Netts A surrendered their 100 per cent win record in the Braintree Table Tennis League but have regained the first division title, their third in four years.

In division three Finchingfield A became the first team in any division for 16 years to win all their matches.

While eyes turned to the individual championships for a couple of weeks, the final two weeks of league fixtures settled the destination of the trophies.

Netts A were held to a draw by last season’s champions Rayne A but wins over Black Notley A and Sudbury Nomads took them beyond reach.

New open singles champion Gary Young was to the fore in the clash between the top two. He won his three singles and partnered James Hicks to a doubles win. Rayne’s wins came from Paul Lucas (2), Marian Boulton (2) and Oliver Hicks.

Netts’ win over Notley A may have looked routine at 9-1 but it was the one that got away that raised eyebrows, the first defeat of the season for Paul Davison, at the hands of Sean Clift, a player in his first season in the top division.

In division two, Rayne D became only the second team to prevent a Sudbury Wanderers win. Three singles from Adi Kamma helped Rayne to a draw.

His win over Colin Moss is worthy of note, decided by two points in all five games: 9-11, 13-15, 11-9, 13-11, 11-9.

Notley D’s late surge up the table ended in disappointment when they could not raise a team to face Yeldham Whitlocks A and had to concede the match.

But in the end it was their own E team who denied them the runners-up medals. By restricting them to a 6-4 win, it meant they finished one point behind Rayne E, who ended with wins of 6-4 over Netts D and 9-1 over Notley F.

Finchingfield A’s title credentials have been obvious from the start in division three and they clinched the trophy with two matches to spare with a 6-4 win over their closest rivals Sudbury Strollers.

Richard Fyfield was unbeaten for Strollers, as he has been in all his 30 sets, but it was the team effort by John Barrett, Peter Clark and Dave Punt that preserved their 100 per cent record.