There was an early confrontation between the reigning champions and their likeliest title challengers in Division One of the Clacton & District League – and it was the challengers of Windsor Condors who came out on top, edging the match 6-4 against Nomads Panthers.
Colin Stallwood’s three wins for the victors were all secured in three-straight but Greg Green’s pair were harder-won affairs, 11-8 in the fifth against both John Hatley and Colin Webber. Sam Hume won two for the Panthers whilst there was one each for Hatley and Webber, the latter player defeating Elliott Attrill 11-5 in the decider.
Windsor Eagles’ winning start continued with a 7-3 result against a Walton B side who gave reserve Rivhu Khan a taste of top-level table tennis play. No-one stayed unbeaten in the contest, Fred Button, Phil Smith and Sue Welham each taking two for Windsor, as did Gavin Price for Walton. The two closest matches saw Button defeat Colin Dearman in five (14-12, 6-11, 11-13, 11-5, 11-6) and Smith beat Price 3-2 (11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6).
In the all Brotherhood clash, the ‘B’ team beat the ‘C’ team 6-4, Gracie Edwards, Martin Edwards and John Owen all winning a couple. Alan Burgess was undefeated for the losers although it was a close-run 3-2 (11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 12-14, 11-8) against Martin Edwards.
Derek Willis’ maximum in Walton C’s 8-2 success over Windsor Kestrels included a tight 11-9 in the fifth win over John Harvey. Jason Gale and Paul Meikle contributed a couple each to the victory, whilst Bob Sawyer took the two points for the Kestrels.
In Division Two Windsor Owls brushed aside the challenge of Nomads Jaguars with a comprehensive 10-0 victory. Woo Dy, Mark Salter and Tricia Salter all stayed unbeaten in an encounter where none of the individual matches went to a deciding set.
Nomads Tigers enjoyed an 8-2 win over Windsor Magpies but their star on the night came in the unlikely form of reserve Eric Lemke, who stormed to a hat-trick which included a 3-1 (5-11, 17-15, 11-4, 17-15) victory over David Sweetland. John Marshall and Daryl Lott won two each for the Tigers but both lost tight ties to Sweetland, Marshall going down 11-8 in the fifth and Lott losing 11-6 in the fifth.
No-one remained undefeated as Windsor Harriers edged past Lawford 6-4. Four of the individual matches went the distance, Isabel Barton involved in three of them, beating Ian Sherwood 10-12, 13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 but losing 11-6 in the decider to Richard Spence and 11-8 in the decider to Paul Hewitt. Ferdy Rodriguez won two for Windsor including a critical 3-2 (6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 1-11, 11-9) nail-biter against Sherwood. Hewitt and Spence shared the Lawford points.
Windsor Buzzards will feel pleased with their 7-3 success against Nomads Bobcats, Pete Bloomfield winning three, Ray Chillingworth two and Dan Malinowski one. Tony Beezer took a double for the Bobcats including an impressive 3-2 (11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10) success against Chillingworth whilst Harry Beezer defeated Malinowski in four and just lost out 11-8 in the fifth to Bloomfield.
Four of the matches between the Brotherhood H and I sides went the distance but it was the ‘H’ team who emerged 6-4 victors in a hard-fought contest between two evenly-matched teams. Graham Parkes and John Wrigley took two apiece, and James Smith-Daye one, with Parkes and Wrigley combining to beat Tom Wilkin and Jonathan Found in five (10-12, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7) in the doubles. But none of them could get the better of Tom Wilkin who recorded a second hat-trick in as many weeks, his three including a 12-10 in the fifth win over Smith-Daye. However, the closest match saw Parkes defeat Jonathan Found 3-2 (11-8, 11-13, 14-16, 11-8, 13-11).
Nomads Ocelots have made a storming start in Division Three and are the leaders of the embryonic League table. This week they beat Windsor Ospreys 8-2, Mike Wellum taking a maximum on debut with Tom Collins and Scott Campbell picking up two each. But the Ospreys will feel that, with better luck, they might have scraped a draw, Campbell beating Millie Easton 11-9 in the decider, Collins defeating young Maci Harvey 11-8 in the decider whilst Wellum and Collins edged the doubles 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6) against Easton and Woody Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick took the two points for the Ospreys.
Eric Lemke’s good week continued with a hat-trick in Nomads Pumas’ 6-4 success against Nomads Wildcats. There were a couple each for the Wildcats’ Brian Friday and Andrew Cawley, Friday defeating John Bowers and Cawley beating Andrew Cousins in the two matches that went to five.
Windsor Penguins showed little mercy on Nomads Cougars, Harry Barlow, Jackie Bunce and Ron Dacey all keeping clean-sheets in the 10-0 victory, although Dacey was kept on his toes by Gill Knight before eventually winning in five (8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 9-11, 13-11).
There was a 7-3 success for Windsor Kites against Nomads Lynx, Chris Simson winning three, Jack Haylett two and Rachel Simson one. Junior Liam Harris took an encouraging couple for the Lynx whilst Cameron Cini got on the winning trail with a 3-2 (7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7) victory over Rachel Simson.
Nomads Leopards fielded a guest player against Windsor Swallows but still emerged 6-4 victors, Tony Rayner winning three and Roger McNaughton two. Sue Chillingworth took the Swallows’ sole non-conceded point, surrendering only seven points in beating McNaughton 3-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-1).
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RESULTS
Division 1
Walton C 8 Windsor Kestrels 2
Brotherhood C 4 Brotherhood B 6
Windsor Eagles 7 Walton B 3
Windsor Condors 6 Nomads Panthers 4
Division 2
Windsor Owls 10 Nomads Jaguars 0
Brotherhood I 4 Brotherhood H 6
Windsor Buzzards 7 Nomads Bobcats 3
Lawford 4 Windsor Harriers 6
Nomads Tigers 8 Windsor Magpies 2
Division 3
Nomads Ocelots 8 Windsor Ospreys 2
Nomads Cougars 0 Windsor Penguins 10
Nomads Wildcats 4 Nomads Pumas 6
Windsor Penguins 3 Nomads Wildcats 7
Windsor Kites 7 Nomads Lynx 3
Windsor Swallows 4 Nomads Leopards 6