NETTS B staged a dramatic comeback to claim the Braintree Table Tennis League Team Knockout Cup after staring defeat in the face at 4-1 down in the nine-set final.

After losing the first two doubles and two of the first three singles, they had a mountain to climb, but gradually scaled their way back, before grabbing the title after a tense final doubles.

The match reached its climax as the doubles ebbed and flowed until it reached the point where it was 4-4 in the match, the doubles was 2-2 in games and the score reached 7-7 in the final game.

Netts then took the final four points to land the trophy.

The result had not looked likely after the first set of singles in which John Andrews beat Andy Holmes and Steve Pennell got the better of James Hicks.

Chris Buer was the only Netts player to take a singles in the first half with what turned out to be a vital win over Ryan Pitt.

After Netts lost the middle doubles, Hicks and Buer won their second singles before Holmes narrowly overcame Pennell at 11-7 in the final set and finally Hicks and Buer took the doubles to secure the cup.

In the league, division one saw Scott Dowsett beat Paul Davison for the second time this season in Liberal A’s 7-3 win over Netts A.

His 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-13, 11-5 win was only Davison’s fourth defeat of the season in 67 sets.

Robin Armstrong also distinguished himself when for the second match running he outscored his teammates in Liberal B’s 7-3 win over Rayne C.

Other division one results: Netts A 6 Rayne C 4; Black Notley A 3 Liberal A 7; Rayne B 8 Notley B 2; Rayne A 8 Sible Hedingham 2; Rayne C 3 Liberal B 7; Liberal A 7 Netts A 3; Notley B 1 Rayne A 9.

There was a dent too in Joe Meleschko’s record in division three.

After 11 matches without defeat, he fell to Liam Ebbs 13-11, 2-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5 in Netts D’s 6-4 win over Notley I.

Other division three results: Notley E 9 Rayne J 1; Notley F 1 Notley H 9; Rayne I 1 Netts C 9; Netts D 6 Notley I 4 Notley G 0 Rayne H 10; Rayne H 6 Netts D 4; Notley I 3 Rayne I 7; Notley H 4 Notley E 6; Rayne J 8 Notley G 2; Notley G 2 Notley H 8.