THE suspicion that Netts’ B team could prove stronger than their A team was given added impetus when the two met in the Braintree Table Tennis League’s third week of fixtures.

Despite three wins from Paul Davison, it was the B team who came off best by 6-4.

James Hicks and Andy Holmes won twice each and Maria Boulton came within a whisker of joining them when she fell short at 11-9 in the fifth game against Alistair Hill.

Hicks and Holmes combined to win the doubles – at 13-11 in the fifth - to guarantee the win.

No such dramas for reigning champions Liberal A but they did drop their first points of the season.

After two 10-0 wins, they slipped slightly to beat Black Notley B 8-2.

And after his auspicious performance the previous week, it was Victor Chan who again almost stole the show with excellent wins over Scott Dowsett and Simon Webber.

Brandon Crouchman was unbeaten for Liberal.

Hector Rogers’ three wins gave Rayne B a surprise 6-4 win over their own A team while Rayne’s C team will be pleased with their 8-2 win over Sible Hedingham where Dean Andrews was unbeaten.

Adrian Pitt’s three singles held Liberal B together as they drew with Notley A.

Andrew Huckson and Zach Harrington won two each for Notley.

Rayne E were the biggest winners in division two, 8-2 over Nomads, with Dave Miller unbeaten.

Notley C beat Rayne D 7-3 (Steve Noble unbeaten), while Dave Marsh’s three wins led Rayne F to a 6-4 win over Notley D.

Ian Butler’s three singles were Felsted RBL B’s only successes against the new-look Rayne G.

Rayne’s Adam Purslow and Steve Willis (ex Hedingham Lions) and Keith Flowers (ex Notley D) all won twice.

Notley E continued their good start in division three with a 10-0 win over their own F team.

Jim Davy and Matt Brooks this time joined Jamie Brooks on the winners’ rostrum.

The juniors of Netts’ C team proved superior to their senior colleagues of the D team when they beat them 9-1.

Peter Hardy’s win over Max Plumridge was the only one that eluded them.

Paul Martin and Liam Ebbs took all seven between them in Notley I’s 7-3 win over Rayne J.

Rayne H were awarded a walkover against Notley H.