Jack Haylett sacrificed his 19th birthday partying to turn out for Windsor Kites in Division Three of the Clacton & District League – and celebrated by notching up a first-ever League treble, a hard-earned hat-trick in his side’s drawn encounter with Windsor Swallows.
Haylett won all three singles in matches which went the distance – 8-11, 5-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-1 against Paul Dale, an even closer 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8 against Sue Chillingworth and a nail-bitingly tight 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10 against Iris Howlett.
Haylett also partnered Carl Hubbard for a doubles win and, with Chris Simson beating Chillingworth, the Kites earned a share of the spoils, their seventh drawn match of the season.
Howlett and Dale took two each for the Swallows with Dale, having lost his match 11-1 in the fifth against Haylett, then having an 11-1 in the fifth win of his own when he defeated Hubbard in the final match of the evening.
Nomads Lynx endured a torrid week with matches against the top two sides, both of which ended in predictably heavy defeats.
The fixture with Nomads Wildcats finished 9-1 in favour of the Wildcats, Doug Green and Mike Wellum winning three each, although Liam Harris had the consolation of a 3-2 (11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-3) success over Peter Martin.
Walton D went one better, beating the Lynx 10-0, Daniel Young, Jane Young and Maggie Earle all undefeated. But the Lynx so nearly avoided the whitewash, Earle only just scraping past Dave Harris in five (8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10).
Walton consolidated their position at the top with a second win of the week, 8-2 over Nomads Caracals, Daniel Young and Jared Chelski taking maximum points. But it was a closer match than the scoreline suggests, Young defeating Chris Jones 3-2 (9-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8) and Denise Thompson 3-2 (11-4, 9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5), whilst Earle had a close tussle with Jones before coming through in a decider (10-12, 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7). But the most unexpected result of the evening saw Nomads’ captain Hazel Blanche defeat Earle 3-1 (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7).
Arthur Wells-Garrett and Martin Cunningham were also on the ball, taking hat-tricks as Nomads Ocelots avenged an early-season 9-1 defeat by beating Nomads Leopards 7-3. The closest match saw Cunningham edge out Dave Wright 11-7 in the decider. Wright, Norman Jacobs and Tom Collins got a point each for the losers.
The big match in Division One saw title-hopefuls Windsor Condors, without Colin Stallwood, win all four matches that went the distance to share the spoils with Walton A’s top trio of Gary Young, Kevin James and Peter Burrows.
Young proved the best player on show, staying unbeaten on the night, although every player had the satisfaction of picking up at least one point. Windsor’s Felipe Rodriguez had a fine 11-7 in the fifth victory over Peter Burrows, the same score by which Martin Hogg beat James. Hogg and Greg Green took the doubles 3-2 (12-10, 10-12, 10-12, 11-3, 11-5) against Burrows and Young, but the best was saved until the final match of the evening, Green picking up his second singles win of the night with a thrilling five-set (7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 15-13) success over Burrows.
At the other end of the table, life continues to be tough for the bottom three teams.
Windsor Kestrels and Brotherhood C both fielded reserves but an inevitable three from Kevin Gowlett helped Brotherhood to a 7-3 success. There were a couple of wins for reserve Barry Allen, 11-3 in the fifth against Windsor John Plummer and 11-8 in the fifth against John Harvey, whilst Fred Gallone at last got on the winning trail. Dave Martin won a couple for the Kestrels.
There were trebles for Andy Vincent and John Barton as Windsor Hawks defeated Lawford 8-2. Richard Spence and Paul Hewitt each chalked up a victory over Windsor’s Ian Fielder, making his first appearance of the season for the Hawks.
Frank Burbidge of Windsor Owls beat Jason Gale of Walton B 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 12-14, 11-5, 11-6) but that was the Owls’ sole success of the night, Walton winning 9-1, with Derek Willis and Paul Meikle unbeaten. Willis and Burbidge fought out a tough match before Willis took it 11-5 in the decider.
All four Brotherhood teams at the top of Division Two enjoyed convincing wins. Leaders Brotherhood H defeated Walton C 9-1, Stewart Murray and Grant Sharpe again recording maximum points. Graham Parkes won two, including a 3-2 (8-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8) victory over John Bonner but he had to cede second-best to wily old campaigner John Long who took the Walton point with an 11-6 in the fifth win.
Brotherhood D were 10-0 winners over Nomads Jaguars, Lee Harvey, Russell Hillier and Paul Alden all unbeaten. But Kevin Hume so nearly caused an upset, Hillier winning their individual encounter by the narrowest of margins, 13-11 in the fifth.
There was also a 10-0 scoreline as Brotherhood F beat Windsor Magpies, with only three of the matches extended to a fourth set. Lawrence Torr, Barry Allen and Lee were the successful Brotherhood trio.
Three for Mark Ratcliffe, and two each for Scott Campbell and Mark Beckham, saw Brotherhood I home 7-3 against Windsor Harriers, their closest victory being Beckham’s 11-7 in the fifth success against Jenny Higgins. For the Harriers, there was a point each for Ferdy Rodriguez, who defeated Campbell 3-2 (11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7), and Isabel Barton, with the two Windsor players combining to take the doubles in five (5-11, 12-10, 12-10, 5-11, 11-4) against Ratcliffe and Campbell.
At the bottom, Brotherhood E eased their relegation worries with a 7-3 victory over Nomads Pumas, Tony Edmonds, Rodney Betts and Duncan Dunne all winning twice. But none of them could get the better of Eric Lemke who produced his best form of the season to stay unbeaten. His treble included an 11-7 in the decider success against Dunne and an 11-6 in the decider win against Edmonds.
* The draw for Round Four of the Knock-Out Handicap Cup has seen the remaining four Division One in the competition kept apart – whilst the four teams from the Nomads Club have been drawn against each other. The full draw is Windsor Harriers v Windsor Condors; Nomads Panthers v Nomads Jaguars; Nomads Lions v Nomads Lynx; Windsor Hawks v Brotherhood D. The matches are to be played during week beginning March 6.
* The Junior Combination Tournament takes place on Friday March 3 at Windsor’s St James Hall. The Tournament is open to all of the League’s junior players, and selected members of the Monday night coaching sessions. The closing date for entry is Monday February 27. For more details contact League Secretary Lyn White (Tel: 01255 425292).
* The Windsor Club’s Quiz Evening, for teams of up to six people, takes place on Saturday March 11 at St James Hall, 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets are £5 per person which includes supper, bring your own drink. For details or to enter a team contact Jenny Higgins on 01255 432397 or 07790240566.
RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Kestrels 3 Brotherhood C 7
Windsor Hawks 8 Lawford 2
Walton B 9 Windsor Owls 1
Walton A 5 Windsor Condors 5
Brotherhood B v Nomads Panthers (result card not to hand)
Division 2
Brotherhood H 9 Walton C 1
Brotherhood D 10 Nomads Jaguars 0
Brotherhood F 10 Windsor Magpies 0
Nomads Pumas 3 Brotherhood E 7
Windsor Harriers 3 Brotherhood I 7
Division 3
Nomads Caracals 2 Walton D 8
Nomads Lynx 0 Walton D 10
Nomads Lynx 1 Nomads Wildcats 9
Windsor Swallows 5 Windsor Kites 5
Nomads Ocelots 7 Nomads Leopards 3