THREE-HORSE RACE IN DIVISION THREE
With five weeks to the end of the 2011/12 Clacton and District Table Tennis League season, the top of Division Three is turning into a three-horse race.
Long-time pace-setters Nomads Tigers beat Nomads Leopards 7-3 with Eric Lemke and Simon Smith-Daye staying undefeated but, despite this result, the Tigers surrendered top place for the first time since the start of November.
Nomads Cougars, who four months ago were sixth, have crept up the table and their 10-0 win over Brotherhood H puts them top by a single point, having played one game more than the Tigers.
Third-placed Brotherhood K recorded a 9-1 victory over Nomads Bobcats, Harry Barlow’s win against Brian Baines the losers’ sole success. However, the ‘K’ team have a tough run-in with crucial matches still to play against both the Tigers and Cougars.
Elsewhere, three each from Kelvin Olano and Tom Burton gave Brotherhood J a 6-4 win over Windsor Swallows although the two players couldn’t get the better of Malcolm Caley and Sue Watson in the doubles, the Windsor pair winning 11-6 in the decider.
Brotherhood G and Nomads Pumas are separated by just one point in the middle of the table and so it was unsurprising their match ended all-square, Fred Gallone undefeated for Brotherhood, Andrew Cousins and John Houghton winning a pair apiece for the Pumas.
Carl Hubbard and Rachel Simpson each took a point for the Kites
in the all-Windsor clash against the Penguins but the Penguins won 8-2, Mike Monschau and Ray Chillingworth both chalking up trebles.
In Division One Windsor Condors stay top following their 8-2 win over Walton A, Walton’s Kevin Gowlett beating both Colin Stallwood and Andy Holmes but unable to get the better of Gary Young.
Second-placed Windsor Roosters brushed past Nomads Jaguars
10-0 and are now seven points behind the Condors with a match in hand.
Champions Brotherhood A are six points further behind, Greg Green unstoppable in this week’s 8-2 victory over Walton C, David Hall taking two good wins for the losers.
Seven of the matches went to five as Walton B scraped past Windsor Falcons 6-4, every player picking up at least one point but only Martin Hogg winning all three.
Windsor Falcons suffered a second defeat, 7-3 against Windsor Eagles, this time five of the matches going the distance including Phil Smith’s 11-9 in the decider win against Mark Salter, a victory that guaranteed Smith his maximum.
There was a treble, too, for Colin Webber as Nomads Panthers beat Brotherhood B 7-3, John Owen winning twice for Brotherhood.
In Division Two Walton D continued their merry way with a
9-1 victory against Lawford, Colin Dearman and John Rice unbeaten, and only Peter Sear’s 11-9 in the fifth success over Paul Woolnough blotting the Walton copybook.
Second-placed Windsor Hawks beat struggling Nomads Lynx 10-0, Dave Austin’s 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 win over Paul Weston the closest match of the evening.
Brotherhood F drew with Windsor Owls, their third draw in as many matches, Gary Stallwood unbeaten and Tricia Salter taking two for the Owls with Stallwood enjoying an 11-9 in the fifth win over John Stubbings.
But Brotherhood E’s survival hopes were not helped when they lost 9-1 to Windsor Harriers, Terry May and Ian Fielder undefeated.
Lee Harvey was Brotherhood D’s hat-trick man as his side beat Nomads Lions 6-4, as was Laurence Torr in Brotherhood C’s
8-2 win over Windsor Ravens, John Long taking two for the losers.
* The Closed Championships take place on 21st and 22nd April. Entry forms will be sent to all players by the end of March.
RESULTS
Division 1
Nomads Panthers 7 Brotherhood B 3;
Windsor Roosters 10 Nomads Jaguars 0;
Walton B 6 Windsor Falcons 4;
Brotherhood A 8 Walton C 2;
Windsor Eagles 7 Windsor Falcons 3;
Walton A 2 Windsor Condors 8.
Division 2
Lawford 1 Walton D 9;
Windsor Hawks 10 Nomads Lynx 0;
Brotherhood F 5 Windsor Owls 5;
Brotherhood E 1 Windsor Harriers 9;
Brotherhood D 6 Nomads Lions 4;
Windsor Ravens 2 Brotherhood C 8.
Division 3
Brotherhood H 0 Nomads Cougars 10;
Brotherhood K 9 Nomads Bobcats 1;
Windsor Kites 2 Windsor Penguins 8;
Nomads Leopards 3 Nomads Tigers 7;
Windsor Swallows 4 Brotherhood J 6;
Nomads Pumas 5 Brotherhood G 5.
To view full tables click here
Tony Oswick