Baines inspires Brotherhood

Brian Baines may be the League’s longest-serving player and somewhat less mobile than he was thirty years ago but he continues to be one of the most competitive and determined players in Division Three of the Clacton and District League.

This week, Brotherhood K’s Three B’s – Brian Baines, Pete Bloomfield and Rob Bright – enjoyed a narrow 6-4 victory over club-mates Brotherhood H, Bloomfield taking three, Baines two and Bright one.

Baines began his evening by grinding down junior Tom Wilkin 3-2 (11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 10-12, 11-5) before easing past Michael Gallone in three-straight.

Then, in the last match of the evening, Baines engaged his traditional attritional tactics in a final battle with Gerald Batt, winning the first two sets but eventually having to concede to Batt’s comparative youth, Batt taking it by the narrowest of margins 3-2 (11-13, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9).

At the top, Brotherhood I opened up a nineteen-point lead after defeating Nomads Wildcats 9-1. Pete Miller’s 11-8 in the fifth win for the Wildcats over Rowan Cottee was the only match that went the distance.

With Brotherhood J not playing, Nomads Pumas – 9-1 victors over Windsor Penguins – moved into second spot. Lionel Goddard and John Bowers stayed unbeaten.

Nomads Bobcats defeated Windsor Kites 10-0, Vic Little and Andrew Cousins beating Carl Hubbard and Chris Simson 3-2 (13-15, 12-14, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5) in a tight doubles.

It ended all-square between Nomads Leopards and Brotherhood L. Morgan Harvey showed his improvement with a nail-biting 16-14 in the decider win against Nomads’ Tony Rayner. The doubles was also a tight affair, Rayner and Roger McNaughton beating Harvey and Jonathan Found 3-2 (10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 13-11).

There was a guest player on either side in the Brotherhood M v Nomads Lynx match which accounts for the unusual 5-4 score-line, Vicki Edwards securing the win for Brotherhood with an 11-9 in the fifth victory over Tom Collins in the last match of the evening.

Nomads Panthers marched on at the top of Division One with a 10-0 success over Brotherhood B, Gill Locke recording an interesting 3-2 (16-14, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-1) win over John Owen.

Second-placed Windsor Condors were 8-2 winners against Windsor Kestrels, the losers’ two points coming from Frank Burbidge’s excellent 11-9 in the fifth win over John Pattrick and reserve Graham Bunce’s equally-fine 12-10 in the fifth win against Jim Pallett.

Third-placed Brotherhood A had a 10-0 victory against Nomads Lions, John Stubbings notching up a second maximum of the season.

There were three for Stewart Murray as Brotherhood B defeated Windsor Hawks 8-2. John Owen and Martin Edwards contributed a couple each and shared a 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 15-13, 11-7) doubles’ win against Andy Vincent and Annabelle Rodriguez.

Walton D drew with Windsor Eagles, Kevin James unbeaten. Paul Woolnough beat both John Hobson and Sue Welham close in five whilst James secured the draw in match ten, defeating Phil Smith 12-10 in the fifth, a result that denied Smith his own maximum.

Nomads Jaguars had matches against two Walton teams but took just one point from twenty, losing 10-0 to Walton C and 9-1 to Walton B. Brian Parish beat John Rankin 11-8 in the fifth in the latter match for the Jaguars’ sole point.

Brotherhood D stretched their lead at the top of Division Two to eight points following their 10-0 victory against Brotherhood G, the closest match of the evening seeing Paul Alden beat Dan Malinowski 11-7 in the decider.

Nomads Cougars were in top form against Brotherhood C, Paul Hume and Sam Hume unbeaten in the 9-1 success, a result that may mark the end of Brotherhood’s promotion hopes. Reserve Tom Burton got the losers’ only point by beating Adam Cuthbert.

Lawford leap-frogged over Brotherhood C into third place following their 8-2 victory over Nomads Ocelots, Richard Spence unbeaten, Ian Sherwood and Paul Hewitt each winning twice.

Windsor Owls were 10-0 winners against Windsor Ravens, Gary Stallwood, Tricia Salter and Adam Jackson all unbeaten. Jackson edged it 11-9 in the decider against Isabel Barton.

Brotherhood E shared the points with a weakened Windsor Harriers, Rodney Betts taking two, Tony Edmonds and Gary Bayliss one each, with Betts and Edmonds picking up a second doubles win of the season for Brotherhood.

There were two each for Darren Bunce, Tony Robinson and Eric Lemke in Nomads Tigers’ 6-4 win over Windsor Magpies but the match included the most unlikely result of the season. Eric Lemke, without a win in 2013, inflicted only a sixth defeat of the season on the Magpies’ number one Dave Martin, winning 3-1 (11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10).

* Entry forms for the Closed Championships have been sent to all players. The closing date for entry is Sunday 14th April.

The Championships are being held at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall over the weekend of 27th and 28th April.

RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Hawks 2 Walton A 8;
Brotherhood B 8 Windsor Hawks 2;
Nomads Panthers 10 Brotherhood B 0;
Walton B 9 Nomads Jaguars 1;
Brotherhood A 10 Nomads Lions 0;
Windsor Kestrels 2 Windsor Condors 8;
Walton D 5 Windsor Eagles 5;
Nomads Jaguars 0 Walton C 10.

Division 2
Lawford 8 Nomads Ocelots 2;
Nomads Cougars 9 Brotherhood C 1;
Windsor Magpies 4 Nomads Tigers 6;
Windsor Ravens 0 Windsor Owls 10;
Brotherhood E 5 Windsor Harriers 5;
Brotherhood G 0 Brotherhood D 10.

Division 3
Brotherhood K 6 Brotherhood H 4;
Nomads Leopards 5 Brotherhood L 5;
Nomads Wildcats 1 Brotherhood I 9;
Nomads Lynx 4 Brotherhood M 5;
Windsor Penguins 1 Nomads Pumas 9;
Windsor Kites 0 Nomads Bobcats 10;
Brotherhood K 10 (walk-over) v Brotherhood M
Brotherhood H 10 (walk-over) v Brotherhood M.

To view the full tables click here

Tony Oswick