Brotherhood B’s four-player squad of John Owen, Grant Sharpe, Martin Scarfe and Paul Alden has proved a class apart in Division Two of the Clacton & District League this season and they maintained their form in the week’s big match against their nearest challengers, Brotherhood C, with a hard-fought 6-4 victory.

In an excellent team performance, the League leaders and champions-elect maintained their unbeaten record against the only team this season which has held them to a draw.

Although none of them stayed unbeaten, Owen, Sharpe and Scarfe all contributed valuable points, Owen and Sharpe each winning twice, Scarfe once, with Scarfe and Sharpe taking a close doubles, 11-9 in the fifth, against Russell Hillier and Mark Salter.

Hillier and Salter each won two for the ‘C’ team, Hillier defeating Martin Scarfe 11-5 in the fifth, and Salter beating Owen and Scarfe 11-4 in the fifth and 11-7 in the fifth respectively.  

The much-improved John Gallagher recorded his first-ever Second Division hat-trick as Brotherhood D beat Nomads Bobcats 9-1. Mark Beckham also stayed unbeaten while Paul Metcalf won two.

But they were pushed all the way by the Bobcats, having to win three of the four matches which went the distance. Beckham beat Kevin Hume 11-5 in the fifth, Gallagher beat Andy Teemal 11-7 in the fifth and Metcalf scraped past the same player 12-10 in the fifth.

In a fourth close match, Hume beat Metcalf 3-2 (10-12, 7-11, 14-12, 11-9, 11-6) for the Bobcats’ consolation point.

A two-player Windsor Buzzards were still good enough to beat Brotherhood E 6-4. Dave Martin’s treble for the Buzzards included a close 11-5 in the decider victory against Duncan Dunne. Pete Bloomfield won two and, with Martin, took the doubles which proved to be the closest match of evening, the Buzzards’ pair winning 12-10 in the fifth against Dunne and Tony Edmonds.

An injury to Daryl Lott of Nomads Jaguars during his first match of the evening changed the course of his team’s clash with Windsor Harriers. With Lott having to concede two matches, the Harriers ran out 7-3 victors. Ferdy Rodriguez won his two matches although it was a 3-2 (12-10, 7-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-8) struggle against Andrew Cousins.

Chris Petrou won two for the Jaguars and, with Cousins, shared a straightforward doubles win in three-straight against Rodriguez and Jenny Higgins.

Both the leading teams in Division Three had convincing wins, results which leave Windsor Penguins six points ahead of Walton E but having played a game more.

There were hat-tricks for Kayley Rodriguez and Peter Aumord as the Penguins beat lowly Nomads Ocelots 8-2. Hazel Blanche and Arthur Wells-Garrett picked up a point each for the losers.

Walton E had a tougher match but emerged as 9-1 winners over Windsor Magpies. Rivhu Khan and Clive Allenby stayed unbeaten although Allenby was given a hard fight by Alan Rutledge before edging it 3-2 (8-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-6, 12-10). Tony Sharman won two for Walton but lost out to Dave Sweetland who won their individual encounter 11-8 in the fifth.

And there was cause for celebration for bottom team Nomads Lynx who notched up their first win of the season, 6-4 against a Windsor Robins’ side which is bravely limping home for the rest of the season with just two fit two players.

For the Lynx, there was a win apiece for Dominic Joannou, Adrian Sexton and Norman Jacobs, Jacobs defeating Mick Coker 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6) in the only match extended beyond three sets. Neil Chegwidden recorded his usual three for the Robins and shared a doubles success with Coker.

In Division One Nomads Panthers reached their century of points with a comfortable 10-0 victory over a below-strength Windsor Eagles. Liam Harris, Sam Hume and James Denyer settled all the matches, bar one, in three-straight.

Nomads Lions enjoyed a good result against Walton B, the match ending in an unexpected draw. Adam Cuthbert won three for the Lions, whilst Jason Lloyd had fine wins over both Colin Dearman and Derek Willis, the latter match finishing 11-6 in the fifth in favour of Lloyd.

Kevin James won a couple for Walton, whilst Dearman and Willis took one each, Dearman edging past Dave Miller 3-2 (10-12, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 11-9). Walton also took a crucial doubles, James and Dearman defeating Cuthbert and Miller 11-5 in the fifth.

It was also all-square in the Walton D v Windsor Hawks fixture. Jason Gale followed up his excellent winning performance in the recent Handicap Singles Tournament by taking his three for Walton. Mark Ratcliffe added another and, with Gale, won the doubles.

Felipe Rodriguez and Ian Fielder won two each for Windsor, and John Barton one, Rodriguez defeating Paul Meikle 11-5 in the decider in match ten in the only encounter which went the distance.

* Entry forms for the Closed Championships have been circulated to all players. The Championships, sponsored this season by The Survey Initiative, courtesy of Gary Cattermole, take place on 9th and 10th April at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall.

Entries can be sent on-line to Peter White or posted to Tony Oswick. The closing date for entry is Friday 18th March. Full details are on the League’s website.

RESULTS
Division 1
Walton B 5 Nomads Lions 5
Windsor Eagles 0 Nomads Panthers 10
Walton D 5 Windsor Hawks 5
Division 2
Brotherhood E 4 Windsor Buzzards 6
Brotherhood C 4 Brotherhood B 6
Nomads Bobcats 1 Brotherhood D 9
Nomads Jaguars 3 Windsor Harriers 7
Division 3
Windsor Penguins 8 Nomads Ocelots 2
Windsor Magpies 1 Walton E 9
Nomads Lynx 6 Windsor Robins 4