BROTHERHOOD F MOVING UP ON THE RAILS
Brotherhood F are proving to be the dark horses in the race for promotion in Division Two of the Clacton and District League.
This week they beat Brotherhood J 9-1, a victory that has moved them almost unnoticed into third place in the table, just six points off the promotion places.
Barry Allen and Elliott Attrill took hat-tricks in the win, whilst Mark Beckham won two. Gracie Edwards was the ‘J’ team’s best player, defeating Beckham and taking both Allen and Attrill to five.
But the ‘F’ team will have to battle hard if they are to break into the top two spots, with matches still to play against the Kestrels, Ravens and Ocelots, three of the Division’s top sides.
Leaders Windsor Kestrels cemented their position at the head of the table with a convincing 10-0 victory over Nomads Ocelots, a result which simultaneously put a dent in the Ocelots’ promotion hopes. Only two matches went the distance, Graham Bunce stretched to five by both Doug Green and Daryl Lott.
Windsor Ravens, 8-2 victors over Nomads Jaguars, remain in second place, Gary Stallwood and John Harvey again staying unbeaten.
Lawford enjoyed a 6-4 win over Windsor Harriers. Paul Hewitt with three, Richard Spence with two and Ian Sherwood with one put in a good team performance.
Brotherhood C gave relegation-threatened Brotherhood I little comfort, Kevin Pryor and Lawrence Torr undefeated in the 9-1 victory. Fred Gallone’s two included a narrow 15-13 in the decider win over Allen Denyer but he was unable to get the better of John Wrigley who won their individual encounter 11-6 in the fifth.
It was no better for bottom-team Windsor Magpies who went down 7-3 to Nomads Tigers. Darren Bunce, who stayed unbeaten, was well-supported by Eric Lemke with two and Caroline North with one. Dave Sweetland took a couple for the losers.
It turned out to be a good week for the Tigers as they recorded another 7-3 victory, this time against Windsor Owls. Bunce was once again undefeated.
In Division Three the match between Brotherhood G and Brotherhood H, the two teams battling it out in second and third-places, ended all-square. The ‘G’ team’s Pete Bloomfield took a treble which included wins over Graham Parkes and Gerald Batt, although the score against Parkes was a close 11-9 in the decider. Parkes and Batt each won two for the ‘H’ team, Parkes having an 11-6 in the fifth success against Lee Allen.
So the two Brotherhood sides remain locked on the same number of points although the ‘H’ team, who are still unbeaten this season, have a vital match in hand.
Nomads Pumas reached a century of points when they beat Windsor Ospreys 9-1. All their wins came in three-straight but Windsor’s Woody Fitzpatrick had the satisfaction of defeating John Houghton in the final match of the evening, 8-11, 12-10, 13-11, 6-11, 11-9.
There were hat-tricks for Kevin Hume and Peter Miller as Nomads Lynx beat Windsor Swallows 8-2 for a second time this season. Three of the Lynx victories went close in five, Miller beating Malcolm Caley 11-8 in the fifth, Hume defeating Iris Howlett 11-9 in the decider, with Hume and Miller taking the doubles 11-6, 11-13, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7 against Caley and Howlett.
The Lynx also had a 6-4 victory against Nomads Leopards but Dan Malinowski was unstoppable for the Leopards, his treble including good wins over Hume and Brian Friday.
However, Malinowski was unable to notch up a second hat-trick when the Leopards met Brotherhood L, an unbeaten Morgan Harvey leading from the front to give the Brotherhood side a 6-4 win. Jonathan Found won two for Brotherhood.
It was also 6-4 for Nomads Wildcats against Windsor Penguins, Andrew Cawley winning three, Harry Barlow two and Hazel Blanche one. Mike Monschau took a couple for the Penguins and, with Jackie Bunce, shared a tight doubles victory 7-11, 13-11, 11-9, 8-11, 13-11 against Cawley and Barlow.
The flags were flying at the Red Triangle Annexe as Walton E celebrated a first-ever League win, 6-4 against Windsor Kites. Lynette Sparkes led the way with a hat-trick, Toni Hayhow-Khan won two whilst Karen Harris recorded a debut League victory. Chris Simson won twice for the losers.
Nomads Panthers are looking invincible in Division One, this week defeating Walton C 9-1. James Denyer and John Poysden were unbeaten with Jason Gale’s 11-8 in the decider win over Gill Locke the only Walton success.
It was also 9-1 for second-placed Brotherhood A against bottom-team Brotherhood D. Martyn Green, making his first appearance of the season, took a hat-trick but the ‘D’ team had the consolation of an excellent doubles victory, Shaun Beckham and Russell Hillier defeating John Andrews and Greg Green 11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 12-10.
The match between the third and fourth-placed sides saw a repeat of the early-season match with Windsor Eagles and Walton A sharing the points. Phil Smith’s treble for the Eagles included a fine win over Peter Burrows. Walton won four of the five individual matches that went the distance, the closest seeing Burrows beat Sue Welham 11-9 in the fifth, and John Rice and Colin Dearman defeating Smith and Gary Cattermole in the doubles by the same score.
New-signing Matthew Horrocks took all three for Walton D against Walton B but two each from Gavin Price and Paul Newbould, and one from John Rankin were the basis of the ‘B’ team’s narrow 6-4 win. The crucial encounter turned out to be Newbould’s 11-8, 6-11. 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 victory over John Marshall.
A below-strength Windsor Condors were held to a draw by a Nomads Lions’ side fielding a guest player. John Pattrick won his two valid matches for the Condors, John Hatley and John Fenton winning two each for the Lions.
Three from Andy Vincent, plus a couple from both John Barton and Felipe Rodriguez, saw Windsor Hawks to an 8-2 victory against Nomads Cougars. Sam Hume took the Cougars’ two points whilst Brian Parish was unlucky not to get on the score-sheet, going down 11-9 in the decider to Rodriguez.
* The Handicapped Singles Tournament takes place this Saturday (22nd February) at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. Play starts at 9.30 am and all players must be in attendance at this time.
RESULTS
Division 1
Walton B 6 Walton D 4;
Nomads Cougars 2 Windsor Hawks 8;
Brotherhood D 1 Brotherhood A 9;
Nomads Panthers 9 Walton C 1;
Windsor Eagles 5 Walton A 5;
Nomads Condors 5 Nomads Lions 5.
Division 2
Windsor Kestrels 10 Nomads Ocelots 0;
Brotherhood J 1 Brotherhood F 9;
Lawford 6 Windsor Harriers 4;
Brotherhood I 1 Brotherhood C 9;
Nomads Tigers 7 Windsor Magpies 3;
Nomads Tigers 7 Windsor Owls 3;
Nomads Jaguars 2 Windsor Ravens 8.
Division 3
Windsor Ospreys 1 Nomads Pumas 9;
Brotherhood L 6 Nomads Leopards 4;
Brotherhood H 5 Brotherhood G 5;
Walton E 6 Windsor Kites 4;
Nomads Lynx 8 Windsor Swallows 2;
Nomads Leopards 4 Nomads Lynx 6;
Windsor Penguins 4 Nomads Wildcats 6.
To view the full tables click here
Tony Oswick (February 16, 2014)