Nomads Panthers are looking in good shape to fulfil their aim of making it a hat-trick of Division One titles in the Clacton & District League.
They maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 7-3 victory against Brotherhood A, their sixth success in six matches. James Denyer took three wins, Colin Webber two and Gill Locke one. Oli Reynolds picked up a couple for Brotherhood whilst Greg Green, gallantly leaving his sick-bed to make up the Brotherhood team, won once.
Nomads Lions are proving the surprise team of the season and they continued their good form with a 7-3 win over Walton C. Sam Hume won his three, and there were two each for Adam Wilkin and the side’s senior player, John Hatley. Derek Willis won two for Walton and, with Paul Meikle, took the doubles against Hume and Wilkin in the closest match of the evening, winning 3-2 (11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9).
In the all-Windsor encounter, Felipe Rodriguez and Andy Vincent of the Hawks recorded trebles against the Kestrels, their team winning 8-2. Bob Sawyer and Graham Bunce picked up a point apiece for the losers.
But Windsor Ravens, firmly rooted at the bottom of the table, found little comfort against high-flying Walton A, who breezed to a 10-0 win.
Lawford are the current Division Two leaders, this week defeating Brotherhood H 8-2. The reliable Richard Spence won his three for Lawford whilst Brotherhood’s Grant Sharpe played well to take a couple for the losers with wins over Paul Hewitt and Ian Sherwood. The closest matches saw Sherwood defeat James Smith-Daye 11-4 in the fifth, and Spence and Sherwood take the doubles 11-6 in the decider against Sharpe and Smith-Daye.
Second-placed Brotherhood D proved too good for Windsor Magpies, winning 10-0 with only two of the individual matches going to a fourth set.
It was also 10-0 for third-placed Brotherhood C against Brotherhood I but it was a much tighter affair, the ‘C’ team taking maximum points courtesy of a narrow 3-2 (5-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-7, 11-8) doubles victory for Gary Stallwood and Kevin Pryor over Jonathan Found and Tom Wilkin.
Duncan Dunne was the best player on the night as Brotherhood E beat Nomads Tigers 8-2, his hat-trick including a tight 11-9 in the decider win over John Marshall. Rodney Betts and Tony Edmonds won a pair apiece for the winners, as did Marshall for the Tigers.
The most competitive match of the week saw Windsor Owls edge past Brotherhood F 6-4. Frank Burbidge won his customary three for the Owls, with Tricia Salter and Sue Watson contributing one each, whilst Lee Allen and Barry Allen both won two for Brotherhood. But the Owls only squeezed out the victory thanks to two close wins, Burbidge beating Barry Allen 13-11 in the fifth, and Burbidge and Salter taking the doubles 12-10 in the decider against Lee Allen and Gerald Batt.
In Division Three Windsor Buzzards marched on at the top with a comfortable 10-0 victory over Windsor Penguins.
Their nearest challengers Nomads Lynx kept up the pressure with a 9-1 success against Windsor Swallows, Angela Barratt preventing the whitewash with a win against Peter Miller.
Nomads Pumas fielded a guest against Windsor Ospreys but three from Alan Dockerill ensured them a share of the spoils. Windsor’s Woody Fitzpatrick had a narrow 3-2 (11-9, 5-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6) victory over John Bowers.
Walton D’s Rivhu Khan stayed undefeated against Nomads Leopards, his treble including a good win over John Bonner. But two each from Bonner and Norman Jacobs, plus a vital 3-2 (10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6) win for Tom Collins over Toni Hayhow-Khan, edged the match 6-4 in favour of the Leopards.
Three each from Graham Parkes and John Wrigley and two from Vicki Edwards, making a welcome first appearance of the current campaign, helped Brotherhood G to an 8-2 win over Nomads Bobcats. Nomads’ Doug Green also performed on the table for the first time this season, playing only in the doubles but with, with Vic Little, chalking up a point against Parkes and Edwards.
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* The Handicapped Singles Tournament takes place this Saturday, November 29, at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. Play starts at 9.30am with the final scheduled for approximately 4pm.
* The draw has been made for the first two rounds of the Handicap Knockout Cup. Ten teams from Division Three will take part in round one before the remaining 27 teams join in at the second round stage.
There are four all-Division One ties in round two, the pick of them being the clash between Nomads Lions and Brotherhood A. Cup-holders Windsor Hawks have been handed a stern test against Windsor Eagles whilst Division One favourites, Nomads Panthers, also have a tough-looking tie away to current Division Two pace-setters Lawford.
Full draw
Round one (matches to be played w/c December 15):
(A) Nomads Wildcats v Nomads Pumas
(B) Windsor Ospreys v Windsor Kites
(C) Walton D v Nomads Bobcats
(D) Windsor Swallows v Nomads Leopards
(E) Brotherhood G v Windsor Penguins
Round Two (matches to be played w/c January 5):
Windsor Buzzards v Winner (D)
Lawford v Nomads Panthers
Brotherhood B v Nomads Tigers
Windsor Hawks v Windsor Eagles
Nomads Lions v Brotherhood A
Brotherhood E v Nomads Jaguars
Brotherhood C v Windsor Kestrels
Windsor Harriers v Windsor Magpies
Brotherhood F v Windsor Owls
Brotherhood I v Winner (B)
Walton B v Brotherhood H
Windsor Ravens v Walton A
Winner (A) v Winner (E)
Nomads Lynx v Nomads Ocelots
Windsor Condors v Walton C
Winner (C) v Brotherhood D
* The Windsor Club’s Quiz Evening is being held on Saturday December 6 at 7.30pm at St James’ Hall. For more information ring Jenny Higgins on 01255 432397 or 07790 240566. Full details are also on the League’s website.
RESULTS
Division 1
Walton C 3 Nomads Lions 7
Windsor Ravens 0 Walton A 10
Windsor Kestrels 2 Windsor Hawks 8
Brotherhood A 3 Nomads Panthers 7
Windsor Eagles 10 v Windsor Condors (w/o)
Division 2
Brotherhood E 8 Nomads Tigers 2
Brotherhood 0 Brotherhood C 10
Windsor Magpies 0 Brotherhood D 10
Windsor Owls 6 Brotherhood F 4
Lawford 8 Brotherhood H 2
Division 3
Nomads Lynx 9 Windsor Swallows 1
Nomads Pumas 5 Windsor Ospreys 5
Brotherhood G 8 Nomads Bobcats 2
Windsor Penguins 0 Windsor Buzzards 10
Nomads Leopards 6 Walton D 4
Tony Oswick
November 24, 2014