Chelmsford take Tachikara Plate Trophy but run out of steam in the Handicap Cup final.

Three clubs – Chelmsford, Brentwood and Southend – provided all six finalists in this season’s Essex Finals held at Mildmay Sports Centre Anglia Ruskin University. Brentwood Wildthings came out double winners with the Rucanor Cup and Handicap Cup titles, Chelmsford took the Tachikara Plate title but ran out of steam in the Handicap final having had to play a long delayed semi final earlier in the day. They were the only team required to play three matches in the day and it showed. Southend went away empty handed after a brave fight against Wildthings for the premier Essex title.

First up was Chelmsford v Brentwood Divas in a Handicap Cup semi final with Chelmsford seeking to reverse a 13 point disadvantage in each set to 30 points. After catching up quickly in set one they eased away to take it 30-26. In set two it was Divas who kept the upper hand and only when veteran Ken Edwards came on to serve with Chelmsford 25-29 down did the side rallied taking six unanswered points to steal the set 30-29. Set three saw a relaxed Chelmsford leave themselves too much to do at the end and lose 30-23, but with player of the match Pete Guernari showing the way in the final rallies they took the next 30-26 to take the title 3-1.

In the Rucanor Final, Brentwood Wildthings proved too strong for a resilient Southend side who were never quite able to come to terms with the hard hitting of Bernardi. The Wildthings team is based on a core that had been promoted to National League Premier Division next season so had all the answers when Southend attacked. This makes it six Rucanor titles in a row for Brentwood Wildthings and nine in the last decade, their position only threatened when Tendring won in 2005.

Those knocked out in the early round of the Rucanor Cup play in the Tachikara Plate and it was Chelmsford’s luck to draw Wildthings in round one of the cup. With their second team also losing in a later round, the two Chelmsford teams met in a scintillating semi final and it was a relieved Chelmsford 1 that took the finals place against fellow Essex Division 1 adversaries Brentwood Whackers. In a competitive but good natured game Chelmsford, led by hitter Attwell Mlilo, took the match 3-0, with set scores of 25-19, 25-21, 25-22. Speaking later coach Paul Bohannan said ‘We were always in front but never seemed in control or comfortable. Respect to Whackers who pushed us all the way.’

This left Wildthings and Chelmsford, each of whom had already played lined up for the Philips-Manning Handicap Cup final to finish proceedings. In truth the Handicap which saw Chelmsford start 8 points up in each set to 30 points was never enough and they looked a tired side having already played seven sets against Wildthings three. The set scores 30-24, 30-17,30-25 flattered them and it was telling that their player of the match captain and setter John Hill had not been available for the earlier games and looked much fresher. For such showcase matches the Essex committee will need to look again at scheduling semi finals so near the final bearing in mind the many months available for the semi to be played.