Reigning champions Nomads Panthers, on their quest to take a seventh consecutive Division One title in the Clacton & District League, this week recorded an important 8-2 success against club-mates Nomads Lions.
There were trebles for James Denyer and Paul Hume, with only one match going to five, John Hatley’s victory against Jason Lloyd. In a tightly-contested doubles, Denyer and Hatley edged past Ethan Lloyd and Adam Cuthbert 3-1 (9-11, 13-11, 17-15, 15-13). Cuthbert and Ethan Lloyd took a point apiece for the Lions.
Windsor Condors returned to winning ways with a convincing 9-1 success over Walton B. There were hat-tricks for Greg Green and Colin Stallwood, and a couple for Annabelle Rodriguez. Two matches ended 11-5 in the fifth, Stallwood defeating Derek Willis and Rodriguez beating Jason Gale. Willis was Walton’s sole point-scorer.
It was also 8-2 for Walton C against Lawford, Peter Burrows undefeated. There were a couple each for Graham Buxton and Ant Beckles, as there were for Lawford’s Paul Hewitt. Beckles beat Ian Sherwood and Burrows beat Hewitt by the same 11-6 in the decider score-line.
The closest match of the week in the Division was the Walton A v Windsor Hawks tie which finished all-square. Andy Vincent stayed unbeaten for the Hawks whilst there were a couple each for Walton’s Gavin Price and Jared Chelski. The doubles proved to be the pivotal match, Price and Chelski getting past Vincent and Felipe Rodriguez 11-9 in the fifth.
In Division Two Liam Harris notched up his third hat-trick in five matches, staying unbeaten in Nomads Bobcats’ drawn match with Brotherhood F. Impressively, his three singles were settled in three-straight against Barry Allen, Lee Allen and Shaun Beckham, all seasoned Second Division opponents. Mike Wellum took a point for the Bobcats and, with Harris, shared a 3-2 (20-18, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4) doubles win against Barry Allen and Lee Allen. For Brotherhood, the Allens won two points each and Beckham one.
Three for John Harvey, two for Ray Chillingworth and one for Pete Bloomfield gave Windsor Buzzards a 7-3 success against bottom-team Nomads Jaguars. Harry Hawkes’ pair for the Jaguars included a 3-2 (13-11, 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 14-12) success against Chillingworth. It was also a close 14-12 in the fifth for the Buzzards in the doubles, Harvey and Bloomfield edging past Kevin Hume and Caroline Page.
In Division Three Nomads Lynx played twice and had two 8-2 wins, results which takes them, temporarily at least, to the top of the table.
Mike Vilka stayed unbeaten, and there were two each for Dominic Joannou and Norman Jacobs, in the win over Nomads Ocelots, Joannou’s 11-7 in the decider victory over Hazel Blanche the only match which went to five. Arthur Wells-Garrett took both Ocelots’ points.
Another Vilka hat-trick, plus three for Joannou, were the basis of the Lynx’s second win over Windsor Robins. Bob Bales and Oleksandra Klymenko took a point each for the losers.
Windsor Penguins enjoyed a 10-0 success against lowly Windsor Merlins but they had to fight hard for the win. Alan Charman, Paul Dale and Sue Chillingworth all stayed undefeated but it was 11-4 in the fifth for Chillingworth against Bradley Henshaw and 11-9 in the fifth for Dale against Sharon Gowlett.
Kayley Rodriguez again stayed unbeaten for Windsor Falcons against Nomads Pumas but two each for Lionel Goddard, Dave Harris and John Bowers saw the Pumas’ side home 7-3.
Nomads Leopards were 6-4 winners against Walton D but the match was marred by an injury to long-serving super-veteran John Long who fell during the doubles, necessitating the match to be halted while medical assistance was called. John was taken to Colchester General Hospital where he underwent an operation for a broken hip. It goes without saying that everyone wishes John, who’s one of the most well-liked players in the League, a speedy and successful recovery.
RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Condors 9 Walton B 1
Nomads Panthers 8 Nomads Lions 2
Walton A 5 Windsor Hawks 5
Lawford 2 Walton C 8
Division 2
Nomads Bobcats 5 Brotherhood F 5
Windsor Buzzards 7 Nomads Jaguars 3
Division 3
Windsor Falcons 3 Nomads Pumas 7
Walton D 4 Nomads Leopards 6
Windsor Robins 0 Brotherhood E 10
Windsor Penguins 10 Windsor Merlins 0
Nomads Lynx 8 Windsor Robins 2
Nomads Lynx 8 Nomads Ocelots 2