Phil Smith of Windsor Eagles was the stand-out star this week in Division One of the Clacton & District League.
In a performance described by one of his opponents as ‘awesome’, Smith powered to three wins in three-straight against Paul Meikle, Colin Dearman and Jason Gale to lead his side to a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Walton B. And, to cap an excellent evening, Smith and Gary Cattermole took the doubles 3-0 (11-6, 13-11, 11-8) against Dearman and Gale.
Cattermole’s two singles wins for the Eagles included a 3-2 (14-12, 7-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7) success over Dearman. Gale and Dearman took one each for the losers and whilst Meikle recorded two victories, both matches went the distance – 11-7 in the decider against Fred Button and 13-11 in the decider against Cattermole.
League leaders Nomads Panthers continued their good run with a comfortable-looking 9-1 success over Windsor Kestrels. Gill Locke and Colin Webber took hat-tricks, and John Hatley two. The only blot on their copy-book was Hatley’s defeat at the hands of John Harvey. Harvey also played well against Webber but eventually succumbed 11-6 in the decider.
Windsor Condors are emerging as the biggest threat to the Panthers and this week they recorded an 8-2 victory over club-mates Windsor Hawks. Their dynamic duo, Greg Green and Colin Stallwood, again produced the goods although Green had to battle hard before defeating Andy Vincent 3-2 (11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 4-11, 11-8). Vincent and George Berry, making his Clacton debut, took a point each for the losers.
Gavin Price was the only player to stay unbeaten as Walton A overcame Windsor Owls 8-2. Frank Burbidge and Mark Salter each took a point for the losers, Burbidge beating Paul Woolnough 11-9 in the fifth and Salter edging out Graham Buxton by an identical score.
Nomads Lions took all three matches that went the distance to beat luckless Lawford 9-1. Paul Hume was unbeaten for the Lions as was Adam Wilkin, who had hard-fought matches before beating Paul Hewitt 11-8 in the fifth and Richard Spence 11-6 in the fifth. It was also 11-6 in the fifth in the doubles, Wilkin and Hume defeating Spence and Ian Sherwood. Hewitt beat Roger Hance for the Lawford point.
In Division Two, Grant Sharpe, Stewart Murray and Graham Parkes of Brotherhood H had a straightforward 10-0 success over a weakened Nomads Jaguars. Only three matches were extended to a fourth set.
It was an equally comfortable 10-0 for Brotherhood I against Nomads Pumas with only Mark Beckham’s 11-6 in the fifth victory over Alan Dockerill stretched beyond the regulation three sets. Scott Campbell recorded a first maximum at this level.
The Pumas were also at the wrong end of a 7-3 scoreline against Brotherhood E, for whom Duncan Dunne stayed undefeated. Tony Edmonds contributed two points for Brotherhood and Cris Edwards one whilst, for the Pumas, Andrew Cousins won two and John Bowers one. The closest match of the evening saw Cousins defeat Edwards 11-8 in the fifth.
But Brotherhood E felt the sting of defeat in their second match against Windsor Buzzards, Ray Chillingworth starring for the Windsor side with an excellent treble. There were two each for Pete Bloomfield and Alan Rutledge but both fell foul of Dunne who again was Brotherhood’s best player, taking both their points – although it was a tight 11-7 in the fifth against Rutledge.
The closest match in the division saw Nomads Bobcats notch up a surprise 6-4 win over Brotherhood F – despite Lawrence Torr staying unbeaten for the losers. It was a nail-biting affair with Jason Lloyd and Ethan Lloyd each taking two good wins, and Andrew Cawley taking a surprise 16-14 in the fifth victory against Sandie Isaac. The two Lloyds also took a close 3-2 (11-8, 5-11, 12-10, 10-12, 12-10) doubles victory against Torr and Barry Allen.
Nomads Tigers proved too good for Windsor Magpies, Daryl Lott, John Marshall and John Hockley breezing to a 10-0 win.
And it was also 10-0 for Windsor Harriers against Walton C, with two matches going the distance – Isabel Barton eventually beat John Bonner 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-13, 11-2 whilst it was 11-5, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7 for Ferdy Rodriguez against John Long.
Division Three leaders Nomads Wildcats were 8-2 winners against Windsor Ospreys. Mike Wellum stayed unbeaten, with Doug Green and Mike Hillier each winning two. But there were impressive performances from Windsor’s Robbie Strutt who enjoyed a notable 3-2 (7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-6) victory over Hillier, and from Jordan Webb who beat Green in five (11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 6-11, 11-5). Webb also took Wellum all the way before going down 11-6 in the fifth.
Despite a well-deserved hat-trick from Arthur Wells-Garrett of Nomads Ocelots, Walton D maintained their interest at the top of the table with a 6-4 victory. Jane Young and Daniel Young each took two for Walton and Maggie Earle one. The tightest match of the evening saw Nomads’ Martin Cunningham edge past Earle 11-7 in the fifth.
Windsor Kites’ remarkable run of form continued with a 9-1 win over the young Brotherhood J side. Carl Hubbard and Chris Simson took trebles and Mick Simson two, which included a 3-2 (11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 10-12, 11-8) success over Georgia Ayton. Brayden Saward took the losers’ consolation point.
Iris Howlett, Sue Chillingworth and Angela Barratt of Winsor Swallows proved too good for Nomads Leopards, winning 10-0. Howlett’s 11-5 in the fifth win over Roger McNaughton was the only match that went to five.
Finally, Nomads Lynx and a Brotherhood G side fielding a guest player shared the spoils, Paul Metcalf of Brotherhood staying unbeaten. Dave Hunt won one and, with Metcalf, took a close doubles 3-2 (11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8) against Dave Harris and Gill Knight. Harris and Knight took a point each for the losers, Knight beating Hunt in five (18-16, 11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 11-7).
* Team Secretaries should note that Nomads Cougars have regrettably been forced to withdraw from the League. Their playing record has been expunged.
* Details about the Knock-Out Cup will be sent to all Team Secretaries on December 3. Round One, to be played during week beginning December 12, will involve 10 teams from Division Three whilst the remaining teams in the League will join in Round Two, to be played in week beginning January 2.
* Players should note that the dates for the Closed Championships have been confirmed for the weekend of Saturday and Sunday April 22-23 2017 at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall.
RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Hawks 2 Windsor Condors 8
Walton A 8 Windsor Owls 2
Walton B 4 Windsor Eagles 6
Nomads Lions 9 Lawford 1
Windsor Kestrels 1 Nomads Panthers 9
Division 2
Windsor Buzzards 8 Brotherhood E 2
Nomads Tigers 10 Windsor Magpies 0
Brotherhood E 7 Nomads Pumas 3
Brotherhood H 10 Nomads Jaguars 0
Brotherhood F 4 Nomads Bobcats 6
Windsor Harriers 10 Walton C 0
Nomads Pumas 0 Brotherhood I 10
Division 3
Windsor Ospreys 2 Nomads Wildcats 8
Windsor Swallows 10 Nomads Leopards 0
Brotherhood J 1 Windsor Kites 9
Nomads Ocelots 4 Walton D 6
Nomads Lynx 5 Brotherhood G 5