Windsor Buzzards edged ever-closer to the Division Three title of the Clacton & District League with a hard-fought 6-4 victory against surprise Cup semi-finalists Nomads Leopards.
In a good all-round team performance which maintained their unblemished 100 per cent win record, Pete Bloomfield, Ray Chillingworth and Alan Rutledge each contributed two points, although it was a nervous 11-4 in the decider for Rutledge against Harry Beezer.
The consistent John Bonner stayed unbeaten for the Leopards, his closest match being a 3-2 (8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4) success against Chillingworth. The tightest match of the evening was the doubles, Bonner and Tom Collins defeating Bloomfield and Chillingworth 3-2 (11-5, 5-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6).
Walton D returned to action with a 7-3 win over Windsor Kites, a repeat of their early-season score. Rivhu Khan took three, Lynette Sparkes two and Toni Hayhow-Khan one for Walton, whilst Chris Simson won twice for the Kites.
Windsor Ospreys were 6-4 winners against a Nomads Wildcats’ side forced to field a guest player. In the crunch match, Debra Found defeated Andrew Cawley 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12) to guarantee the match victory for the Ospreys.
Mike Monschau and Alan Charman were unbeaten as Windsor Penguins beat Windsor Swallows 9-1 but the scoreline belied a much closer match which, in other circumstances, might well have ended all-square. Swallows’ skipper Iris Howlett will feel particularly hard done-by, losing 11-6 in the fifth to Jackie Bunce, 11-8 in the fifth to Monschau and 13-11 in the fifth to Charman.
Kayley Lamb took the Swallows’ sole point, defeating Bunce 3-2 (11-4, 11-9, 5-11, 10-12, 11-3), and she ran Charman close before running out of steam, Charman taking the match in five (10-12, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 11-2).
Doug Green and Vic Little were the hat-trick kings for Nomads Bobcats in the 8-2 success over club-mates Nomads Pumas. Little had a close 3-2 (5-11, 13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5) victory over Lionel Goddard and an even tighter five-set (4-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-6) win against Andrew Cousins, this after being 10-6 down in the third set. But Cousins showed his mettle against Keith Clubb to win 3-2 (11-7, 11-7, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10) whilst, with John Houghton, shared a fine doubles victory in four against Green and Little.
The closest encounter in Division One saw Walton B draw with Windsor Condors. Colin Stallwood predictably took his three for the Condors but he was taken all the way by Gavin Price before eventually triumphing 11-6 in the fifth.
Price’s two points for Walton included an 11-6 in the decider success over Paul Woolnough, whilst Paul Newbould’s defeated the same player 3-2 (6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4) before edging out Annabelle Rodriguez also in five (11-6, 12-14, 10-12, 13-11, 11-6).
Walton A, fielding a guest player, ran out 7-3 winners against Windsor Kestrels, Peter Burrows and Colin Dearman both recoding hat-tricks.
In another Walton v Windsor clash, Walton C beat the already-relegated Ravens 8-2, Derek Willis remaining undefeated. But the Ravens continue to battle hard, Willis requiring an 11-5 in the fifth victory to overcome Woo Dy, whilst John Harvey chalked up two excellent victories for Windsor, 11-5 in the decider against Mark Gale and 11-7 in the decider against Paul Meikle.
An under-strength two-player Brotherhood A went down 7-3 to Windsor Hawks, Windsor’s Felipe Rodriguez enjoying a win in four against Alan Burgess. In the closest match of the evening, Ian Fielder defeated Brotherhood reserve Russell Hillier 3-2 (11-7, 5-11, 15-13, 6-11, 11-8).
Brotherhood C got back to winning ways in Division Two with a crushing 9-1 victory over relegation-haunted Windsor Magpies. Gary Stallwood and Fred Gallone took trebles with Dave Sweetland’s 11-7 in the fifth victory over Kevin Pryor providing the consolation point for the Magpies.
Lee Harvey retuned to form for second-placed Brotherhood D, staying unbeaten in his side’s hard-fought draw with Windsor Owls. But Harvey was tested in a 3-2 victory (11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5) by the much-improved Sue Watson whilst it was left to the final match of the evening before he clinched the draw for his side, defeating the resolute Frank Burbidge 11-9 in the fifth. Burbidge and Adam Jackson each won two for the Owls.
But it’s the current third-placed side Nomads Ocelots who are looking the favourites to secure the second promotion spot, this week defeating a two-player Brotherhood H 7-3. Grant Sharpe’s excellent season on his return to local table tennis continued, remaining unbeaten for Brotherhood with wins in three-straight over Harry Hawkes, John Hockley and Brian Parish.
Paul Hewitt was Lawford’s main man in his team’s 8-2 victory against Brotherhood E. His closest match was the 3-2 (11-2, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5) success against Rodney Betts. Betts was Brotherhood’s best player on the night, his two victories including a 13-11 in the fifth win over Ian Sherwood.
In a mid-table encounter between the teams in sixth and seventh positions, Windsor Harriers defeated Brotherhood I 7-3. Windsor captain Ferdy Rodriguez beat Mark Beckham 3-2 (16-14, 13-11, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8) on his way to a hard-earned and well-deserved treble, his third maximum of the season.
Nomads Jaguars moved off the bottom of the table following their drawn match with Brotherhood F but it may be too late to save them from the drop. Every player picked up at least one point, Andy North staying undefeated for the Jaguars and Barry Allen winning two for Brotherhood. In an unpredictable match, North defeated Lee Allen 11-6 in the fifth, Allen defeated Roger Hance 11-9 in the fifth, Hance defeated Gerald Batt in four, Batt defeated Hume 3-2 (4-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-14, 11-4), whilst Hume defeated Allen in three-straight.
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* The League’s 2015 Closed Championships take place over the weekend of April 18 and 19. Details about check-in times will be sent to all entrants by Friday April 10. Any player who does not receive this information should contact either Tony Oswick or Peter White.
* The Windsor Club’s Pig Race Night at the St Osyth Village Hall takes place on Saturday April 11 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £3 (adults) and £2 (children). Bring your own nibbles and drink. For more information contact Jenny Higgins (Tel: 01255 432397 or 07790 240566).
RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Ravens 2 Walton C 8
Windsor Kestrels 3 Walton A 7
Brotherhood A 3 Windsor Hawks 7
Walton B 5 Windsor Condors 5
Division 2
Brotherhood E 2 Lawford 8
Brotherhood I 3 Windsor Harriers 7
Windsor Magpies 1 Brotherhood C 9
Windsor Owls 5 Brotherhood D 5
Nomads Ocelots 7 Brotherhood H 3
Nomads Jaguars 5 Brotherhood F 5
Division 3
Windsor Ospreys 6 Nomads Wildcats 4
Walton D 7 Windsor Kites 3
Nomads Wildcats 6 Brotherhood G 4
Windsor Penguins 9 Windsor Swallows 1
Nomads Leopards 4 Windsor Buzzards 6
Nomads Pumas 2 Nomads Bobcats 8
Tony Oswick
March 30, 2015