Tricia Salter may not have been in the running for an award for best-supporting actress at this week’s Oscars’ ceremony – but she’d be top of the list of nominations for best-supporting table tennis player in the Clacton & District League.
This week, Tricia produced an excellent unbeaten performance to return her fourth hat-trick of the season as Division Two leaders Windsor Owls consolidated their position at the top of the table by beating Windsor Harriers 10-0 for a second time.
Team-mate Mark Salter conceded just 78 points to win his three whilst Frank Burbidge’s maximum was harder-fought, needing an 11-8 in the fifth result to beat Isabel Barton.
But it was the often under-rated Tricia who turned up trumps, the Owls’ No 3 player adding three valuable points to her team’s tally, defeating Ferdy Rodriguez 3-1 (11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8), Isabel Barton 3-2 (11-1, 7-11, 11-4, 11-13, 11-7) and Jenny Higgins also in five (11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 15-17, 11-5).
Second-placed Nomads Tigers beat Brotherhood F 8-2 although the match-score disguised a much closer battle with five individual matches going the distance and only two settled in three-straight. Roger Hance and Daryl Lott both took trebles, both defeating Lee Allen by the same 11-8 in the decider score, whilst John Marshall’s two for the Tigers included an 11-9 in the fifth victory over Sandie Isaac.
Lee Allen was Brotherhood’s best player on the night and was involved in yet another five-setter when he beat Marshall 11-8 in the fifth. But the closest match of the encounter was the doubles, Isaac and Barry Allen just getting the better of Hance and Lott 14-12 in the fifth.
Nomads Bobcats defeated Windsor Magpies 7-3 with the Two Tony’s – Robinson and Beezer – excelling to secure maximum points. Malcolm Caley was the only Windsor player able to stretch them, taking both players to a fifth set. Harry Beezer came close to adding to the Bobcats’ total but he was edged out 11-7 in the fifth by Caley and 11-6 in the fifth by Dave Sweetland.
Division Three pace-setters Nomads Pumas were without Eric Lemke for their clash with Nomads Leopards but even his presence might not have been sufficient to prevent the Pumas from a second defeat in as many weeks, the rampant Leopards emerging 7-3 winners. Jason Lloyd and Ethan Lloyd both stayed unbeaten, with Ethan Lloyd’s 11-8 in the decider win against Lionel Goddard the only match going the distance.
Walton D stay second following a comfortable victory against Nomads Lynx. There was just one awkward moment for Walton, Rivhu Khan and Toni Hayhow-Khan eventually getting the better of Paul Dale and Liam Harris 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4) in the doubles.
The all-Nomads clash between the Wildcats and the Ocelots was always going to be a close-run affair and so it proved, the Wildcats taking it by a narrow 6-4 scoreline. Brian Friday of the Wildcats beat Scott Campbell 11-6 in the fifth to seal his maximum whilst Andrew Cawley contributed a couple, although he couldn’t out-point Campbell who won their individual match 11-7 in the decider. For the Ocelots, there were two for Campbell and one each for Tom Collins and Mike Wellum.
Windsor Ospreys’ better-than-expected season continued with an 8-2 result against Windsor Swallows, Debra Found and Woody Fitzpatrick recording trebles. The Ospreys were fortunate to take the two matches that went the distance, Found beating Iris Howlett 11-9 in the fifth, and Found and Fitzpatrick edging the doubles in five (11-4, 11-13, 11-13, 11-6, 12-10) against Howlett and Kayley Lamb
There were two each for Jackie Bunce, Alan Charman and Ron Dacey as Windsor Penguins defeated Windsor Kites 7-3. But none of them could get the better of the Kites’ hat-trick hero Chris Simson, a winner 11-5 in the decider against Bunce and 11-8 in the decider against Dacey.
Brotherhood G were 8-2 victors over Nomads Cougars. Graham Healy and Rob Bright stayed unbeaten, with Jo Millar taking one and sharing a doubles success with Bright. Gill Knights, with a tight 3-2 (1-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8) win over Millar, and Zoe Strange were the Cougars’ points scorers.
Nomads Panthers, champions-elect of Division One, were without a game and so the spotlight centred on three of the four teams aiming for the runners-up spot, all three of their respective matches ending 7-3.
Windsor Eagles defeated lowly Windsor Kestrels, Phil Smith’s treble achieved with a hat-trick of three-straight wins. But Mark Smith’s maximum was harder-attained, taken the distance by both John Harvey and Bob Sawyer. For the Kestrels, there was a point apiece for Harvey, Sawyer and Graham Bunce, with Harvey’s nail-biting 3-2 (12-10, 12-14, 11-9, 4-11, 15-13) victory over John Hobson the closest match of the evening.
Felipe Rodriguez and Andy Vincent were Windsor Hawks’ maximum men as their side inflicted a 7-3 defeat on bottom team Brotherhood D. Hawks’ skipper John Barton will feel unfortunate not to have added to his side’s total, going down 11-8 in the fifth to Paul Alden and 11-9 in the fifth to Russell Hillier.
But Walton C, without Gary Young, were on the wrong end of a 7-3 result against a full-strength Brotherhood C team which included Kevin Gowlett and Alan Burgess. Both Gowlett and Burgess stayed undefeated although Burgess had to fight hard against Paul Meikle and Derek Willis, defeating both players 11-8 in the decider.
Five of the matches went the distance in an encounter between two evenly-matched mid-table teams, with Walton B finally edging it 6-4 against Brotherhood B. All three of Paul Woolnough’s singles went the distance, defeating John Owen and Brotherhood reserve Grant Sharpe but losing out to Martin Edwards. Gavin Price also won a couple for Walton but he couldn’t overcome man-of-the-match, Edwards who won their individual encounter in five (11-13, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10).
* The League’s 2016 Closed Championships will be held over the weekend of April 16 and 17 at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. Full details have been sent to all registered League players and are also on the League’s website. Entry can be made on-line to Peter White or by post to Tony Oswick. The closing date for entry is Saturday March 26.
* The Junior Combination Tournament takes place this Friday (March 4) at Windsor’s St James Hall venue. Play starts at 7pm.
* The League’s Quiz Evening is on Saturday March 12 at the Brotherhood Hall starting at 7.30pm. The cost is £2.50 per person for teams of up to six. Bring your own drink and nibbles. To enter a team or for more details phone Viv Rodriguez on 01255 830951.
* Club and Team Secretaries are reminded that matches between teams from the same club need to be brought forward and played by Friday April 8. The relevant matches are listed in the League Handbook.
RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood B 4 Walton C 6
Windsor Kestrels 3 Windsor Eagles 7
Walton C 3 Brotherhood C 7
Windsor Hawks 7 Brotherhood D 3
Division 2
Brotherhood F 2 Nomads Tigers 8
Windsor Harriers 0 Windsor Owls 10
Nomads Bobcats 7 Windsor Magpies 3
Division 3
Nomads Lynx 0 Walton D 10
Nomads Ocelots 4 Nomads Wildcats 6
Windsor Ospreys 8 Windsor Swallows 2
Brotherhood G 8 Nomads Cougars 2
Windsor Penguins 7 Windsor Kites 3
Nomads Pumas 3 Nomads Leopards 7