Walton A are emerging as the likeliest challengers to Nomads Panthers in Division One of the Clacton & District League.
In the week’s top match, Walton’s big guns proved too good for Brotherhood A, Kevin Gowlett and Peter Burrows unbeaten in the 7-3 win. Brotherhood’s Oli Reynolds pushed Gowlett all the way before going down 11-9 in the fifth whilst Elliott Attrill recorded an excellent 3-2 (7-11, 11-7, 14-12, 4-11, 14-12) success against Colin Dearman.
Meanwhile, title-holders Nomads Panthers also continued their winning run with a 9-1 victory against Windsor Eagles. Fred Button launched the Eagles into a 1-0 lead by inflicting a first defeat of the season on Gill Locke but thereafter it was straightforward for the Panthers, Colin Webber recording his first hat-trick of the current campaign.
The Nomads Lions versus Windsor Ravens encounter was a clash of youth against experience with an average age-gap of 60 years separating the two sides. And it was the young legs of the Lions – Paul Hume, Sam Hume and Adam Wilkin – which triumphed 10-0 over the wise old heads of John Harvey, John Long and Brian Thiel. The closest match was Wilkin’s narrow 3-2 defeat of Harvey (10-12, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9).
None of the individual matches went the distance as Windsor Hawks chalked up their first win of the season, 6-4 against Brotherhood B. There was a hat-trick for Windsor’s Felipe Rodriguez and two for John Barton, whilst John Owen picked up a couple for Brotherhood.
Walton C’s captain Mark Gale was forced to concede his matches following injury in the warm-up against Windsor Kestrels but team-mates Derek Willis and Paul Meikle carried the Walton flame in tandem to a 7-3 success. The closest match saw Meikle beat Dave Martin 11-6 in the decider.
In Division Two, Brotherhood C took full advantage of Frank Burbidge’s absence from the Windsor Owls’ line-up to record an 8-2 win. Gary Stallwood was unbeaten, with Fred Gallone and Lawrence Torr each winning two. Adam Jackson took the Owls’ two points which included a 3-2 (11-8, 12-14, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8) nailbiter against Torr.
Trebles from Brian Parish and Harry Hawkes saw Nomads Ocelots home 9-1 against the more-than-useful Brotherhood F although the scoreline disguised a much closer match. Brotherhood’s Sandie Isaac lost 11-5 in the fifth to both Hawkes and Peter Giles, whilst Parish and Hawkes edged out Lee Allen and Gerald Batt 3-2 (9-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9) in the doubles. Brotherhood’s sole point came from Allen’s 11-8 in the decider win over Giles.
Lawford kept up their title challenge with a 10-0 whitewash of lowly Nomads Jaguars but the Jaguars will feel unfortunate not to have salvaged something from the match. Caroline North lost 11-7 in the fifth to Ian Sherwood and Andy North was pipped 13-11 in the fifth by Paul Hewitt.
Windsor Harriers were 7-3 winners against Windsor Magpies but Magpies’ captain John Plummer will be another player to feel disappointed, losing 11-6 in the decider to Jenny Higgins and 12-10 in the decider to Isabel Barton. Higgins won a couple for the winners, as did David Sweetland for the losers, whilst Dan Wright picked up a first point of the season with a win in four over Barton.
Two each for Gary Bayliss, Duncan Dunne and Tony Edmonds were sufficient to see Brotherhood E to a 6-4 win against Brotherhood H although none of them could get the better of an undefeated Grant Sharpe. His team-mate James Smith-Daye took Bayliss and Dunne close before losing 11-5 in the fifth to both players.
Six of the matches between Brotherhood I and Nomads Tigers went the distance and it was no surprise that this fiercely contested match ended as a draw. John Marshall starred for the Tigers, his treble including a 3-2 (9-11, 10-12, 11-3, 12-10, 12-10) win against Tom Wilkin. Tigers’ reserve Mike Hillier had a tough evening, beating Wilkin 11-8 in the fifth but losing 11-5 in the decider to both Kelvin Olano and Mark Beckham.
But the Tigers’ first doubles success of the season was arguably the key match, Marshall and Hillier defeating Beckham and Wilkin in five. Both Olano and Beckham chalked up two wins for Brotherhood.
Both leading sides in Division Three recorded whitewash victories. Windsor Buzzards were 10-0 winners over Walton D although Ray Chillingworth had to survive a massive scare before coming out on top 3-2 (11-8, 11-13, 6-11, 11-2, 14-12) against Rivhu Khan.
It was also 10-0 for the Lynx in the all-Nomads’ clash against the Bobcats, Mike Hillier completing a tough week by beating Dave Haslam 11-6 in the fifth and Vic Little 11-9 in the fifth. Brian Friday also had to fight hard before overcoming Little 11-7 in the decider.
Angela Barratt’s first appearance this season for Windsor Swallows helped them to a first win of the current campaign, 6-4 in a close-fought encounter with Nomads Leopards. Iris Howlett’s pair for the Swallows were five-set wins against both Tom Collins and Norman Jacobs, whilst her doubles success with Kayley Lamb against the same two Nomads’ players was another close match which ended 11-5 in their favour. Tony Rayner picked up two points for the Leopards.
Graham Parkes contributed his usual three for Brotherhood G, who again were forced to field a reserve against Nomads Wildcats. The Wildcats edged the match 6-4, Andy Cawley and Paul Dale taking a vital 11-6 in the decider doubles victory against Parkes and Brian Baines.
Finally, Windsor Ospreys defeated Windsor Kites 8-2, a match notable for a first League hat-trick for Woody Fitzpatrick and two debut League wins for Millie Easton. Carl Hubbard took a point for the Kites and, with Mick Simson, had the satisfaction of taking the doubles 11-5 in the fifth against Easton and Debra Found.
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* The Handicapped Singles Tournament takes place on Saturday November 29 at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall, with play starting at 9.30am. Entries can be made by post or e-mail to Tony Oswick but will be limited to 40. The closing date is Monday November 24.
Full details are with Team Secretaries and are also on the League’s website. Any queries, contact Tony Oswick (Tel : 01255 429869).
* The Windsor Club’s Quiz Evening is being held 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.
RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood B 4 Windsor Hawks 6
Brotherhood A 3 Walton A 7
Windsor Ravens 0 Windsor Lions 10
Windsor Kestrels 3 Walton C 7
Windsor Eagles 1 Nomads Panthers 9
Division 2
Brotherhood I 5 Nomads Tigers 5
Brotherhood E 6 Brotherhood H 4
Windsor Magpies 3 Windsor Harriers 7
Nomads Ocelots 9 Brotherhood F 1
Nomads Jaguars 0 Lawford 10
Windsor Owls 2 Brotherhood C 8
Division 3
Windsor Ospreys 8 Windsor Kites 2
Nomads Leopards 4 Windsor Swallows 6
Brotherhood G 4 Nomads Wildcats 6
Walton D 0 Windsor Buzzards 10
Nomads Lynx 10 Nomads Bobcats 0
Tony Oswick
November 10, 2014