The Braintree Table Tennis League does not keep sophisticated computerised records but it’s hard to imagine there has ever been a team to match that put out by division three Rayne H in the first week of the league season. 

Between them Ian Rubens, Ernst Midl and Chris High have notched up 243 years. 

It was particularly pleasing to see Ian Rubens back in action after a four-year gap and, at 88, he has surely set an individual record.

Nor has he forgotten how to play the game. He was beaten by Netts E’s new signing David Montgomery but came out top in his other two singles. Midl and High followed suit with two wins to give Rayne H a 6-4 victory.

Sudbury Strollers were the big winners in division three with a 9-1 win over a far from negligible Rayne G side. 

Natalie Dodd and George Berry were unbeaten while Rayne’s new signing Conrad Gomes avoided a nil return by beating Geoff Bradford. 

There were 7-3 wins for Netts F over Black Notley H and Finchingfield A over their own B team. 

In contrast with Rayne H, Netts F’s team were all under 17 and acquitted themselves well against experienced opposition. JJ Calisin was the pick of the bunch, the only one to beat Nigel Parmenter. 

At Finchingfield, it was the B team’s Stewart Grant who was unbeaten, including a victory over the returning Dave Punt. 

Yeldham Whitlocks’ new B team started with a draw against Notley I with three wins from Steve Willis. 

Division two produced some more clear-cut results, 10-0 wins for Sudbury Wanderers over Rayne F and Notley F over Netts D, while Notley D had a 9-1 win over Yeldham A. 

The other two matches finished 6-4, Netts C against Notley E while Rayne E got the better of their own D team. Jamie Brooks was unbeaten for Notley E and Matthew Brown for Rayne E.