RUNAWAY division two leaders Elmtree Excalibur B showed impressive strength in depth in division two of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League.

They took on third-placed Hatfield Peverel B without the services of their best two players – John Holland and Gary Cattermole – yet they still ran out 7-3 winners.

The improving Peter Mynard was their match-winner and his excellent hat-trick included a 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 win over 2012 Chelmsford Division Two Singles champion Andrew Halling.

Reserve Fred Button played his part, beating Andrew Halling and Steve Buer. Elsewhere in division two ECC C, led by an undefeated James Hicks, ran out 7-3 winners over Liberal while Matthew Brown won his three singles as Writtle B beat Hatfield Peverel C 7-3.

Brown completed his hat-trick with a widely fluctuating 3-11, 12-10, 11-2, 9-11, 11-7 win over Neil Freeman.

Chelmsford B beat Elmtree Graphics C 6-4 in a match where no one player stayed undefeated.

Chelmsford’s Mike Johnston and Alastair Piper and Elmtree’s Richard Hiskey and Bill Smith all won twice. Hiskey fought back from 2-0 down to get the better of Adrian Pitt 7-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-9.

In the first division second-placed Bocking suffered a setback by losing 7-3 to Danbury A.

Danbury’s Michael Andrews led the way with an excellent hat-trick of wins over Kevin Gowlett, 2012 Braintree Mens Singles champion Paul Davison and Jon Hill.

Kevin Gowlett was the best of the Bocking players and his two wins included a fine win over Antony Greenwood by a hard-fought 8-11, 15-13, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7 scoreline.

Maldon B stay on course to win the title and they beat OCs B 8-2. There was no surprise who their best player was – 2012 Chelmsford Mens Singles champion Alex Abbott.

It looks certain that Chelmsford A will be relegated. They lost 8-2 to OCs B for whom David Cole was unbeaten.

Chelmsford’s reserve Robert Shrimpton made his mark in no uncertain terms. He beat Martin Cole 11-2, 6-11, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8.

Maldon A’s ace counter-hitter John Cleasby produced his best play of the season in his side’s 8-2 win over a two-man OCs A. He scored excellent wins over both Brandon Crouchman and Terry Dowsett.

ECC D were the week’s big winners in division three. They beat Danbury E by a surprisingly emphatic 9-1 margin. Neil Thompson and Richard Storey were both unbeaten. Thompson rounded off an excellent evening by beating Dave Hancox 11-9, 4-11, 10-12, 11-9, 13-11 in the last game of the evening.

Danbury B made it 16 wins out of 17. Glen Laing and Tim Pulham were both unbeaten in their 8-2 success against Elmtree Excalibur D. Elsewhere, Chelmsford D had an unbeaten Keith Martin to thank as they beat Danbury F 7-3, while ECC D edged out OCs D 6-4.