There was a very closely contested match in the Premier Division when Lentern A hosted the game against Hullbridge A. Nigel Lamb won a hat trick for the away side and the score was 4-4 going into the last game of the night when his team-mate Peter Saunders came up trumps to bank his second win and give Hullbridge a 5-4 win.
Runnymede A had an 8-1 win over The Warehouse A team thanks to maximums for Stuart Gibbs and Dave Bowles. They were denied a clean sheet by fourteen year old Nicole Sydenko who overcame Kevin Caldon to win her first game in the Southend League’s Premier Division.
In Division 1, there were five matches that went the full distance and were won 5-4 in the last game. Hullbridge C were the victors in the game against Whittingham when Andy Seaman won the last game to give his side the win despite Craig Harris having banked a hat trick for Whittingham.
Frank Hooper clinched the win for RESSC A in the last game of their match against Hadleigh Forum A in another encounter that went all the way. Graham Farmer won all his games for Hadleigh Forum but finished on the losing side.
In Division 2, Owen Warren, Sam Chesher and Dan Sanderson put in a team performance for Legra B by winning two games each to give them a 6-3 win over Rawreth G. They all lost to Sam Langton who only met any real resistance from Owen Warren before beating him 11-9 in the fifth.
The match between Warehouse C and St Peters went down to the wire with Stan Dyson winning the match 5-4 for Warehouse in the last tie and securing a hat trick on his debut for the home team. Ray Elsdon & Brian Parker banked a pair each for the losers.
In Division 3, Wakering overcame Canvey D 7-2 but the match was closer than the score suggests. Cliff Noakes led the way for Wakering with a hat trick and he was supported by Dave Accleton and Dick Gilbert who each banked two wins, both of them losing to Canvey’s Rob McDonald.
Invicta B had a comfortable 8-1 win over Hullbridge E. Alex Leigh won the first game for Hullbridge when he overcame Norman Cregor but from then on it all went downhill for his team. John Golding and Derek North were both unbeaten for Invicta.
In Division 4, Rob Reed was the hat trick hero for Rawreth H when he led his team to a 5-4 win over Warehouse D. Zac England supplied the other two wins but was denied his maximum by the Warehouse’s veteran two game winner, Lawrie Neville.
29th September 2008
The Premier Division title holders Rawreth A kicked off the new season with a convincing 8-1 win over Warehouse A. Kevin Read and Chris Jacob steamed their way to hat tricks while Lee Prentice was on course to follow suit until he came up against Andy MacKay in his last game. Andy lost the first leg but then won the next three, two of them going to deuce.
Rawreth B overcame Rayleigh Mill by the same scoreline. In a hard fought match in which all but one of the games went to at least four ends, Andrew Halling and Keith Phillips emerged unbeaten but Ray Eldridge spoiled their clean sheet with a win over Babul McLeod.
In Division 1, Warehouse B got off to a good start with a 6-3 win over Rawreth D. Jim Stait hit his way to a hat trick but their new player, Nicola Sydorenka was the surprise of the night. The Warehouse have been lucky enough to sign up the very talented 14 year old who is the No.1 Junior girl in Poland and shows great potential.
Maximums for Dave Woolmer and Mick Tappenden gave Hadleigh Forum B a 6-3 win over Hullbridge C. Mick is an ex Ilford League player who is making a return to the game after an absence of twelve years but he has obviously not lost his touch.
In Division 2, St. Peters hosted the match against Rawreth F which went down to the wire. The score was 4-4 going into the last game but Rawreth’s John Shirley came up trumps completing his hat trick with a five-leg win over Paul Reed to clinch victory for his team.
Lentern D managed a 5-4 win over Canvey C despite their third player failing to put in an appearance. Graeme Dale was unbeaten and John Gard supported him with two wins before losing to Canvey’s Peter Cray.
In Division 3, Canvey D’s Rob McDonald grabbed the win for his team in the last game of the night. His second win together with two already banked for Steve Parker and one for Mervyn Francis gave them the 5-4 win. Runnymede’s Ian Tuckey cruised his way to a hat trick but was on the losing side.
Bob Gabe, Jean Catley and Terry Faires won two games each for Hadleigh Forum C in their 6-3 win over Runnymede D. Kieran Wood, playing in his first match for Runnymede in the Southend League, fought hard and was rewarded with a hat trick.
In Division 4, Neal Klyman banked three wins for Hullbridge F to lead his team to a 7-2 win over Canvey E. He was assisted by Bill Chester and Bill Hoy who each won two games but were denied their maximums by Canvey’s Jimmy Readon.
TT-on-Sea, a new club in the League, fielded their junior players against the youngsters of Hullbridge F and were delighted to win their first match 9-0. Nick Hennesy, Matt Ponting and Jack Burns comprised the successful side.