Windsor Kites maintained their unbeaten start in Division Three of the Clacton & District League, this week sharing the spoils in their encounter with club-mates Windsor Swallows.
With Chris Simson an absentee from their line-up, Jack Haylett, Carl Hubbard and Mick Simson recorded the Kites’ third draw in four matches – although it was Paul Dale of the Swallows who took the individual honours, recording his second hat-trick of the season.
In the context of their six-year history in the League, the Kites’ unbeaten start is a remarkable achievement – considering they’ve lost 129 of their previous 142 League matches, and it took them 77 matches before they first tasted victory! Patience has certainly paid off for the Simson family and friends.
Elsewhere in the division, leaders Nomads Wildcats were 9-1 winners against Nomads Lynx, Mike Wellum and Peter Martin unbeaten. But the highlight of the evening was arguably the 3-2 (8-11, 11-7, 2-11, 12-10, 12-10) victory for junior Liam Harris against super-veteran Doug Green.
Walton D were 8-2 victors over a two-player Nomads Caracals. Maggie Earle, making a rare appearance in the Clacton League, opened her account with a win for Walton whilst Daniel Young showed his promise with two points, including a victory in four against veteran Chris Jones of the Caracals.
But it was the experience of Windsor Penguins which came out on top against the youngsters of Brotherhood J. The Penguins took it 10-0, Debra Found, Alan Charman and Jackie Bunce all staying undefeated. Only Bunce’s match against Brayden Saward went the distance.
Trebles from Dave Wright and Tom Collins, and two for Stuart Wilkinson, saw Nomads Leopards home 9-1 against Nomads Ocelots. Arthur Wells-Garrett took the Ocelots’ point whilst his two losing matches both went to five, going down 11-7 in the decider to Wright and 12-10 in the decider to Collins.
Meanwhile, three guest players in the Nomads Cougars v Windsor Ospreys match produced an unusual 7-1 scoreline in favour of the Ospreys.
In Division One there were hat-tricks for Greg Green and Colin Stallwood as Windsor Condors defeated Walton A 7-3. But it was a frustrating evening for the Condors’ third player Felipe Rodriguez whose three defeats were all matches that went the distance, 11-5 in the fifth to Paul Woolnough, 11-6 in the fifth to Gavin Price and, closest of all, 11-9 in the fifth to Kevin James.
The Nomads Panthers v Brotherhood B encounter witnessed two more maximum performances with James Denyer and Sam Hume remaining unbeaten in the Panthers’ 8-2 success – although Denyer had to fight hard to overcome Gracie Edwards 11-7 in the decider. John Owen and John Cleasby each took one for the losers, Owen beating John Hatley 11-8 in the fifth in the final match of the evening.
Kevin Gowlett and Alan Burgess also stayed undefeated as Brotherhood C beat Windsor Kestrels 8-2. Kevin Pryor contributed a hard-fought 11-8 in the fifth victory over Colin Beaumont. Dave Martin, with a 3-2 (6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 12-14, 11-7) win against Pryor, and John Harvey took the losers’ consolation points.
Windsor Hawks proved comfortable 9-1 winners over Lawford. Andy Vincent and John Barton took hat-tricks and shared a close 3-2 (7-11, 9-11, 11-6, 16-14, 11-6) doubles success against Richard Spence and Ian Sherwood. Spence, making his first appearance of the season, took the Lawford win.
It was also plain sailing for Walton B’s Colin Dearman, Jason Gale and Derek Willis, 10-0 victors over promoted Windsor Owls. Only Dearman’s 11-8 in the decider win over the plucky Tricia Salter went to five.
It’s looking like a Brotherhood take-over in Division Two, with four of their teams topping the early table.
Graham Parkes was the man on form for Brotherhood H, the only player to stay unbeaten as his side overcame Walton C 8-2. There were a couple each for Grant Sharpe and Paul Bellinger, making a welcome return to Clacton League action after an absence of 13 years. Rivhu Khan and John Bonner won a point each for the losers but the Walton side will feel unfortunate to have lost all three matches that went the distance, Rivhu Khan losing to Sharpe in five while Bonner went down 12-10 in the fifth to Parkes and 13-11 in the fifth to Bellinger.
Brotherhood D beat Nomads Jaguars 10-0 with Russell Hillier, Paul Alden and Shaun Beckham all undefeated. Their only scare came in the doubles where Alden and Beckham scraped past Andrew North and Caroline North 11-9 in the fifth.
It was also 10-0 for Brotherhood F against Windsor Magpies, Barry Allen, Lee Allen and Laurence Torr all taking trebles. John Plummer nearly got on the scoresheet for the Magpies, taking Lee Allen all the way before losing 11-9 in the decider whilst, in the doubles, Plummer and Kayleigh Rodriguez went down 11-7 in the fifth to Torr and Lee Allen.
Mark Ratcliffe showed he’s lost none of his old skills, staying unbeaten as Brotherhood I edged past Windsor Harriers 6-4. Woody Fitzpatrick and Scott Campbell each contributed a valuable point. Ferdy Rodriguez was the Harriers’ best player, his pair including an 11-5 in the fifth win against Campbell.
Finally, there was a first hat-trick at this level – perhaps the first of many – for Ethan Lloyd of Nomads Bobcats as his side defeated a depleted Windsor Buzzards 8-2. Jason Lloyd also stayed undefeated while Brian Friday took one. Reserve Alan Charman and Dan Malinowski, with a narrow 3-2 (11-5, 10-12, 11-8, 11-13, 11-9) win over Friday, took the Buzzards’ points.
RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Owls 0 Walton B 10
Lawford 1 Windsor Hawks 9
Nomads Panthers 8 Brotherhood B 2
Windsor Condors 7 Walton A 3
Brotherhood C 8 Windsor Kestrels 2
Division 2
Windsor Magpies 0 Brotherhood F 10
Nomads Jaguars 0 Brotherhood D 10
Walton C 2 Brotherhood H 8
Nomads Bobcats 8 Windsor Buzzards 2
Brotherhood I 6 Windsor Harriers 4
Division 3
Nomads Wildcats 9 Nomads Lynx 1
Windsor Penguins 10 Brotherhood J 0
Nomads Cougars 1 Windsor Ospreys 7
Walton D 8 Nomads Caracals 2
Windsor Kites 5 Windsor Swallows 5
Nomads Leopards 9 Nomads Ocelots 1