It’s been a tough baptism for Brotherhood J in their first season in the Clacton & District League, the team languishing at the bottom of Division Three and without a win to their name.
But the Brotherhood newcomers took the laurels in Round One of the Handicap Knock-Out Cup with a convincing 5-1 success against Windsor Ospreys, Georgia Ayton, Harley Wood and Oleksandra Klymenko each winning a singles.
Wood and Klymenko also combined to win the opening doubles and, in the closest match of the tie, Ayton and Klymenko (0) defeated Jordan Webb and Mark Lamb (0) 3-2 (11-7, 11-13, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6) in the second doubles.
Windsor Kites and Brotherhood G went all the way before the Kites emerged 5-4 winners, Chris Simson and Mick Simson (0) scraping past Paul Metcalf and David Hunt (0) 3-2 (11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 12-14, 11-8) in the final doubles to secure their place in Round Two.
But Brotherhood will consider themselves unfortunate that, when leading 3-1, Roger Ellis was forced to concede two matches through illness – just after he’d just completed an epic 3-2 (11-5, 2-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8) victory in match four against Mick Simson, a match played off scratch.
Nomads Lynx made full use of their handicap advantage to defeat Nomads Caracals 5-0. The only match that went to five saw Cameron Cini (+2) defeat Denise Thompson (-8) 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-3.
Windsor Penguins could only field two players against Windsor Swallows which meant they immediately conceded four points and, although they played a guest to ensure an evening’s table tennis, the final official scoreline was 5-0 to the Swallows.
And it was a similar situation at the URC Hall where Nomads Leopards could only field two registered players and thus, despite the presence of a guest, went down 5-0 to Nomads Ocelots.
* In Division One of the League, Walton B completed their first-half programme with a 7-3 success against Windsor Hawks. There were three for Colin Dearman, and two each for Jason Gale and Paul Meikle. Dearman had a tight 11-9 in the decider win against Andy Vincent whilst it was an even tighter 13-11 in the decider for Gale against Elliott Attrill.
Vincent won a couple for the Hawks and, with John Barton, took the doubles against Meikle and Mark Gale.
In Division Two, Brotherhood D are now just eight points behind leaders Brotherhood H after comprehensively beating Windsor Harriers 9-1. Lee Harvey stayed unbeaten, as did Russell Hillier although he was pushed all the way by Isabel Barton before winning in five (11-6, 6-11, 11-3, 11-13, 11-6).
Nomads Tigers have moved stealthily into promotion contention and are now in fifth place, within 10 points of the top-placed team. This week they enjoyed a 9-1 success against Nomads Pumas, John Marshall and Tom Wilkin, making his first appearance for the Tigers this season, both taking trebles. Reserve Mike Wellum picked up the Pumas’ consolation point with an 11-6 in the fifth victory over Daryl Lott.
* In Division Two of the Super-Veterans Section of the Essex Inter-League, Becontree B emerged narrow 5-4 winners against Clacton. There was one each for Clacton’s Paul Meikle, Derek Willis and Colin Dearman, with all the three victories being decided in the final set. Willis and Meikle combined to take a fourth point in their doubles. The closest match of the afternoon, which ultimately proved crucial, saw Becontree’s Peter Cranmer edge it 13-11 in the fifth against Dearman.
Results
Division 1
Walton B 7 Windsor Hawks 3
Division 2
Brotherhood D 9 Windsor Harriers 1
Nomads Tigers 9 Nomads Pumas 1
Essex Inter-League: Super-Vets Section: Division 2
Clacton (Willis, Meikle, Dearman) 4 Becontree B 5
Knock-Out Cup: Round 1
Windsor Ospreys 1 Brotherhood J 5
Windsor Swallows 5 Windsor Penguins 0
Nomads Ocelots 5 Nomads Leopards 0
Brotherhood G 4 Windsor Kites 5
Nomads Lynx 5 Nomads Caracals 0
Knock-Out Cup: Round 2 (revised draw)
Windsor Kestrels v Brotherhood D
Windsor Magpies v Walton B
Brotherhood J v Nomads Bobcats
Windsor Condors v Windsor Owls
Nomads Wildcats v Walton D
Brotherhood I v Nomads Panthers
Walton C v Windsor Buzzards
Nomads Lynx v Brotherhood E
Lawford v Walton A
Windsor Swallows v Nomads Pumas
Nomads Lions v Windsor Eagles
Brotherhood B v Brotherhood H
Brotherhood C v Windsor Harriers
Windsor Hawks v Nomads Tigers
Windsor Kites v Nomads Ocelots
Brotherhood F v Nomads Jaguars
Matches to be played w/c 2nd January
Matches to be played w/c 2nd January