Brotherhood G maintained their unbeaten start in Division Three of the Clacton & District League but their 6-4 victory over Nomads Caracals was their toughest match to date.
Paul Metcalf was their unbeaten star, his hat-trick including good wins in five over both Chris Jones and Denise Thompson. Mark Beckham won a couple whilst the two Brotherhood players shared an ultimately crucial 11-9 in the decider doubles success over Jones and Thompson. Jones’s two for the Caracals included a fine 11-7 in the fifth victory over Beckham whilst there was one each for Thompson and Hazel Blanche, Blanche involved in a tense 3-2 (12-10, 3-11, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10) win over John Gallagher.
It was also 6-4 as Brotherhood J defeated a Nomads Lynx side who were forced to field a guest player. Dan Still won his two matches for Brotherhood but both were too close to call, 11-7 in the fifth against Dave Harris and 11-8 in the fifth against Liam Harris. The Lynx, in the form of Harris and Harris, took the doubles against Maci Harvey and Harley Wood but Wood had revenge with a win over Dave Harris.
Nomads Pumas, playing with a guest, were still too good for Windsor Swallows, winning 6-4. Lionel Goddard was unbeaten for the Pumas although it was a tight 11-9 in the decider against Robbie Strutt. Brian Friday won two for the winners but couldn’t get the better of Strutt.
Chris Simpson stayed unbeaten as the Kites and Penguins fought out a hard-earned draw. Carl Hubbard won twice whilst, for the Penguins, Alan Charman won two, and Jackie Bunce and Paul Dale one each. Bunce and Dale shared a 3-2 (13-11, 12-14, 6-11, 12-10, 11-4) doubles success against Simpson and Hubbard. Another close match saw Charman defeat Hubbard in five (9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7).
Both Nomads Leopards and Nomads Ocelots fielded guest players, which accounts for the unusual 5-4 scoreline in favour of the Ocelots. Dominic Joannou stayed unbeaten for the Ocelots and, with Sue Lee, took the doubles 11-6 in the decider against Dave Wright and Norman Jacobs.
In Division One, Gracie Edwards remained undefeated for Brotherhood B as her side shared the spoils with Windsor Condors. Martin Edwards contributed a couple whilst, for the Condors, Mel Rampton won two with Felipe Rodriguez and Annabelle Rodriguez each taking one.
Walton A and Brotherhood C enjoyed a good scrap before Walton emerged narrow 6-4 winners. Brotherhood’s Kevin Gowlett excelled with a maximum which included the narrowest of 3-2 (13-15, 11-13, 15-13, 14-12, 11-9) victories over Gary Young. There were two each for Young and Gavin Price but arguably the pivotal point came from Paul Woolnough who had an unexpected success over Oli Reynolds.
Gary Cattermole was another hat-trick player as Windsor Eagles notched up a welcome first win of the season, 6-4 over club-mates Windsor Kestrels. Sue Welham took two valuable points and, with Cattermole, won the doubles. John Harvey, with two wins, was the Kestrels’ best player.
Walton B beat Walton C 7-3, Derek Willis taking three, Mark Gale two and Colin Dearman one. John Rankin picked up a couple for the losers with Graham Buxton taking a close 11-7 in the decider victory over Dearman.
Hat-tricks for George Berry and Andy Vincent gave Windsor Hawks their first success of the season, a 9-1 win over Brotherhood D. Lee Harvey’s win over Elliott Attrill prevented the whitewash.
In Division Two, an unfamiliar Lawford trio of Paul Hewitt, Paul Phelan and John Colvin were still too good for Windsor Buzzards, winning 9-1. Dan Malinowski’s victory over Colvin was the Buzzards’ sole success.
Three each for Daniel Young and Jared Chelski saw Walton E to a 9-1 success against Windsor Magpies although it was a narrow 11-9 in the decider for Young against Dave Sweetland. John Plummer won the Magpies’ consolation point with an 11-5 in the fifth win over Jane Young.
The Magpies went down for a second time, 6-4 to leaders Brotherhood F but the Magpies’ new signing, Ollie Rampton, proved a hit on his Clacton League debut to stay unbeaten. Barry Allen and Lee Allen each won a couple for the winners whilst reserve Paul Metcalf capped a good week by taking an important point against Malcolm Caley.
Nomads Tigers eased past Walton D 10-0, Pawel Szemro – another player making his Clacton League debut – taking three, as did Daryl Lott and Eric Lemke. The closest matches saw Lott beat John Long in five, as did Lemke against John Bonner.
Brotherhood H and Windsor Harriers were involved in a four-hour marathon which finished with honours even. Brotherhood’s Mark Salter was the outstanding player on the night, staying unbeaten, whilst Tricia Salter had an important win over Isabel Barton. Harriers’ skipper Ferdy Rodriguez took two, including the scalp of Frank Burbidge, and shared a vital doubles win with Barton against Burbidge and Tricia Salter.
Brotherhood E picked up their first points of the season in their match with Brotherhood I, with Rodney Betts beating Paul Alden and Cris Edwards defeating Fred Gallone. But they were still on the wrong end of an 8-2 scoreline, an undefeated Graham Parkes starring for the winners. Parkes was also involved in the closest match of the contest, an 11-7 in the fifth doubles win with Alden over Edwards and Tony Edmonds.
* Information about the Division Three Handicap Challenge, which begins next month, have been circulated to all players and is also on the League’s website. Details about grades will be sent to Team Secretaries by 23rd October as well as being posted on the website. The first scheduled match is a Group One match between Nomads Leopards and Nomads Pumas on 10th November.
RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood C 4 Walton A 6
Windsor Condors 5 Brotherhood B 5
Windsor Eagles 6 Windsor Kestrels 4
Brotherhood D 1 Windsor Hawks 9
Walton C 3 Walton B 7
Division 2
Walton E 9 Windsor Magpies 1
Brotherhood H 5 Windsor Harriers 5
Walton D 0 Nomads Tigers 10
Windsor Magpies 4 Brotherhood F 6
Windsor Buzzards 1 Lawford 9
Brotherhood E 2 Brotherhood I 8
Division 3
Nomads Caracals 4 Brotherhood G 6
Nomads Leopards 4 Nomads Ocelots 5
Windsor Kites 5 Windsor Penguins 5
Nomads Pumas 6 Windsor Swallows 4
Brotherhood J 6 Nomads Lynx 4