First blood to the Pumas.
In the first week of the new Clacton and District Table Tennis League season, two of the fancied teams faced each other in Division Three and it was Nomads Pumas who came out on top, defeating Brotherhood M 6-4.
Alan Dockerill took his three for the Pumas, a maximum that included an excellent win over Cris Edwards, whilst Lionel Goddard picked up a couple and John Bowers one.
Brotherhood youngster Gracie Edwards recorded a debut League win with a victory over Bowers, and she took Goddard close before going down 5-11, 13-11, 8-11, 16-14, 5-11.
Elsewhere, Windsor Swallows beat Brotherhood H 10-0 but the match was far closer than the score-line suggests with four of the matches going the distance, Tom Wilkin just failing to get past Angela Barratt, losing 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 11-13.
Brotherhood K beat Brotherhood L 7-3, new signings Peter Bloomfield unbeaten and Mark Trayhorn taking a point for the ‘K’ team, Jonathan Found impressing for the ‘L’ side by winning twice.
Mike Monschau of Windsor Penguins had a victory over Lucy Burton but otherwise it was plain sailing for Brotherhood J who ran out 9-1 victors, as it was for Nomads Lynx, 10-0 winners against Windsor Kites, Aaron McGurl and Kevin Hume staying unbeaten on debut.
Nomads Leopards fielded a guest player against Nomads Wildcats but three from Tony Rayner and two for Roger McNaughton saw them to a 6-4 victory, whilst it was the full 10-0 for Brotherhood I over a Nomads Bobcats’ side also fielding a guest.
In Division One champions Windsor Condors, without Gary Young, got off to a shaky start in defence of their title, sharing the points with Walton A, Colin Stallwood staying unbeaten for Windsor, John Rice and Matt Watson taking a couple each for Walton.
James Denyer recorded a maximum as Nomads Panthers set out their stall with a 6-4 success over Brotherhood A, the closest match seeing Greg Green and John Stubbings beat Denyer and Joe Andrews 13-11 in the decider in the doubles.
Andy Holmes took a hat-trick for Windsor Kestrels but two each for Phil Smith and Fred Button gave Windsor Eagles the 6-4 victory.
It was also 6-4 as Windsor Hawks beat Walton B with no-one staying unbeaten but every player taking a point, Felipe Rodriguez and John Barton winning a pair apiece for Windsor, Paul Newbould playing well to take a couple for Walton.
Paul Woolnough was unbeaten in Walton D’s 6-4 win against Nomads Jaguars, Colin Beaumont of the Jaguars unlucky to lose his three close in five, and although John Fenton of Nomads Lions beat David Hall, Walton C ran out 9-1 winners.
In Division Two Brotherhood D beat Brotherhood E 9-1, Paul Alden and Lee Harvey getting hat-tricks, Tony Edmonds getting the losers’ only point with a win over Russell Hillier.
It was also 9-1 as Lawford defeated Brotherhood G, Elliott Attrill getting a consolation win against Lawford skipper Ian Sherwood, whilst there were two each for Kevin Pryor, Laurence Torr and Fred Gallone as Brotherhood C nudged past Nomads Tigers 6-4.
David North took a hat-trick for Brotherhood F but his side still went down 6-4 to Nomads Cougars for whom Paul and Sam Hume each won twice, the crucial match of the evening seeing Sam Hume beat Mark Beckham 12-10 in the fifth.
There were three for Gary Stallwood, two for Adam Jackson and one for Tricia Salter in Windsor Owls’ 7-3 success against Windsor Harriers.
Finally, in another all-Windsor clash, the Ravens defeated the Magpies 6-4, John Harvey unbeaten and Isabel Barton taking two for the Ravens, Graham Bunce winning twice for the Magpies.
* Any player who has not yet registered with the ETTA must do so immediately. Registration can be done on-line, by post or by telephoning the ETTA directly on 0845 0500 388.
RESULTS
Division 1
Walton C 9 Nomads Lions 1;
Windsor Eagles 6 Windsor Kestrels 4;
Nomads Panthers 6 Brotherhood A 4;
Walton A 5 Windsor Condors 5;
Nomads Jaguars 4 Walton D 6;
Windsor Hawks 6 Walton B 4.
Division 2
Brotherhood D 9 Brotherhood E 1;
Windsor Owls 7 Windsor Harriers 3;
Brotherhood C 6 Nomads Tigers 4;
Windsor Ravens 6 Windsor Magpies 4;
Lawford 9 Brotherhood G 1;
Nomads Cougars 6 Brotherhood F 4.
Division 3
Brotherhood M 4 Nomads Pumas 6;
Brotherhood I 10 Nomads Bobcats 0;
Brotherhood J 9 Windsor Penguins 1;
Brotherhood L 3 Brotherhood K 7;
Windsor Swallows 10 Brotherhood H 0;
Nomads Lynx 9 Windsor Kites 1;
Nomads Wildcats 4 Nomads Leopards 6.
Tony Oswick