John Rankin of Red Triangle A turned back the years this week in Division One of the Clacton and District Table Tennis League.
Rankin, the oldest player currently in the top-flight this season, completed an impressive hat-trick in his side’s drawn match with Brotherhood B, beating John Owen 11-7 in the fifth, Martin Edwards 11-8 in the fifth and Ian Graham 11-9 in the fifth.
It was a notable performance of determination and stamina from the unassuming Rankin who returned many shots that should’ve been winners – all of which left his comparatively-younger opponents exhausted at the end.
Elsewhere, Brotherhood A and Windsor Roosters shared the spoils in a match in which no-one stayed unbeaten, everyone got a point, five matches went to five and Gary Cattermole played his first Clacton League match since 2006.
The closest encounter saw James Denyer defeat Greg Green 13-11 in the fifth whilst David Binns, returning from injury, had the satisfaction of beating Denyer 11-13, 11-6, 12-10, 11-13, 11-7.
Denyer took all three as the Roosters beat Nomads Jaguars 6-4 in their second match, whilst Green took all three as Brotherhood A went on to defeat Windsor Eagles 7-3, a result that puts the champions top of the League for the first time this season.
Windsor Condors beat Windsor Hawks 7-3, Jim Pallett playing well to stay unbeaten, whilst Red Triangle B won twice, edging out a depleted Walton A 6-4 despite a Colin Dearman hat-trick for the losers, and then whitewashing relegation-haunted Windsor Falcons.
It was a bad week for the Falcons who also lost 8-2 to Nomads Panthers, on-song George Kalli taking a maximum that included a nail-biting 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 8-11, 18-16 win over Felipe Rodriguez, this after breaking his bat at 10-11 down in the fifth!
In Division Two Terry Kirby was unbeaten as Nomads Cougars kept up their promotion push with a 7-3 win over Windsor Harriers, Windsor’s Jenny Higgins enjoying a good win over Tony Beezer.
John Wacker and John Fenton each won twice for lowly Nomads Lions against leaders Windsor Kestrels and only Frank Burbidge’s 11-8 in the fifth win over Mike Hillier salvaged the Kestrels’ 6-4 win.
Nomads Tigers took five of the six matches that went the distance in a tight relegation battle with Brotherhood E, eventually winning 7-3, Sandie Isaac taking a first-ever maximum at this level.
Brotherhood C defeated Windsor Owls 7-3 and Walton B 6-4, Lawrence Torr and Kevin Pryor taking a couple in both matches.
It was also 6-4 for Brotherhood D against Brotherhood F, the consistent Paul Alden taking three for the winners, Shaun Beckham and Cris Edwards two each for the losers.
In Division Three Nomads Lynx were 9-1 winners over Windsor Penguins whose point came from an 11-9 in the fifth victory for Ray Chillingworth over Mike Vilka.
It was also 9-1 as Brotherhood K beat Brotherhood H, Dan Malinowski and Barry Allen both taking trebles, Malinowski having to struggle before beating Gerald Batt 13-11 in the decider.
Malcolm Caley remained undefeated for the third week running as Windsor Swallows drew with Nomads Leopards and although Kelvin Olano also took a treble, Brotherhood J lost 7-3 to Brotherhood G.
Brotherhood I defeated Brotherhood L 8-2, Lisa Baird’s two points for the winners including a 9-11, 16-18, 14-12, 11-9, 11-9 success against Phil Plant whilst Jordan Blanche-Price’ s pair for the “L” team included an 11-9 in the decider win over Alan Fryer.
* In Division One of the Super-Veterans Section of the Essex Inter-League, Clacton A went down 8-1 to Colchester A, the town’s sole point coming from a Colin Dearman/John Hobson doubles victory.
* For details of the Junior Combination Tournament on Friday 25th February, contact Felipe or Annabelle Rodriguez on 01255 221259.
RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood A 7 Windsor Eagles 3;
Red Triangle B 6 Walton A 4;
Windsor Falcons 0 Red Triangle B 10;
Nomads Panthers 8 Windsor Falcons 2;
Windsor Roosters 5 Brotherhood A 5;
Windsor Hawks 3 Windsor Condors 7;
Brotherhood B 5 Red Triangle A 5;
Nomads Jaguars 4 Windsor Roosters 6;
Lawford 0 Brotherhood A 10.
Division 2
Windsor Owls 3 Brotherhood C 7;
Walton B 4 Brotherhood C 6;
Windsor Kestrels 6 Nomads Lions 4;
Brotherhood F 4 Brotherhood D 6;
Nomads Cougars 7 Windsor Harriers 3;
Brotherhood E 3 Nomads Tigers 7.
Division 3
Brotherhood K 9 Brotherhood H 1;
Windsor Swallows 5 Nomads Leopards 5;
Brotherhood J 3 Brotherhood G 7;
Nomads Pumas 10 Windsor Kites 0;
Nomads Lynx 9 Windsor Penguins 1;
Brotherhood I 8 Brotherhood L 2.
ESSEX INTER-LEAGUE
Super-Veterans’ Division 1
Colchester A 8 Clacton A (Dearman, Hobson, Kalli) 1.
| 2010/11 SEASON | |||||
| (as at 6th February 2011) | |||||
| DIVISION 1 | P | W | D | L | PTS |
| Brotherhood A | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 130 |
| Condors | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 115 |
| Walton A | 16 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 114 |
| Roosters | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 98 |
| Red Triangle B | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 86 |
| Eagles (1) | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 84 |
| Red Triangle A | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 76 |
| Panthers | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 72 |
| Brotherhood B | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 65 |
| Jaguars | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 62 |
| Falcons | 16 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 48 |
| Hawks | 15 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 42 |
| Lawford | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 17 |
| DIVISION 2 | P | W | D | L | PTS |
| Kestrels | 15 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 121 |
| Brotherhood C * (2) | 16 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 103 |
| Cougars | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 99 |
| Walton B | 15 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 85 |
| Brotherhood D | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 77 |
| Ravens | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 70 |
| Harriers * | 15 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 63 |
| Owls | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 58 |
| Brotherhood F (2) | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 53 |
| Tigers | 15 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 48 |
| Lions | 14 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 40 |
| Brotherhood E | 13 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 39 |
| DIVISION 3 | P | W | D | L | PTS |
| Magpies | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 144 |
| Lynx | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 121 |
| Brotherhood G (2) | 16 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 111 |
| Brotherhood K | 16 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 107 |
| Swallows | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 98 |
| Pumas | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 87 |
| Brotherhood H | 15 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 74 |
| Brotherhood J | 14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 70 |
| Leopards (2) | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 63 |
| Brotherhood I | 16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 61 |
| Brotherhood L | 15 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 37 |
| Penguins | 16 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 26 |
| Kites | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 7 |
| Points deducted in brackets | |||||
| * Record includes one void match | |||||