Windsor Kestrels came out on top against Windsor Ravens in the basement battle in Division One of the Clacton & District League, the Kestrels taking the three matches that went to a decider to record their first win of the season 7-3.
Bob Sawyer was the Kestrels’ hero, notching up a hard-fought hat-trick that included an 11-9 in the fifth win against John Harvey and an equally tight 3-2 (11-9, 11-13, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8) success over Woo Dy.
Dave Martin took a couple for the winners, whilst Graham Bunce added an important 11-6 in the fifth win over Brian Thiel. The Ravens’ points came from a Woo Dy double and one from Harvey.
Nomads Panthers played only their third match of the current campaign but came out 9-1 winners against Walton B, James Denyer and Gill Locke unbeaten. Gavin Price prevented the whitewash by beating Colin Webber and played well before narrowly losing 11-7 in the fifth to Locke.
Peter Burrows and Colin Dearman won three each as Walton A beat Brotherhood B 9-1. Martin Edwards had an excellent win against David Binns and only just went down 11-5 in the decider to Burrows. The only other match to go to five involved the encounter between two long-time former playing colleagues, Dearman and John Owen, Dearman defeating Owen 3-2 (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-6).
Brotherhood A’s early title challenge stumbled when they could field only two players against Walton C, losing ground despite winning the match 6-4. John Andrews took a treble for Brotherhood and shared a doubles win in five with Alan Burgess against Paul Meikle and Mark Gale. Walton’s Derek Willis enjoyed a good singles win against Burgess.
Nomads Lions were comfortable 10-0 victors against a Windsor Condors side that fielded two reserves. The closest match was the doubles, which saw John Hatley and Sam Hume recover to beat Paul Woolnough and reserve Tricia Salter 3-2 (11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4).
There was also a meeting of the bottom two sides in Division Two and it was Windsor Magpies who emerged 8-2 victors against Nomads Tigers, Dave Sweetland undefeated. The welcome result for the Magpies lifts them out of the relegation zone.
At the other end of the table, Brotherhood D issued a statement of intent with an 8-2 success against another top side, Nomads Ocelots, taking all three matches that went to a fifth set.
Paul Alden and Lee Harvey won hat-tricks, Harvey involved in the evening’s closest encounter when he beat Peter Giles 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 11-13, 11-1, 14-12). Harvey and Shaun Beckham also inflicted a first doubles defeat of the season on the Ocelots, beating Giles and John Hockley 11-7 in the fifth.
Three for Barry Allen, two for Sandie Isaac and one for Gerald Batt were good enough for Brotherhood F to take their match 6-4 against Brotherhood H. Grant Sharpe won two for the losers and Rowan Cottee one, whilst Sharpe and James Smith-Daye took the doubles 3-2 (6-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9) against Allen and Isaac.
Walton D caught up on their fixtures with two matches in a week in Division Three and, on both occasions, faced teams fielding a guest player.
The Walton D team proved too good for bottom side Windsor Swallows, Rivhu Khan winning both his legitimate matches in his side’s 8-2 success.
And although the Walton team later lost 6-4 to Brotherhood G, Khan had the satisfaction of beating John Wrigley 3-1 (13-15, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7).
In their second match against Windsor Ospreys, Brotherhood G were able to field a full side for the first time this season and came away 8-2 victors. Brotherhood’s Wrigley and Graham Parkes took a close doubles 11-6 in the fifth against Debra Found and Woody Fitzpatrick. Found and Lucy Burton took a point apiece for the Ospreys.
Hat-tricks for John Bowers and Alan Dockerill secured Nomads Pumas a 7-3 success against Nomads Wildcats but their third player, John Houghton, had no such good fortune, losing 13-11 in the fifth to Hazel Blanche and 11-8 in the fifth to Martin Cunningham. The Wildcats’ third point came from the bat of the evergreen Harry Barlow.
In their second match, the Wildcats were involved in a tight scrap with Nomads Leopards and the match appropriately ended with honours even. Barlow’s two wins against Tom Collins and Norman Jacobs both went the distance, whilst Andrew Cawley’s pair included an 11-7 in the decider victory over Jacobs. John Bonner stayed unbeaten for the Leopards.
Nomads Bobcats edged past Windsor Penguins 6-4, Vic Little taking three, Laurie Farrugia two and Stuart Wilkinson one. Farrugia was involved in both the match’s five-setters, beating Jackie Bunce 11-7 in the fifth but going down 11-3 in the fifth to Alan Charman. The Penguins took the doubles, Bunce and Charman defeating Little and Wilkinson in three-straight.
Finally, Windsor Buzzards breezed past Windsor Kites 10-0, the match most notable for a playing debut by the Kites’ normally non-playing captain Jo Simson.
* The League’s first tournament of the season, the Handicapped Singles, takes place on Saturday November 29 at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. Play starts at 9.30am. Entries, which will be limited to 40, can be made by post or e-mail to Tony Oswick. The closing date is Monday November 24. Full details are with team secretaries and are also on the League’s website. If there are any queries, contact Tony Oswick (Tel : 01255 429869).
* The Windsor Club is holding a quiz evening on Saturday December 6 at 7.30pm at St James’ Hall. For more information, ring Jenny Higgins on 01255 432397 or 07790 240566. Full details are also on the League’s website.
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RESULTS
Division 1
Walton A 9 Brotherhood B 1
Nomads Lions 10 Windsor Condors 0
Walton C 4 Brotherhood A 6
Windsor Ravens 3 Windsor Kestrels 7
Nomads Panthers 9 Walton B 1
Brotherhood B 2 Walton C 8
Division 2
Nomads Tigers 2 Windsor Magpies 8
Brotherhood D 8 Nomads Ocelots 2
Brotherhood H 4 Brotherhood F 6
Division 3
Nomads Bobcats 6 Windsor Penguins 4
Brotherhood G 6 Walton D 4
Windsor Swallows 2 Walton D 8
Nomads Wildcats 3 Nomads Pumas 7
Windsor Kites 0 Windsor Buzzards 10
Nomads Leopards 5 Nomads Wildcats 5
Tony Oswick
November 3, 2014