As the Clacton & District League season enters its final weeks Brotherhood D recorded their third successive whitewash win in Division Two to move to within seven points of the top of the table.
This week the talented Brotherhood trio of Russell Hillier, Lee Harvey and Paul Alden enjoyed an impressive 10-0 victory against a Nomads Tigers side who, at the start of the season, harboured their own promotion hopes. The two closest matches saw Alden beat John Marshall 3-2 (11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7) and Phil Wolski also in five (8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9).
The result edges them ever closer to leaders Brotherhood H who had an 8-2 win over bottom-team Windsor Magpies. John Wrigley made a rare appearance for Brotherhood and logged a point with victory over Malcolm Caley. Grant Sharpe and Graham Parkes stayed unbeaten whilst Dave Sweetland and Kayley Rodriguez won a point each for the Magpies who, with time and matches running out, are beginning to look doomed.
Nomads Bobcats’ late charge for promotion may have come just a little too late but they still played out a fine 8-2 victory over Brotherhood I, a result which leap-frogs them into fourth place. Jason Lloyd and Ethan Lloyd took trebles whilst Andrew Cawley’s two wins included an excellent 11-9 in the decider victory over Mark Ratcliffe. Mark Beckham was Brotherhood’s best player, defeating Cawley 11-6 in the fifth and narrowly losing out 11-6 in the fifth to Jason Lloyd and 11-8 in the fifth to Ethan Lloyd. Beckham and Woody Fitzpatrick also shared a surprise doubles win in three-straight over Cawley and Jason Lloyd.
The mid-table Walton C v Windsor Buzzards match predictably ended all-square. Rivhu Khan won three and John Bonner two for Walton, whilst Ray Chillingworth got a couple for the Buzzards. It was the Windsor side’s first drawn match of the season
Nomads Jaguars removed any lingering relegation fears with an 8-2 victory against a Nomads Pumas’ team which fielded a guest. Kevin Hume was the Jaguars’ best player on the night with wins over Eric Lemke and Lionel Goddard. Lemke got a couple for the Pumas who nearly sneaked a third point in the doubles, Hume and Andrew North eventually edging it 3-2 (9-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9) against Lemke and Goddard.
In Division Three second-placed Nomads Wildcats beat Nomads Ocelots 10-0. There were hat-tricks for Mike Hillier and John Houghton although Houghton had to battle hard before beating Dominic Joannou 11-8 in the decider and Martin Cunningham 13-11 in the decider.
Robbie Strutt of the Ospreys stayed unbeaten in the all-Windsor tie against the Penguins but, despite his efforts, he still finished on the losing side, the Penguins taking the fixture 6-4 for a second time this season. Strutt had two tight matches, overcoming Alan Charman 11-6 in the fifth and Debra Found 12-10 in the fifth. Charman and Found won two each, and Jackie Bunce one, for the Penguins with Maci Harvey taking a point for the losers by beating Bunce 3-1 (11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 12-10).
Nomads Caracals beat Brotherhood G 7-3, Denise Thompson winning her three, Chris Jones two and Hazel Blanche one. Paul Metcalf won a couple for the losers.
Stuart Wilkinson and Dave Wright were the hat-trick men, whilst Roger McNaughton won twice, as Nomads Leopards defeated Brotherhood J 9-1. In a battle of the generations, Harley Wood took the Brotherhood point by beating McNaughton – and she nearly took a second, narrowly going down 13-11 in the fifth to Wright.
In Division One it was all too easy for Sam Hume, Gill Locke and John Monk of Nomads Panthers who defeated Walton B 10-0 with only one match extended to a fourth set.
Windsor Eagles were 9-1 victors against Windsor Hawks, Phil Smith and John Pattrick both taking trebles. It was good to see Sue Welham back in action for the Eagles and her two wins included a hard-fought five-set (9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10) success over Elliott Attrill. But she couldn’t get the better of Andy Vincent who took the Hawks’ point by beating Welham 11-6 in the decider.
It was also 9-1 for Brotherhood B against lowly Lawford. Martin Edwards took three, as did Gracie Edwards, although she had to come from behind to beat Richard Spence 3-2 (3-11, 3-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7). The two Edwards also had a tight 11-9 in the decider doubles victory against Spence and Ian Sherwood. Paul Hewitt took Lawford’s point with a victory over John Owen.
So, with five matches to be played, only two points separate Windsor Eagles, Brotherhood B and Walton A in third, fourth and fifth positions.
Walton A lost ground this week when they went down to Brotherhood C who are now just five points behind in sixth place. Hat-tricks for Kevin Gowlett and Alan Burgess were the basis of Brotherhood’s 7-3 success, a reverse of their early-season meeting. Gavin Price, Paul Woolnough and John Rankin took a point apiece for Walton.
Nomads Lions and Windsor Owls each fielded a reserve but the Lions came out on top 8-2, Roger Hance and Adam Wilkin both remaining undefeated.
* Details about the Closed Championships have now been circulated to all League players. The Tournament takes place on Saturday and Sunday April 22-23 at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. The closing date for entries is Saturday April 1. To qualify players must have played at least seven League matches by the closing date.
* The Windsor Club’s Quiz Evening is being held this Saturday (11th March) at St James Hall, 7pm for a 7.30 pm start. For details contact Jenny Higgins on 01255 432397.
RESULTS
Division 1
Nomads Panthers 10 Walton B 0
Windsor Eagles 9 Windsor Hawks 1
Brotherhood C 7 Walton A 3
Lawford 1 Brotherhood B 9
Windsor Owls 2 Nomads Lions 8
Brotherhood B 10 Windsor Kestrels 0
Division 2
Nomads Tigers 0 Brotherhood D 10
Nomads Jaguars 8 Nomads Pumas 2
Windsor Magpies 2 Brotherhood H 8
Walton C 5 Windsor Buzzards 5
Brotherhood I 2 Nomads Bobcats 8
Division 3
Nomads Wildcats 10 Nomads Ocelots 0
Brotherhood G 3 Nomads Caracals 7
Windsor Penguins 6 Windsor Ospreys 4
Nomads Leopards 9 Brotherhood J 1