Southend retained their Essex Inter-League Mens title at Rowhedge in Colchester by amassing 37 points out of a possible 50 over the weekend of 10/11 February 2007, to pip Braintree by two points.

It was Kevin Read, the Burnham Mens Singles Champion who was Southend's undoubted star, and, as one of the few players to play on both days he excelled by scoring 14 wins out of 15, a magnificent return. In the process Read got the better of such notable players as Rik James and Mike Andrews (Colchester), Peter Hayden and Kevin Gowlett (Braintree) as well as Didier Ngoma and Matthew Spero (Ilford). His one defeat was at the hands of the still-improving Essex Veterans County player Ray Lam, representing Ilford, a match Southend still managed to win by an impressive 7-3 margin. Southend really turned it on this match and Read, George Reeves and Stuart Gibbs all won two singles. Revees set the ball rolling with a superb 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12 victory over Didier Ngoma and the Southend team never looked back after this excellent opening success.

Southend were equally impressive against Colchester with Read's three wins giving them the ascendency and with Stuart Gibbs and Gerorge Reeves both winning twice Southend again won 7-3. Rik James beat both Gibbs and Reeves but on this occasion he was a five game loser against Kevin Read. Southend's sole defeat came on the Sunday, 6-4, against Braintree when they were without both Gibbs and Reeves. It proved to be something of a "damage-limitation exercise" and Read's three wins meant Braintree were only able to shade the match 6-4. Braintree's Kevin Gowlett and Peter Hayden both picked up two singles wins whilst Bradley Hudgell, the newly crowned Chelmsford Junior Boys Champion was an excellent 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 winner over Nigel Lamb.

Braintree were the only team in the division not to taste defeat and they drew 5-5 in a cracking match against Ilford on the Saturday. 4-2 down at one stage Braintree hit back with some stirring play as Paul Davison beat Didier Ngoma 4-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 13-11 and Peter Hayden beat Ray Lam 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 12-14, 15-13. Kevin Gowlett then produced an equally inspired performance to beat Matt Spero 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-6 to give Braintree a 5-4 lead. Could Braintree secure a victory ? The answer turned out to be "no" and it was the Ray Lam/Dider Ngoma doubles combination who beat Peter Hayden/Paul Davison 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 to secure a draw for the Ilford side.

The Clacton A and B sides finished a little off the pace, and will have benefitted greatly from playing at this level. But, they did have a considerable say in effecting the outcome of the division. Clacton A's John Patrick was a 11-9, 11-8, 2-11, 5-11, 11-9 winner over Braintree's Steve Pennell in his side's 9-1 defeat whilst Clacton B's two wins against Braintree also went a considerable way in thwarting Braintree's challenge. Braintree's Bradley Hudgell was a 11-9, 2--11, 3--11, 9-11 loser to Mark Lewis whilst Peter Hayden/Bradley Hudgell surprisingly missed out over five ends against Mark Lewis/Mark Ratcliffe 11-9, 13-15, 8-11, 11-2, 7-11.

Southend went into their last match of the weekend aware that they had to beat Clacton A 8-2 to win the title and they produced an assured performance to win 9-1. Read and Charles Sweeney both won their three singles whilst Kevin James picked up a consolation win for Clacton with an excellent success against Nigel Lamb. Southend were Champions by two points.

	P	W	D	L	A	F
SOUTHEND	5	4	0	1	13	37
BRAINTREE	5	4	1	0	15	35
ILFORD	5	3	1	1	19	31
COLCHESTER	5	2	0	3	23	27
CLACTON A	5	1	0	4	32	18
CLACTON B	5	0	0	5	48	2