Brotherhood H took a significant step forward in their push for promotion from Division Two of the Clacton & District League with an important 7-3 win over Brotherhood I.
Stewart Murray won his three, Grant Sharpe two and Graham Parkes one in a fine all-round team victory.
It was a tight 11-7 in the fifth for Sharpe against Scott Campbell, although that was far from the closest match of the contest, with arch-defender Murray scraping past Mark Ratcliffe 3-2 (11-13, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 15-13) in a 40-minute marathon which came within a whisker of going to expedite at 9-9 in the fifth. Ratcliffe won a couple for the ‘I’ team and Campbell one.
It was a 10th successive treble for Murray, extending an unbeaten run that began at the end of September last year.
The defeat for Brotherhood I allowed Brotherhood D to leapfrog them into second position following an 8-2 win over Walton C. There were hat-tricks here for Russell Hillier and Paul Alden, Hillier having an interesting-looking 3-1 (9-11, 12-10, 24-22, 11-6) victory over John Bonner. Bonner and John Long took a point apiece, Long enjoying an unexpected 11-8 in the fifth win over Lee Harvey.
No-one stayed unbeaten as Brotherhood F defeated Windsor Buzzards 7-3. There were two each for Brotherhood’s Barry Allen, Lee Allen and Sandie Isaac, with Pete Bloomfield getting a couple for Windsor and Dan Malinowski one. Malinowski was involved in two matches which finished 11-6 in the fifth, beating Lee Allen but losing out to Barry Allen.
Three for John Marshall, a couple from Tony Robinson and a doubles success for Marshall and Daryl Lott saw the Tigers home 6-4 in the all-Nomads clash with the Jaguars. But the Jaguars will feel content with another four points which moves them out of immediate relegation danger. Caroline North won two, with Kevin Hume and Allen Denyer each winning one.
Nomads Bobcats’ recent run of good form has seen them move to the fringe of the promotion race and they continued their progress with a 10-0 victory over bottom-team Nomads Pumas. The only match which went beyond the regulation three-straight was the doubles, Andrew Cawley and Ethan Lloyd beating Andrew Cousins and John Bowers 11-5 in the decider.
Brotherhood E’s relegation worries were not eased after their 8-2 defeat to Windsor Harriers. An unbeaten Isabel Barton was the Harriers’ best player whilst reserve Robbie Strutt recorded a tight 3-2 (10-12, 11-7, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7) victory over Duncan Dunne. There was a point each for Brotherhood’s Rodney Betts and Tony Edmonds.
In Division Three, Walton D regained top spot with a 10-0 victory over a Windsor Ospreys’ side fielding a guest. But they didn’t have it all their own way, Jane Young scraping past Robbie Strutt in five (13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 5-11, 12-10) whilst Daniel Young and Maggie Earle required the full five sets to overcome Strutt and Mark Lamb 10-12, 11-6, 11-13, 11-5, 11-5 in the doubles.
Windsor Penguins and Brotherhood G enjoyed a good scrap, the Penguins eventually edging it 6-4. Debra Found won three, Alan Charman two and Jackie Bunce one. Paul Metcalf took a couple for Brotherhood with Rob Bright having a tense 11-8 in the decider victory over Bunce.
There was another tight match and another 6-4 scoreline as Windsor Kites just got the better of Nomads Ocelots, despite a hat-trick from Arthur Wells-Garrett for the losers. Carl Hubbard and Jack Haylett won two each for the Kites, and shared a doubles win, with Mick Simson winning one. The Ocelots took both matches which went to five, Wells-Garrett edging past Hubbard 12-10 in the fifth, with his team-mate Dominic Joannou beating Simson 11-7, 11-8, 12-14, 11-13, 11-6.
Trebles from Nomads Caracals’ dynamic duo, Chris Jones and Denise Thompson, were the back-bone of their side’s 8-2 success against Nomads Leopards. Caracals’ captain Hazel Blanche enjoyed a good win over her former Leopards’ team-mate Norman Jacobs. Tom Collins and Dave Wright won a point apiece for the losers.
Windsor Swallows were 10-0 winners against Brotherhood J. Paul Dale, Iris Howlett and Angela Barratt all remained unbeaten, although Dale struggled to beat Georgia Ayton 11-7 in the decider and Harley Wood 11-9 in the decider.
In Division One, Nomads Panthers were taken all the way by Brotherhood C’s top trio before emerging narrow 6-4 winners, James Denyer starring with an unbeaten three. John Monk, making a first appearance of the season, won a couple including an 11-9 in the decider success against Kevin Gowlett, but failed to make it a maximum, losing out 12-10 in the fifth to Oli Reynolds. Reynolds took two for Brotherhood, with Gowlett and Alan Burgess winning one each.
Windsor Condors closed the gap at the top with a 10-0 victory over Walton B. Colin Stallwood, Martin Hogg and Felipe Rodriguez all remained undefeated although Rodriguez was twice taken the distance, beating Derek Willis 11-8 in the fifth and Paul Meikle 11-5 in the fifth.
Windsor Eagles got back to winning ways by defeating club-mates Windsor Kestrels 9-1. Phil Smith and John Pattrick both took trebles with only John Harvey’s victory against Sue Welham preventing the whitewash.
It was also 9-1 as Walton A defeated Lawford, Kevin James and Gary Young unbeaten. Richard Spence took Lawford’s consolation point, beating John Rankin in the opening match of the encounter.
Brotherhood B were 6-4 victors against Nomads Lions, Gracie Edwards winning three, Martin Edwards two and John Owen one. Roger Hance took a couple for the losers including a narrow 12-10 in the fifth success against Martin Edwards.
* The Handicapped Singles Tournament takes place this Saturday (February 4) at Windsor’s St James Hall. Play starts at 9.30am.
* The Windsor Club’s Quiz Evening is being held on Saturday March 11 at 7.30pm at St James Hall. For more details contact Jenny Higgins on 01255 432397, 07790 240566, or [email protected].
RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood C 4 Nomads Panthers 6
Windsor Condors 10 Walton B 0
Windsor Eagles 9 Windsor Kestrels 1
Lawford 1 Walton A 9
Nomads Lions 4 Brotherhood B 6
Division 2
Brotherhood I 3 Brotherhood H 7
Walton C 2 Brotherhood D 8
Windsor Buzzards 3 Brotherhood F 7
Nomads Jaguars 4 Nomads Tigers 6
Brotherhood E 2 Windsor Harriers 8
Nomads Bobcats 10 Nomads Pumas 0
Division 3
Windsor Swallows 10 Brotherhood J 0
Windsor Kites 6 Nomads Ocelots 4
Brotherhood G 4 Windsor Penguins 6
Walton D 10 Windsor Ospreys 0
Nomads Leopards 2 Nomads Caracals 8