By Ron Fosker

They may have left it a bit late, but Liberal C have gradually been closing in on the top spot in division two of the Braintree Table Tennis League.

They racked up their eighth win in a row when they sank Felsted RBL A 9-1, just days after beating one-time leaders Black Notley B 7-3.

Those results meant that after 20 matches, they sat only nine points behind leaders Notley C, compared with 21 points before their eight-match run began. Gareth Davies was unbeaten in both their matches.

Notley C eased away a little more in their 21st match by also accounting for Felsted A 9-1 but will be hoping for a timely return from injury of their recent signing Remy De Lynen.

Ashley Butler accounted for Felsted’s point against Liberal with a good win over Jon Fieldsend, whose win average is 15 per cent higher than his.

Nick Butler gained the point against Notley C with an even more creditable win over Tim Huxtable, who is 37 points ahead of him.

Ken Lewis won his three singles for Nomads in their draw with Rayne E and in doing so avenged his earlier defeat by Dave Punt, one of only two people to beat him this season.

Hedingham Lions had only two players for the second match running and gained a well-earned draw with Notley D.

Adam Purslow took his three singles.

A week after chalking up their first win over a three-person team, Netts D did it again in division three, and with an entirely different team compared with the previous week.

It was their junior talent on display in the 7-3 win over Notley F, where Kierlan Richards’ three singles included an excellent win over Vernon King, a player 20 points ahead of him in the individual averages.

Warren Baines continued his comeback with three wins in Notley H’s 6-4 win over Rayne G while leaders Felsted C sailed serenely on with a 7-3 win over Notley G.

Matthew Laws and Mike Pitt were undefeated but Laws and Arthur Geen lost the doubles for only the second time in the last 12 matches.