MALDON 'A's Paul Stephens produced the stand-out performance of the week in the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League first division.
Former Brentwood Men's Singles Champion Stephens scored a superb hat-trick of wins against Bocking as Maldon 'A' raced to a 7-3 victory. Stephens opened his account with an excellent five game win over Kevin Gowlett and followed this up with an equally impressive five game victory against Paul Davison and he completed his hat-trick with a 3-0 win over Jon Hill.
With Paul Sayer also winning his three singles Maldon ran out clear-cut winners.
Early leaders Maldon 'B' also won 7-3 and they had Keiran Lally and Minda Sinkus on undefeated form as they beat OCs 'A'.
Minda Sinkus beat Brandon Crouchman 12- 10, 9-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-9 in the closest game of the night.
ECC 'B' came out on top 6-4 in the battle of the two promoted sides, as they beat Excalibur 'B' 6-4.
Rik James won his three singles for the County Council side whilst Simon Webber won twice. Webber beat Gary Cattermole 12-10, 4-11, 10-12, 11-7,11-9 in the most evenly contested game of the evening.
DANBURY 'B' recorded their first win of the season which was never in doubt. Neil Want, Glen Laing and Tim Pulham won all nine singles as they beat Danbury 'C' 9-1.
LEADERS Elmtree Excalibur 'C' were the week's big winners with both Ian Rattray and Bill Smith undefeated as they beat ECC 'E' 9-1.
Elmtree Excalibur 'D' were 8-2 winners against OCs 'B'. Newcomer Russell Mills and Scott Dowsett both scored hat-tricks. Scott Dowsett had to pull out all the stops to get the better of Frank Hodge 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 7- 11, 11-9.
Allan Thompson was unlucky to be on the losing side in ECC 'E's 6-4 defeat against Chelmsford 'C'. Thompson scored a hat-trick of wins over Chris Denyer, Gordon Fairchild and Dave Parker.
DANBURY 'H' with two 8-2 wins are in pole position with Brian Ellis unbeaten against OCs 'D' with Adrian North winning twice for the Old Chelmsfordians team whilst Dave Powell was undefeated as they beat EPHQ.
Kevin Willis had got Danbury off to a winning start by beating Ian Hockley 11-9, 11- 9, 5-11, 6-11, 12-10 in the opening game. Richard Allen won his three singles for Danbury 'G' in their 6-4 victory against OCs D.
His closest encounter was against Charles Yeung and he eventually emerged as a 10-12, 11-5, 13-11, 6-11, 11-8 winner. Brian Riedling's hat-trick gave Maldon 'C' the ascendancy as they beat Chelmsford 'D' 7-3.
But the experienced Riedling was fully extended by Adam Pitt before pulling away in the fifth end to win 12-10, 6-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-7.
LEADERS OCs 'E' drew 5-5 with Elmtree Excalibur 'F'. It was the Elmtree team who came out best in the five-enders winning all three games which were decided in the fifth end.
Wiktor Delimat was undefeated for the Elmtree Excalibur side.
Highwood emerged as narrow 6-4 winner against Hatfield Peverel 'E'. Martin Goddard sealed his side's 6-4 victory by getting the better of Andy Simmonds 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4 in the last game of the night.
Simmonds had previously made his mark with 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 win over Anne Lockhart. Hatfield Peverel 'E' in turn did better against OCs 'G'. Ron Biggs and Paul Malley were both undefeated as they ran out 8-2 winners.