Brotherhood G made an excellent start to the second half of their Clacton & District League season in their bid to retain their Division Two status with a comprehensive 8-2 win over Windsor Kestrels, a result which lifts them out of the relegation places.
Mark Beckham was the Brotherhood hero, his undefeated maximum including an unexpected 3-2 (7-11, 11-5, 14-12, 6-11, 11-9) victory over Graham Bunce. He was well supported by both John Gallagher and Paul Metcalf who each won two, Gallagher teetering on the verge of defeat before beating Kayley Rodriguez 3-2 (3-11, 8-11, 11-8, 25-23, 11-7).
Brotherhood’s week was made even sweeter with news that their two rivals in the relegation zone had both lost heavily.
Windsor Magpies went down 9-1 to Lawford, a result which also moves the Lawford side to joint-top of the table. Charlie Denholm and John Colvin stayed unbeaten for Lawford whilst their skipper Ian Sherwood won a couple, although it was a hard-fought 13-15, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6 against Malcolm Caley. But Sherwood couldn’t quite get the better of Dave Sweetland who took the Magpies’ sole point, 3-2 (4-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 17-15), in another tight match.
Windsor Harriers’ woes continued, losing 8-2 to Brotherhood E. Kevin Pryor won three, with Duncan Dunne and Rodney Betts each taking two, Betts having to fight hard to get the better of Jenny Higgins in five (11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 12-10).
Grant Sharpe and Barry Allen recorded trebles as joint-leaders Brotherhood D defeated Nomads Bobcats 8-2. Both Bobcats’ points came from close five-setters against Martin Scarfe, Eric Lemke winning 11-8 in the decider and Caroline Page taking it 12-10 in the decider.
Brotherhood C avenged an early-season 7-3 reverse to beat Windsor Buzzards 6-4. In a highly-competitive encounter, Mark Salter and Russell Hillier recorded trebles for Brotherhood, Hillier needing the full five sets to overcome both John Harvey and Andrew Cawley. For the Buzzards, there was one each for Harvey, Cawley and Ray Chillingworth, Harvey defeating Frank Burbidge 11-4 in the decider and Cawley winning 11-6 in the decider against the same player.
And the Buzzards, who’ve only lost one League doubles match all season, maintained their good record as Chillingworth and Cawley edged past Salter and Hillier 3-2 (6-11, 8-11, 14-12, 11-9, 11-8).
Division Three leaders Nomads Jaguars were without a game this week, which left the field open for the three teams challenging for second place to take the limelight – and all three had convincing victories.
The Windsor Penguins v Nomads Lynx match was marred by an injury to Dominic Joannou mid-way through the match but even a fully-fit Joannou could not have prevented the 10-0 whitewash. It was good to see Allen Denyer back on the scene playing for the Penguins, re-starting his Clacton League career with a hat-trick.
There were trebles for Bob Jillins and Dave Wright, plus a debut couple for Adrian Sexton, as Nomads Leopards beat Nomads Ocelots 8-2. Arthur Wells-Garrett picked up a point for the losers and took Jillins close before losing 11-6 in the fifth. The Ocelots will also feel pleased to have taken a surprise doubles victory, Wells-Garrett and Hazel Blanche beating Jillins and Wright 11-7 in the fifth.
It was also 8-2 for Nomads Pumas against Brotherhood F. Andrew Cousins remained undefeated whilst there were two each for Dave Harris and Alan Dockerill. Dockerill enjoyed a close 11-7 in the decider win over Harley Wood but went down 11-6 in the fifth to Maci Harvey. Wood picked up the second Brotherhood point with a win in three-straight over Harris.
And it was 8-2 yet again as Maggie Earle and Tony Sharman stayed undefeated in Walton D’s success over Windsor Merlins. But both players were tested by Sharon Gowlett, Earle winning 3-2 (12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8) and Sharman scraping through also in five (2-11, 3-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-9). Gowlett and Janet Cowie took a point each for the losers, Cowie enjoying an unexpected success against Toni Hayhow-Khan. The pair also gave a good account of themselves in the doubles but Sharman and Earle eventually took it 3-2 (7-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3).
In Division One, Nomads Panthers predictably beat lowly Walton E 9-1, James Denyer and Paul Hume preserving their one hundred per cent season’s records. Walton’s only success was Gary Stallwood’s close-run 3-2 (9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8) win over Liam Harris.
Daniel Young and Gary Young were two more hat-trick men, this in Walton A’s 7-3 win over Windsor Eagles, although it was a nail-biting 3-2 (12-10, 7-11, 16-18, 11-9, 11-9) for Gary Young against Gary Cattermole. For the Eagles, Cattermole and Mel Rampton both enjoyed good wins, 11-5 in the fifth and 11-3 in the fifth respectively, against Gavin Price. And the Eagles also had the honour of denting Walton’s unbeaten doubles tag, Cattermole and Rampton defeating Price and Gary Young in a comfortable-looking 11-4, 11-4, 11-5.
No-one stayed unbeaten in the Walton C v Windsor Hawks encounter, the Hawks taking it 6-4. There were two each for Felipe Rodriguez, Andy Vincent and Roger Hance, with Hance enjoying an excellent 3-1 (11-13, 14-12, 11-3, 11-9) win over Peter Burrows. Burrows’ couple for Walton included a narrow 3-2 (11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 14-16, 11-7) victory over Vincent.
* The closing date for entry for the League’s 2020 Handicap Singles Tournament is Sunday 2nd February. The Tournament takes places on Saturday 8th February at St James’ Hall, with play starting at 9.30am.
RESULTS
Division 1
Walton C 4 Windsor Hawks 6
Walton E 1 Nomads Panthers 9
Windsor Eagles 3 Walton A 7
Division 2
Windsor Harriers 2 Brotherhood E 8
Windsor Magpies 1 Lawford 9
Brotherhood C 6 Windsor Buzzards 4
Brotherhood G 8 Windsor Kestrels 2
Nomads Bobcats 2 Brotherhood D 8
Division 3
Windsor Merlins 2 Walton D 8
Nomads Lynx 0 Windsor Penguins 10
Nomads Leopards 8 Nomads Ocelots 2
Brotherhood F 2 Nomads Pumas 8