Brotherhood A were given their sternest test of the season so far in Division One of the Clacton and District League and were grateful to a Kevin Gowlett hat-trick to see them home 6-4 against Windsor Hawks.
Gowlett’s treble was supported by two from Martin Edwards, whose pair included a tight 11-8 in the decider win over Andy Vincent, and one from Alan Burgess.
For the Hawks, Felipe Rodriguez played well to defeat both Edwards and Burgess, while Vincent edged past Burgess 11-8 in the fifth. The Hawks also maintained their unbeaten doubles record, in the process ending Brotherhood A’s 100% doubles record, Rodriguez and Vincent taking it 11-5 in the fifth against Gowlett and Edwards.
Walton A continued their excellent run of form with a 9-1 success against Nomads Lions, Gary Young and Daniel Young again taking hat-tricks. Kevin James took a couple, including an 11-8 in the fifth win over Adam Cuthbert, but went down to Adam Wilkin, the Lions’ sole points-scorer. In the doubles, the two Youngs, Daniel and Gary, beat the two Adams, Cuthbert and Wilkin, 11-4 in the decider.
Despite the season being less than two months old, the Division Two fixture between Windsor Harriers and Brotherhood G already had a relegation look about it. And a good, all-round team performance saw Brotherhood triumph 7-3, Paul Metcalf taking three, Mark Beckham two, John Gallagher one, with Metcalf and Gallagher sharing the doubles.
The only match which went the distance was the final encounter of the evening, Metcalf beating Ferdy Rodriguez 4-11, 11-9, 4-11, 14-12, 11-9.
In Division Three Nomads Leopards beat Brotherhood F 6-4, the Brotherhood side’s third 6-4 defeat in as many weeks. Bob Jillins stayed unbeaten for the winners, Stuart Wilkinson won two, with the pair together taking a crucial doubles success. For Brotherhood, very-occasional reserve, Lee Harvey, won two whilst Maci Harvey beat Dave Wright 11-4 in the decider and Harley Wood defeated the same player 11-6 in the decider.
According to Nomads Pumas’ captain, Lionel Goddard, their fixture against Walton D was ‘brought forward because of Boris’, the original fixture having been scheduled for 12th December when the Nomads’ venue would be required for election purposes.
It turned out well for the Pumas who won 8-2, with Dave Harris taking a treble, and John Bowers and Alan Dockerill a couple each.
Bowers was involved in three close matches, beating Lynette Sparks 11-9 in the fifth, Toni Hayhow-Khan 11-5 in the fifth and, with Harris in the doubles, defeating Hayhow-Khan and Tony Sharman 11-6 in the fifth. Sharman and Sparks took a point apiece for Walton, Sparks edging past Dockerill 11-6 in the decider.
* Details have been circulated about the opening Group matches for the Handicap Doubles Challenge competition. The Groups are:
Group A – Windsor Magpies, Brotherhood C, Windsor Robins, Nomads Pumas.
Group B – Windsor Buzzards, Windsor Kestrels, Brotherhood B, Windsor Hawks.
Group C – Windsor Eagles, Brotherhood E, Walton E, Nomads Lions.
Group D – Nomads Ocelots, Windsor Penguins, Nomads Jaguars, Brotherhood G.
Group E – Nomads Leopards, Brotherhood F, Nomads Lynx, Nomads Bobcats.
Group F – Brotherhood D, Brotherhood A, Walton A.
Group G – Nomads Panthers, Lawford, Walton C.
Group H – Walton D, Windsor Merlins, Windsor Harriers.
Group matches will be played during weeks commencing 25th November, 16th December and 6th January. The top two in each Group go through to the Knock-Out stages. Full details of the fixtures and grades have also been circulated, and are also on the League’s website.
RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood A 6 Windsor Hawks 4
Nomads Lions 1 Walton A 9
Division 2
Windsor Harriers 3 Brotherhood G 7
Division 3
Nomads Pumas 8 Walton D 2
Brotherhood F 4 Nomads Leopards 6