Braintree League: Netts already looking strong

October 13, 2025 | Ron Fosker

The new-look Netts A team – a mix of last yearâ€s A and B teams – have wasted no time in establishing their credentials in the Braintree Table Tennis League. 

They followed their first-week 8-2 win with another by the same score when they faced Black Notley B.

Andy Holmes and James Hicks were unbeaten while Notleyâ€s former menâ€s singles champion Steve Kerns – out of action for some time before and after a hip operation – got his comeback under way with a win over Joe Meleschko.

Sudbury Nomads, expected to be in the mix at the end of the season, got off to a solid start with a 7-3 win over Liberal B, where Richard Fifield, who joined the club halfway through last season, outscored Nomads regulars Karl Baldwin and Ken Lewis, who both lost to David Razzell.

Rayne A, effectively last yearâ€s B team, introduced newcomer Pandus Ademakinwa, who won two singles in their draw with Notley A. Steve Pennell also notched up two, including a win over last seasonâ€s menâ€s singles finalist Luke Burridge.

James Mullane started his season with an unbeaten evening in Liberal Aâ€s draw with Sudbury Wanderers.

Rayne C lead division two after a 9-1 win over their own E team took their points tally to 17 out of 20. Matthew Brown and Paul Wellington were unbeaten.

Netts D, who had started the season with a 10-0 win, could not repeat the dose against Notley D, who beat them 6-4. Matt Stephenson was unbeaten, unusually outscoring Graham Chinnery, who won twice.

Equally unusual was the appearance of Ken Lewis back in division two where his three wins helped Sudbury Strollers to a 6-4 win over Yeldham Whitlocks A. New signing John Colvin added two more.

Charles Calisinâ€s three singles led Netts C to a 6-4 win over Rayne D.

Finchingfield B lead division three after two big wins. They went one better than last weekâ€s 8-2 by beating Netts E 9-1. Peter Dacey and Trevor Laird were unbeaten.

Rayne F hava also won both their matches, Dave Whiting leading them to a 7-3 win over Rayne G.

Netts F followed their first-week draw with a 7-3 win over Notley F where James Howard was unbeaten.

Notley G have started the season with matches against their own clubâ€s F and H teams.  After a 6-4 defeat against the F team, they reversed the result in their next match but not before Wayne Wilson had repeated last weekâ€s hat-trick.

New team Sudbury Drifters opened their account with a draw against Yeldham B. Steve Willis was unbeaten for Yeldham.

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