It’s been a lean season so far for Felipe Rodriguez of Windsor Condors but he returned to top form this week in Division One of the Clacton & District League with a hard-fought hat-trick, his first of the current campaign, in his side’s 6-4 victory over Brotherhood B.
Rodriguez’s well-earned treble included a 3-1 (11-8, 11-6, 19-21, 11-6) win against Martin Edwards and an impressive 3-2 (6-11, 11-1, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6) success over the experienced John Cleasby. Martin Hogg contributed two and Annabelle Rodriguez one, Hogg narrowly failing to record a maximum of his own, going down 17-15 in the decider to Cleasby.
The win consolidates the Condors’ second position but, despite having a match in hand, they still find themselves 15 points behind leaders Nomads Panthers who were 9-1 winners over Windsor Hawks. Windsor’s Andy Vincent beat John Hatley 11-4 in the decider in the first match of the evening but that was the Hawks’ sole success. Sam Hume and James Denyer again stayed unbeaten.
Trebles from Walton A’s Gavin Price and Peter Burrows, and two from Paul Woolnough, gave their side a 9-1 win against Windsor Kestrels. John Harvey beat Woolnough 3-2 (12-10, 10-12, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10) for the Windsor point whilst Kestrels’ skipper Dave Martin took Woolnough close before going down 11-7 in the fifth.
Brotherhood C included reserve Kris Stefanov in their line-up against Nomads Lions and he showed his class by taking a treble in their 6-4 victory, denting Paul Hume’s 100% record in the process. Oli Reynolds took two for Brotherhood as did Hume for the Nomads’ side. Ethan Lloyd, playing as a reserve for the Lions, enjoyed a good win over Fred Gallone, who will feel unfortunate not to have got on the scoresheet himself, losing 11-7 in the fifth to Adam Wilkin.
The biggest celebrations of the week were at Lawford where the out-of-towners recorded a first win of the season, defeating relegation rivals Windsor Owls 7-3. Paul Hewitt stayed unbeaten whilst Ian Sherwood’s couple included a notable 3-2 (11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-9) victory over Frank Burbidge. Mark Salter won two for the Owls whilst Burbidge enjoyed a notable victory of his own, a tight 3-2 (11-9, 11-4, 8-11, 12-14, 11-7) success over Richard Spence. The result sees the two teams exchange positions at the bottom of the table.
Stewart Murray led the way for Brotherhood H in Division Two, taking a maximum as his team beat Brotherhood D 6-4, inflicting a first defeat of the season on fellow-defender Russell Hillier. Grant Sharpe won two for the winners as did Hillier for the losers.
In a second all-Brotherhood fixture, the ‘F’ team beat the ‘I’ side 7-3 with every player picking up at least one point. Barry Allen starred with an excellent three for the winners, his treble including a tight 13-11 in the decider success against the fast-improving Scott Campbell. Lawrence Torr contributed two wins and Lee Allen one for the ‘F’ side whilst there was one each for Woody Fitzpatrick, Scott Campbell and Mark Beckham for the ‘I’ team. Fitzpatrick had a noteworthy 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9) victory over Torr.
Six of the matches in the Windsor Harriers v Nomads Tigers encounter went the distance, with each side winning three of them. The Tigers eventually emerged 6-4 winners, John Marshall unbeaten, Daryl Lott winning two and Tony Robinson one. Windsor’s Jenny Higgins will feel particularly unfortunate to have lost all her three singles in the deciding set, the closest being 11-9 in the fifth to Robinson.
Rivhu Khan recorded a hat-trick for Walton C against Windsor Buzzards but it was not enough to prevent his team going down 7-3. Dan Malinowski, Pete Bloomfield and Ray Chillingworth all won two for the Buzzards.
But, in their second match of the week, Walton C’s strongest threesome of Khan, John Bonner and John Long inflicted a comprehensive 10-0 defeat on Brotherhood E, a result which moves the Walton side 15 points clear of the relegation places.
In another crucial bottom-of-the table clash, Windsor Magpies eased their position at the expense of Nomads Pumas, winning 9-1. But the score-line disguised a much-closer match in which the Pumas lost all five matches that went the distance, the closest being the 3-2 (12-14, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10) win for Kayley Rodriguez over Lionel Goddard. Dave Sweetland and Malcolm Caley recorded welcome hat-tricks for the Magpies whilst Andrew Cousins got the Pumas’ consolation point.
Nomads Jaguars are another team struggling at the foot of the table and their position was not helped when they went down 9-1 to a rampant Nomads Bobcats. Jason Lloyd and Ethan Lloyd both took trebles, and Andrew Cawley two. Andrew North’s victory against Cawley was the only consolation for the Jaguars.
In Division Three, there were hat-tricks for Peter Martin and Mike Wellum as Nomads Wildcats defeated Windsor Kites 7-3. Mick Simson had an unexpected 3-1 (11-5, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8) win for the Kites over John Houghton.
But Walton D, who showed little mercy in beating bottom-team Brotherhood J 10-0, are now three points clear of the Wildcats at the top of the table.
Angela Barratt was the only unbeaten player as Windsor Swallows defeated Brotherhood G 8-2. Sue Chillingworth and Iris Howlett took a couple each for the Swallows, as did Paul Metcalf for Brotherhood. The only match of the night that went the distance saw Barratt get past Metcalf (8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-7).
Nomads Lynx edged out Windsor Ospreys 6-4, Dave Harris and Cameron Cini taking two each, and Liam Harris one. But Windsor’s Jordan Webb was the unbeaten star player, enjoying a close 3-2 (11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 13-15, 11-9) win against Liam Harris and an equally-close 3-2 (11-7, 6-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9) victory over Dave Harris. The match also witnessed the encounter of the League’s two youngest players, Maci Harvey getting the better of Liam Harris in four (11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7) in the battle of two talented 11-year olds.
And, just for good measure, the Lynx then defeated a two-player Nomads Caracals 9-1. Yasmin Ticquet of the Caracals took the Caracals’ point by beating Cini and played well before going down 11-6 in the decider to Liam Harris.
RESULTS
Division 1
Nomads Lions 4 Brotherhood C 6
Windsor Hawks 1 Nomads Panthers 9
Brotherhood B 4 Windsor Condors 6
Walton A 9 Windsor Kestrels 1
Lawford 7 Windsor Owls 3
Division 2
Nomads Bobcats 9 Nomads Jaguars 1
Brotherhood H 6 Brotherhood D 4
Windsor Harriers 4 Nomads Tigers 6
Brotherhood F 7 Brotherhood I 3
Windsor Buzzards 7 Walton C 3
Brotherhood E 0 Walton C 10
Nomads Pumas 1 Windsor Magpies 9
Division 3
Nomads Lynx 9 Nomads Caracals 1
Brotherhood J 0 Walton D 10
Windsor Kites 3 Nomads Wildcats 7
Windsor Swallows 8 Brotherhood G 2
Windsor Ospreys 4 Nomads Lynx 6