Second-placed Nomads Lions produced the shock result of the week with a famous 7-3 victory over previously undefeated League leaders Nomads Panthers in Division One of the Clacton & District League.
Sam Hume led the way with an uncompromising hat-trick whilst there was an excellent pair apiece for both Paul Hume and John Hatley.
The biggest surprises were the first reverses of the season for a distracted James Denyer but, like a true Clacton champion, he accepted defeat with good grace.
John Monk was the Panthers’ best player on the night, taking two singles – his win over Paul Hume ended the Lions player’s 100 per cent record for the season. With Denyer, Monk also shared a close 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7) doubles win against Hatley and Sam Hume.
And despite the importance of the top-of-the table fixture, and the long rallies and numerous deuce scorelines which featured in many of the individual matches, the contest was played out in the friendliest of competitive spirits.
Elsewhere, a Brotherhood A side fielding a reserve shared the spoils with Brotherhood B. There were two each for the ‘B’ team’s John Owen and Gracie Edwards, and one for David North, but none of them could get the better of the ‘A’ team’s Alan Burgess who stayed unbeaten. It was Brotherhood B’s first draw of the season.
There was also a first draw of the season for a Walton A team fielding a guest against a Windsor Condors’ side playing with a reserve. Kevin Gowlett’s hat-trick for Walton included a see-saw 3-2 (6-11, 11-1, 3-11, 11-5, 11-4) victory against Colin Stallwood. Windsor’s Annabelle Rodriguez picked up a vital 3-2 (11-8, 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6) win over Colin Dearman
Windsor Eagles took four of the five matches that went the distance against Windsor Kestrels and ended as 8-2 winners, Phil Smith and Mark Smith both recording trebles. Bob Sawyer of the Kestrels enjoyed a narrow 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9) victory over John Hobson but went down 11-5 in the fifth to Phil Smith, whilst Colin Beaumont lost 11-6 in the decider to Hobson and 11-5 in the decider to Mark Smith.
Graham Buxton and Gavin Price stayed undefeated as Walton B beat Windsor Ravens 9-1 for a second time this season. John Harvey took the Ravens’ consolation point with a victory over John Rankin. But his team-mate Woo Dy will consider himself unfortunate to lose 11-7 in the fifth to Rankin, and 11-8 in the fifth to both Buxton and Price.
In Division Two Brotherhood D were 6-4 victors against Windsor Harriers, Lee Harvey winning three, Russell Hillier two and Paul Alden one. Isabel Barton was the Harriers’ best player, notching up a fine 3-1 (11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9) victory against Alden and an equally fine but much tighter 3-2 (3-11, 13-11, 13-15, 11-8, 11-9) success over Hillier.
It was an easier 9-1 result for Brotherhood C against Brotherhood H, only Grant Sharpe’s win against Kevin Pryor preventing the whitewash. Just three matches went to a fourth set, the remaining seven all settled in straight sets.
Richard Spence of Lawford was forced to concede two matches against the Ocelots but the Nomads’ side was still good value for their 8-2 win. The Ocelots took the two closest matches, John Hockley beating Paul Hewitt 11-7 in the fifth and Brian Parish defeating Paul Phelan 13-11 in the decider. For the record, Ian Sherwood was missing from the Lawford side for the first time in nearly two years, thus ending a run of 46 consecutive League matches.
It was also 8-2 for Brotherhood I against Windsor Magpies. Kelvin Olano and Mark Beckham were Brotherhood’s hat-trick men whilst Jonathan Found’s valuable couple included a 3-2 (11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 5-11, 11-8) victory over Malcolm Caley in the only match that went the distance. Caley and David Sweetland enjoyed a good doubles win against Olano and Found.
John Marshall took his maximum for Nomads Tigers and shared an unexpected doubles success with Eric Lemke, but two each for Lee Allen, Barry Allen and Sandie Isaac saw Brotherhood F home 6-4. The only match that went to five was Barry Allen’s 3-2 (2-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5) victory over Nomads’ reserve Roger Hance but the most extended match of the evening was Lee Allen’s success over the same player, 3-1 (6-11, 11-3, 11-5, 21-19).
Nomads Jaguars’ Kevin Hume had a good win over Rodney Betts, as did Andrew North against Tony Edmonds, but Brotherhood E took the match 8-2. Duncan Dunne’s hat-trick included an 11-4 in the fifth win against Hume and an 11-8 in the decider victory over Caroline North.
In Division Three second-placed Nomads Lynx defeated third-placed Nomads Pumas 9-1 to move within five points of leaders Windsor Buzzards, who were without a match. Mike Hillier and Brian Friday remained unbeaten for the Lynx. Andrew Cousins took the Pumas’ consolation point and played well before losing 11-6 in the fifth to Hillier and 11-9 in the decider Friday.
Trebles from Graham Parkes and John Wrigley were good enough to give Brotherhood G a 7-3 victory against Windsor Penguins, all 10 individual matches being settled in three-straight.
Nomads Leopards defeated Windsor Ospreys 8-2, John Bonner and Harry Beezer staying unbeaten with Tom Collins getting on the score-sheet for the Leopards with a 3-2 (11-4, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-4) win over Millie Easton.
Doug Green won three and Keith Clubb two as Nomads Bobcats edged it 6-4 against Windsor Swallows, Clubb’s 11-9 in the decider win over Iris Howlett ultimately proving pivotal. Angela Barratt won a couple, and Howlett and Kayley Lamb one each, for the losers.
Walton D were narrow 6-4 victors against Nomads Wildcats, Rivhu Khan taking his three as did Lynette Sparks, her first hat-trick of the season. Hazel Blanche, Andrew Cawley and Paul Dale all took a point for the losers, with Cawley and Dale combining to take an 11-6 in the fifth doubles victory against Sparks and Toni Hayhow-Khan. The evening’s table tennis between two sociable teams was made even more pleasurable when Hazel received a telephone call midway through the match to tell her she’d become a grandmother again! Congratulations Hazel.
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* The Handicapped Singles Tournament takes place this Saturday (February 7) at Windsor’s St James’ Hall venue. Play starts at 9.30am.
RESULTS
Division 1
Nomads Panthers 3 Nomads Lions 7
Brotherhood B 5 Brotherhood A 5
Windsor Condors 5 Walton A 5
Windsor Eagles 8 Windsor Kestrels 2
Walton B 9 Windsor Ravens 1
Walton C 2 Windsor Condors 8
Division 2
Brotherhood D 6 Windsor Harriers 4
Brotherhood C 9 Brotherhood H 1
Nomads Ocelots 8 Lawford 2
Brotherhood F 6 Nomads Tigers 4
Windsor Magpies 2 Brotherhood I 8
Nomads Jaguars 2 Brotherhood E 8
Division 3
Nomads Lynx 9 Nomads Pumas 1
Windsor Penguins 3 Brotherhood G 7
Nomads Leopards 8 Windsor Ospreys 2
Walton D 6 Nomads Wildcats 4
Windsor Swallows 4 Nomads Bobcats 6
Tony Oswick
February 2, 2015