Doug Green has been baffling and bemusing opponents in the Clacton & District Table Tennis League with his unorthodox, back-from-the-table, languid defensive style for more seasons than most can remember.

But somehow, despite a number of injuries and setbacks, evergreen Doug keeps on going like an elderly Duracell bunny – and keeps on winning, too.

This week Green was at it again, showing all his fighting qualities to lead the Nomads Jaguars to their first win of the season in Division Two, his side beating Nomads Bobcats 7-3. Green remained unbeaten, winning all his three singles comfortably in three-straight.

He also shared a doubles success with Chris Petrou, who also remained undefeated, whilst their team-mate Andrew Cousins narrowly failed to get on the score-sheet, going down 13-11 in the decider to Andy Teemal.

Elsewhere, Brotherhood B defeated Windsor Buzzards 8-2, Martin Scarfe taking three, and John Owen and Paul Alden two each. But Windsor’s Andy Cawley will feel pleased with his 3-1 (11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 11-7) win over Alden, as will John Harvey who beat Owen in four.

Russell Hillier and Barry Allen took trebles as Brotherhood C beat Windsor Kestrels 9-1 in a hard-fought encounter in which Brotherhood took three of the four matches which went the distance. The closest match was Allen’s 3-2 (5-11, 0-11, 11-5, 11-3, 12-10) comeback win against Graham Bunce. Bunce won the Kestrels’ point with an 11-5 in the fifth victory against Mark Salter.

Richard Spence and Ian Sherwood were in good form again for Lawford, unbeaten in the 8-2 success against Brotherhood E. Spence had a tight tussle with Rodney Betts before coming out on top 11-7 in the decider. Brotherhood’s Kevin Pryor took a point with a win over Charlie Denholm and shared an excellent 3-2 (7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 15-13, 11-8) doubles victory with Duncan Dunne against Sherwood and Denholm.

Windsor Harriers defeated Brotherhood D 7-3. Isabel Barton and Ferdy Rodriguez each picked up a couple but they failed to get the better of Mark Beckham and John Gallagher who took Brotherhood’s first doubles win of the season. Gallagher and Paul Metcalf were the other Brotherhood points-scorers.

In Division Three, Windsor Penguins are the early leaders, this week defeating Brotherhood F 9-1. Kayley Rodriguez and Peter Aumord recorded trebles with Elliana Burridge picking up the losers’ consolation point with victory over Sharon Gowlett.

Maximum points for Bob Jillins and Dave Wright were the bedrock of Nomads Leopards’ 9-1 success against Nomads Ocelots. Arthur Wells-Garrett of the Ocelots enjoyed a fine win against Stuart Wilkinson and narrowly lost 12-10 in the fifth to Wright.

The all-Windsor clash between the Merlins and the Robins ended with honours even. Sam Plummer of the Merlins was the best player on the night, his treble including a battling 3-2 (11-13, 12-10, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7) victory against Neil Chegwidden. There was also one each for Joe Plummer and Yulian Yaramenko, whilst Chegwidden and Bob Bales won a couple apiece for the Robins.

Windsor Magpies got on the winning trail with a 6-3 win over Nomads Lynx, the unusual score-line a result of both teams fielding a guest player. Magpies’ captain John Plummer was the only player to stay unbeaten. The closest match of the contest came in the final match of the evening with Nomads’ Dominic Joannou edging past Dave Sweetland 12-10 in the fifth.

At the top of Division One, Nomads Panthers enjoyed a comfortable evening against Nomads Lions, Liam Harris, James Denyer and John Hatley unbeaten in the 10-0 victory.

Walton A kept up the pace with a 7-3 win over Walton C. Gary Young and Gavin Price took maximum points for the winners, with Paul Newbould, Graham Buxton and John Marshall picking up a point each for the losers, Marshall’s win against Paul Woolnough a close 11-9 in the fifth.

In a second all-Walton clash, Kevin James and Derek Willis took trebles, and Colin Dearman two, as Walton B beat Walton D 9-1, Dearman’s defeat by Mark Ratcliffe the only blot on the ‘B’ team’s copybook. However, it was by no means as easy as the score-line might suggest, Dearman needing a fifth set to beat Mark Gale 11-5 in the decider whilst Willis was twice taken the distance, beating Paul Meikle 11-7 in the fifth and, in an all-defender battle with Ratcliffe, scraping home 3-2 (10-12, 12-14, 14-12, 11-5, 13-11).

Finally, Windsor Eagles beat club-mates Windsor Hawks 6-4. Phil Smith was the Eagles’ star player with an unbeaten three, whilst Mel Rampton added two important wins. For the Hawks, there were a couple for Andy Vincent and one each for John Barton and Ian Fielder, Vincent defeating Rampton 11-9 in the decider and Fielder beating John Hobson 11-8 in the fifth.

RESULTS
Division 1
Walton B 9 Walton D 1
Windsor Eagles 6 Windsor Hawks 4
Walton A 7 Walton C 3
Nomads Panthers 10 Nomads Lions 0

Division 2
Brotherhood E 2 Lawford 8
Brotherhood C 9 Windsor Kestrels 1
Nomads Bobcats 2 Brotherhood C 8
Windsor Buzzards 2 Brotherhood B 8
Windsor Harriers 7 Brotherhood D 3
Nomads Jaguars 7 Nomads Bobcats 3

Division 3
Brotherhood F 4 Walton E 6
Windsor Magpies 6 Nomads Lynx 3
Windsor Merlins 5 Windsor Robins 5
Brotherhood F 1 Windsor Penguins 9
Nomads Leopards 9 Nomads Ocelots 1