top of leader board.  It will be very difficult to hinder this runaway train.  Despite a sticky start to the season the Maldon B trio are now beginning to fire on all cylinders and the impressive form of Garry Eames is now helping to convert draws and close wins into healthy margin victories that sees Maldon B roaring into the runner-up spot just behind their Galacticos clad A side.  This week Maldon B secured an 8-2 victory over Blackwater B with Colin Barrell recording his first positive hat-trick of the season – fresh on the heels of his negative hat-trick the previous week – someone has been chomping on their Weetabix this week (other cereals are available)!  Barrell’s team-mates Steve Aspland and Garry Eames both added 2 wins to boost the tally and of course Aspland and Barrell nicked the doubles as they always do.  Big shout out to Blackwater’s Gary Smith who took his best scalp of the season in his 4 sets conquest over Aspland.  The tricky Blackwater A side recorded their first win of the season with a 6-4 margin over Stow Maries A.  In a team dominated by defenders and pimpled paddles the contrast of Neil Freeman’s loopy attacking play can often confuddle Blackwater’s opponents.  This week was a prime example as Freeman unleashed his assets to great avail with a stunning first hat-trick of the season.  Denis Balic more than played his part in the victory with 2 singles wins including a very high ranking points victory over Richard Storey.  For Stow Maries it was Peter Chastin who kept the score in check with victories over Balic and Alan Scammell, plus the doubles win when partnering Storey.

Division 3 is mirroring the division above with its own Maldon-off at the top of the table as the Maldon C and D teams battle for supremacy.  Maldon D remain top courtesy of having played an extra game whilst Maldon C retain their 100% win rate and look certain to make the running.   Maldon D posted a comfortable 8-2 winning margin over Blackwater F with Arthur Shadforth back to his hat-trick ways.  Ross Wheeler and Matthew Copsey both added a brace of points with Blackwater’s David McHattie beating Wheeler and Oscar Wyman inflicting Copsey’s only loss of the evening.  Maldon C went one better with a 9-1 scoreline over Blackwater E.  Impressive and hard-fought hat-tricks for both Ella Sach and Shirley Carroll with Blackwater’s sole point coming courtesy of Keith Thompson’s victory over Chris Ravenhill.  In the final match of the week Woodham E opened their winning account for the season with a 6-4 victory over Blackwater D.  All of Woodham’s points came from the returning Allan Steel and the sartorial elegance of Chris Crooks.  Steel looks a class above the rest of the field in this division and has been quickly installed as the favourite for the Roy Davis MVP Trophy.  This week he was largely untroubled in his singles hat-trick that included a straight sets victory over the current holder of the Roy Davis Trophy Peter Davenport.  Crooks was unable to repeat this feat and lost out to Davenport in 5 sets but won his other matches and combined with the Man of Steel for the crucial doubles point.  With Steel and Crooks in their ranks you would expect Woodham to trouble some of the top sides over the course of the campaign.

Main picture above – Arron Chandler (Cold Norton C) versus Chris Penrose (Woodham A) this week