THREE-WAY BATTLE AT THE BOTTOM

The Clacton and District Table Tennis League season may only be six weeks old but two teams – Nomads Lynx and Brotherhood F – are already becoming detached at the bottom of Division Two whilst a third, Brotherhood E, are too close for comfort.

This week, promoted Nomads Lynx suffered a 9-1 defeat at the hands of club-mates Nomads Lions, Barry Steggal-Jones getting a lonely consolation point with a win over John Hatley.

And the luckless Brotherhood F lost 10-0 to a Windsor Magpies’ side who, in any other season, might have been fancied for relegation, the closest match of the evening seeing Ron Dacey beat John Wrigley 11-5 in the decider.

Brotherhood E put up stiffer opposition against Windsor Owls but still went down 8-2, Gary Stallwood unbeaten for the Owls with Adam Jackson and Tricia Salter each winning twice, a result which leaves the ‘E’ side just five points clear of Brotherhood F.

At the other end of the table, it was 10-0 for Walton D against Windsor Ravens although Brian Thiel was unlucky not to pick up a point, going down 12-10 in the fifth to Walton’s Paul Woolnough.

A weakened Windsor Hawks beat Windsor Harriers 6-4, Andy Vincent maintaining his unbeaten record for the Hawks whilst Terry May of the Harriers did well to defeat John Barton.

No-one stayed unbeaten as Brotherhood C edged out Brotherhood D 6-4, two each for Kevin Pryor and Chris Smith for the winners, and for Shaun Beckham and Lee Harvey for the losers, Harvey just failing to get his treble, going down 12-10 in the fifth to Smith.

In Division Three leaders Nomads Pumas fielded a guest player against Brotherhood L but still won 6-4, Andrew Cousins recording maximum points.

But Nomads Tigers are looking increasingly like promotion contenders and they moved to within a point of the Pumas with a whitewash victory over Windsor Penguins.

Nomads Cougars and Brotherhood G battled out a hard-fought draw, Paul Hume undefeated for the Cougars, Gary Bayliss and Fred Gallone taking a couple each for Brotherhood.

Nomads Bobcats got back to winning ways with a 7-3 success against Brotherhood H, John Bowers taking three, Barry Brandon two and Harry Barlow one, the closest match seeing Brotherhood skipper David Wilkin beat Barlow 10-12, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6.

The race for the Division One crown is developing nicely with three of the title-contenders winning convincingly this week.

The Windsor Roosters’ trio of Gary Cattermole, James Denyer and Mark Smith were 10-0 victors over Brotherhood B, whilst Walton A looked equally impressive in defeating Windsor Falcons by a similar score-line, none of the matches going beyond a third set.

Windsor Condors had a harder fight before beating Nomads Jaguars 8-2, Windsor’s Jim Pallett losing to Tony Beezer in four and then

11-9 in the fifth to Terry Kirby, but beating Brian Parish 11-7 in the decider.

In the all-Walton mid-table clash, three from Martin Hogg and two each from Graham Buxton and Gavin Price saw the ‘B’ team to an 8-2 victory over the ‘C’ team, Mark Gale enjoying a close 12-10 in the fifth victory over Price for the losers.

Finally, Frank Burbidge of Windsor Kestrels beat John Hobson of Windsor Eagles in the first match of the evening but thereafter it was nine straight successes for the Eagles who ran out 9-1 winners.

* The first of the League’s Tournaments, the Handicapped Doubles, takes place on Saturday 26th November at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. The preliminary rounds will be played in groups and all players are guaranteed at least four matches.

The entry fee is £2.50 per player and entries are invited from either pairs or individuals. The closing date for entry is Monday 21st November. Full details are being sent to Team Secretaries.

RESULTS

Division 1

Windsor Kestrels 1 Windsor Eagles 9;

Brotherhood B 0 Windsor Roosters 10;

Nomads Jaguars 2 Windsor Condors 8;

Walton C 2 Walton B 8;

Windsor Falcons 0 Walton A 10.

Division 2

Brotherhood C 6 Brotherhood D 4;

Windsor Owls 8 Brotherhood E 2;

Windsor Magpies 10 Brotherhood F 0;

Windsor Harriers 4 Windsor Hawks 6;

Nomads Lions 9 Nomads Lynx 1;

Walton D 10 Windsor Ravens 0.

Division 3

Nomads Bobcats 7 Brotherhood H 3;

Nomads Cougars 5 Brotherhood G 5;

Windsor Penguins 0 Nomads Tigers 10;

Brotherhood L 4 Nomads Pumas 6.

For full tables click here

By Tony Ostwick