It was a big week for Nomads Tigers in Division Two of the Clacton & District League, with the relegation-threatened side chalking up their first victories of the 2014/15 campaign.

John Marshall, an ever-present for them this season, stayed unbeaten as the Tigers unexpectedly defeated fifth-placed Windsor Owls 6-4. Kai Hoang and Eric Lemke each contributed a point, with Marshall and Lemke sealing the success by taking the doubles. The closest match of the evening saw Marshall defeat Adam Jackson 11-6 in the decider. Jackson and Tricia Salter took two each for the Owls.

The Tigers consolidated their position in their second match, defeating fellow-strugglers Nomads Jaguars 8-2. Marshall and Lemke each won two, with Daryl Lott staying unbeaten.

These two results move the Tigers out of the relegation places for the first time this season. Having played a game more, they are now 10 points clear of the Jaguars and five points ahead of Windsor Magpies, who were without a match this week.

The Jaguars are now rooted to the foot of the table and their cause was not helped when they suffered a 6-4 reverse at the hands of Windsor Harriers, despite a maximum from reserve Roger Hance. There were a couple each for Windsor’s Ferdy Rodriguez and Jenny Higgins, but the Harriers were fortunate to take all three matches that went to a decider. Isabel Barton beat Caroline North 11-5 in the fifth, Higgins defeated Andrew North 11-8 in the fifth, whilst Barton and Higgins took the doubles 11-9 in the fifth against Hance and Andrew North.

At the top, leaders Brotherhood C lost 7-3 to third-placed Nomads Ocelots, Peter Giles giving a stand-out unbeaten performance with a trio of three-straight wins against Lawrence Torr, Kevin Pryor and Fred Gallone. John Hockley took two points and Brian Parish one, whilst Giles and Parish combined for an 11-5 in the decider doubles win against Gallone and Pryor. Gallone was Brotherhood’s most successful player, his couple including an 11-8 in the fifth victory over Hockley.

Brotherhood D still retain the second promotion place following their 10-0 win over Brotherhood F. Paul Alden, Russell Hillier and Lee Harvey all took trebles, although Harvey came close to defeat against Sandie Isaac, scraping home 3-2 (11-8, 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 11-9).

The mid-table all-Brotherhood clash between the ‘E’ and ‘I’ teams saw the ‘I’ side emerge 8-2 winners, with Mark Beckham remaining unbeaten. There were two each for Tom Wilkin and Kelvin Olano for the winners, as there was for Tony Edmonds for the losers. However, it was a close 3-2 (10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9) for Beckham against Rodney Betts and an even-closer five-setter (9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 16-18, 11-9) for Olano against Gary Bayliss.

In Division Three, leaders Windsor Buzzards were 10-0 winners against Windsor Swallows, whilst second-placed Nomads Lynx were 9-1 victors over Nomads Wildcats, Andrew Cawley’s 3-2 (7-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8) win over Brian Friday providing the losers’ consolation point.

Brotherhood G fielded a guest player against Windsor Kites but won all seven valid matches to take it 7-3, John Wrigley and Graham Parkes unbeaten.

It was also 7-3 for Nomads Pumas against Windsor Ospreys, Andrew Cousins winning three, Lionel Goddard two and John Houghton one. But the match might easily have ended as a draw, Goddard beating Millie Easton 11-9 in the decider, whilst Goddard and Cousins took the doubles 3-2 (11-8, 6-11, 14-16, 12-10, 11-9) against Woody Fitzpatrick and Debra Found. Fitzpatrick won two for the Ospreys.

The tightest match in the division was the all-Nomads encounter between the Bobcats and the Leopards, which ended all-square. Doug Green and Keith Clubb won two each for the Bobcats and Lawrie Farrugia one whilst, for the Leopards, John Bonner took three and Harry Beezer one, with Bonner and Tom Collins snatching the doubles against Green and Clubb in a topsy-turvy 3-2 (6-11, 11-3, 11-0, 3-11, 11-6) scoreline.

In Division One, Nomads Lions defeated lowly Windsor Kestrels 7-3. Sam Hume recorded a predictable treble but there was a less expected three from reserve Brian Parish, his excellent hat-trick including a 3-2 (11-7, 8-11, 12-14, 12-10, 11-9) win over Bob Sawyer. Nomads’ Adam Wilkin was unlucky not to pick up a point, going down 11-7 in the fifth to Graham Bunce and 13-11 in the fifth to Sawyer.

Brotherhood A were 9-1 winners over bottom-team Windsor Ravens, Greg Green and John Andrews undefeated. Windsor’s John Long showed all his old wile and guile with a narrow 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 13-11) victory over Elliot Attrill. Attrill was also involved in a close encounter with Windsor reserve Frank Burbidge, eventually edging it 11-9 in the decider.

Peter Burrows took his maximum for Walton A but his side, forced to field a guest player, went down 6-4 to Windsor Eagles.

No-one stayed unbeaten in the drawn match between Windsor Hawks – their first draw of the season – and Walton B. There was a couple each for Windsor’s Felipe Rodriguez and Andy Vincent, and also for Walton’s John Rankin and Gavin Price. John Barton won a crucial point for the Hawks with a victory against Graham Buxton and took Price close before going down 11-7 in the fifth.

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* Players on e-mail should note that all future communication with them will be done through e-mail and, therefore, it’s important they keep their details up-to-date on the TT365 website. The first such communication with be information about the 2015 Closed Championships which will be sent out shortly. The usual postal arrangements will be used for players without e-mail. If there are any problems, please contact the League Secretary, Lyn White.

* The Windsor Club is organising a Pig Race Night at the St Osyth Village Hall on Saturday April 11 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £3 (for adults) and £2 (children). Bring your own nibbles and drink. For tickets or details, contact Jenny Higgins (Tel : 01255 43239701255 432397 or 07790 24056607790 240566).

RESULTS

Division 1
Windsor Hawks 5 Walton B 5
Windsor Ravens 1 Brotherhood A 9
Nomads Lions 7 Windsor Kestrels 3
Walton A 4 Windsor Eagles 6

Division 2
Nomads Jaguars 2 Nomads Tigers 8
Windsor Harriers 6 Nomads Jaguars 4
Brotherhood C 3 Nomads Ocelots 7
Brotherhood D 10 Brotherhood F 0
Nomads Tigers 6 Windsor Owls 4
Brotherhood E 2 Brotherhood I 8

Division 3
Nomads Wildcats 1 Nomads Lynx 9
Windsor  Swallows 0 Windsor Buzzards 10
Windsor Ospreys 3 Nomads Pumas 7
Windsor Kites 3 Brotherhood G 7
Nomads Bobcats 5 Nomads Leopard 5

Tony Oswick
March 2, 2015