HATS OFF TO HARRY
If Nomads Jaguars survive in Division Two the Clacton and District League this season they will have reason to be grateful to their veteran number one player Harry Hawkes.
For the second week running, Hawkes recorded a maximum in his side’s battle against relegation, his treble against Brotherhood C including comfortable wins in three against Fred Gallone and Brotherhood reserve Tony Edmonds, and a fine 14-12, 4-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8 success against Kevin Pryor.
Alas for Hawkes, the Jaguars were forced to field two reserves and went down 7-3 but, with a match in hand over the nearest team below them, Brotherhood I, they stay four points clear of the relegation places.
Brotherhood I were also on the wrong end of a 7-3 score-line, this at the hands of Windsor Harriers. Ferdy Rodriguez was the Harriers’ undefeated star, with Isabel Barton providing good support with two wins. John Wrigley took a couple for the losers and Allen Denyer one, but Brotherhood will feel unfortunate to have lost three of the four matches that went to five, Denyer going down 11-6 in the decider to Rodriguez and 11-9 in the decider to Barton.
Frank Burbidge and Adam Jackson stayed undefeated in yet another 7-3 result as Windsor Owls beat Brotherhood J. Sue Watson left without a point but will feel unfortunate to have lost 11-5 in the fifth to Tom Wilkin and 12-10 in the fifth to Kelvin Olano.
At the top of the table, Windsor Ravens preserved their unbeaten record and second place when they shared the spoils with third-placed Nomads Ocelots. John Harvey picked up an important singles victory for the Ravens, winning the only match that went the distance, 11-5 in the fifth against Daryl Lott. Gary Stallwood was unbeaten for Windsor with Peter Giles and Doug Green each winning two for Nomads.
Brotherhood G kept their Division Three promotion hopes alive with a convincing 10-0 victory over Windsor Ospreys, a result that leaves them equal on points with Brotherhood H in second place, having played a game more.
The Nomads Pumas and Lynx teams are separated by just two points in the middle of the table and so it was little surprise that the meeting of the two teams ended all-square. There was a maximum for the Lynx’s Brian Friday whilst there were two each for Kevin Hume of the Lynx and the Pumas’ John Bowers. Alan Dockerill picked up just a single point for the Pumas, losing in five to both Friday and Hume.
Brotherhood L were forced to field a guest against Windsor Swallows but still came away 6-4 victors, Morgan Harvey unbeaten and Jonathan Found winning twice. But it was a close-run thing for Harvey who beat both Sheila Howe and Angela Barratt by the same score, 11-9 in the fifth.
The Nomads Leopards v Windsor Penguins match ended with honours even. Nomads’ new-signing Jordan Blanche-Price was unbeaten and Harry Beezer won two but they failed to win the doubles, Mike Monschau and Jackie Bunce taking it in four.
Nomads Wildcats celebrated their second win of the season, 7-3 over Windsor Kites. Harry Barlow, Hazel Blanche and Andrew Cawley all won two, with Chris Simson taking a couple for the losers.
In Division One there were three each for James Denyer and Gill Locke, and two for Colin Webber as Nomads Panthers eased to a 9-1 victory over Walton B. Gavin Price’s 11-6 in the decider victory against Webber was the only Walton success.
There were hat-tricks for Greg Green and Alan Burgess, and a couple for Dave Binns in Brotherhood A’s 8-2 win against Windsor Eagles, although it was 11-9 in the fifth for Burgess against Phil Smith and for Binns against Fred Button. Smith took a point by beating Binns and shared a doubles success with Button against Green and Binns.
Walton A were 6-4 winners against Walton D, an undefeated Peter Burrows excelling with a 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 victory over Kevin Gowlett. John Rice with two and Colin Dearman with one picked up the other ‘A’ team points.
Martin Edwards’ three matches for Brotherhood B against Paul Meikle, Derek Willis and Jason Gale all went the distance and, although he came out on top in them all, it could not prevent Walton B winning 6-4. Willis and Meikle each won twice and shared an important 11-7 in the decider doubles success against Edwards and John Owen.
It was an equally tight match in the all-Nomads’ meeting between the Lions and the Cougars, John Fenton emerging with a hat-trick in the Lions’ 6-4 victory. Fenton’s crucial 18-16 in the decider victory against Sam Hume proved to be one of the closest matches of the season. John Hatley won twice for the Lions as did Hume for the Cougars.
If the Cougars are becoming detached at the bottom of the table, Brotherhood D are isolated, this week losing 8-2 to Windsor Hawks for whom Felipe Rodriguez and John Barton stayed undefeated. But it was not without a fight, Russell Hillier taking a singles win against Ian Fielder and, together with Shaun Beckham, winning the doubles 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 3-11, 12-10 against Fielder and Barton.
* In Division Two of the Veterans Section of the Essex Inter-League, Clacton defeated Braintree 7-2. Gill Locke won both her singles, Colin Webber and Phil Smith one each, with the town team winning all three doubles. But the score-line concealed a close-fought match with no less than six of the nine matches going the distance, Clacton winning five of them. The tightest saw Smith beat Braintree’s Adam Buxton 15-13 in the fifth.
In Division Three of the Super-Veterans Section Clacton’s John Hobson, Paul Woolnough and Colin Beaumont overcame Southend C 6-3. Beaumont was undefeated in both singles and doubles, whilst Hobson and Woolnough took a singles and a doubles each.
* The Handicapped Singles Tournament takes place on Saturday 22nd February at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall, with play starting at 9.30 am. Entries can be made on-line or by post to Tony Oswick. Entry will be limited to forty-five players. The closing date is Monday 17th February. Full details are with Team Secretaries and are also on the League’s website.
RESULTS
Division 1
Nomads Panthers 9 Walton B 1;
Nomads Lions 6 Nomads Cougars 4;
Windsor Hawks 8 Brotherhood D 2;
Walton A 6 Walton D 4;
Brotherhood A 8 Windsor Eagles 2;
Walton C 6 Brotherhood B 4.
Division 2
Windsor Ravens 5 Nomads Ocelots 5;
Brotherhood C 7 Nomads Jaguars 3;
Windsor Owls 7 Brotherhood J 3;
Windsor Harriers 7 Brotherhood I 3.
Division 3
Windsor Kites 3 Nomads Wildcats 7;
Brotherhood L 6 Windsor Swallows 4;
Nomads Pumas 5 Nomads Lynx 5;
Brotherhood G 10 Windsor Ospreys 0;
Brotherhood E 10 Walton E 0;
Nomads Leopards 5 Windsor Penguins 5.
Essex Inter-League
Veterans Division 2
Braintree 2 Clacton (Webber, Locke, Smith) 7
Super-Veterans Division 3
Southend C 3 Clacton (Hobson, Woolnough, Beaumont, Hockley) 6
To view the full tables click here
Tony Oswick (February 2, 2014)