Derek Willis, the most senior of all the regular top-flight League players, continues to defy the years in Division One of the Clacton League, this week recording another hat-trick in Walton A’s 8-2 success against Walton C.

Now in his 10th season with the League, Willis (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) produced a man-of-the-match display with his dogged and determined play to stay undefeated and help move his Walton A side, temporarily at least, to the top of the embryonic Division One table.

Kevin James also took three and Colin Dearman two, with the closest match of the evening seeing James defeat Mark Gale 11-6 in the fifth. Gale won a singles for the ‘C’ team and, with Paul Meikle, took the doubles.

There were a couple each for Andy Vincent, Ian Fielder and John Barton as Windsor Hawks won 7-3 against a Walton B team fielding a reserve, but no-one could get the better of Gavin Price, showing his best form for some time, to stay undefeated on the night.

Reigning champions Nomads Panthers met last season’s runners-up Windsor Eagles but the encounter proved to be a more one-sided affair than might have been expected, the Panthers taking it 9-1, John Hatley and Gracie Edwards remaining unbeaten. Mel Rampton was the Eagles’ best player, defeating Gill Locke 11-7 in the fifth and just losing 11-9 in the fifth to Edwards.

In Division Two Daryl Lott made his first appearance of the season for Nomads Jaguars against Brotherhood D and took a fine treble, recording wins over Sam Plummer, Joe Plummer and Kevin Pryor. Alas for Lott, Brotherhood took the match 6-4, the Plummer brothers both winning twice.

Everyone picked up a point but no-one stayed undefeated as Lawford edged past Brotherhood C 7-3. There were two each for Ian Sherwood, Richard Spence and Alex Dunne of Lawford, Dunne just getting the better of Paul Metcalf 11-9 in the fifth. For Brotherhood, John Gallagher had a good win in three against Sherwood while Mark Beckham and Metcalf both won tight five-setters, Metcalf beating Spence 11-9 in the decider and Beckham beating Dunne 11-8 in the decider.

Windsor Penguins beat Walton D 7-3 to notch up their first success at this level, Scott Campbell, Neil Chegwidden and Sharon Gowlett, with her first wins of the season, all taking two. Five individual matches went the distance, the Penguins winning three of them, including Chegwidden’s 12-10 in the fifth win over Paul Woolnough and Gowlett’s 11-9 in the fifth win against Mo Hardy. Andy Foster took Walton’s three points, although he was tested by both Campbell and Gowlett, beating both players 11-6 in the decider.

Brotherhood B and Nomads Tigers had a good scrap before Brotherhood edged it 6-4, winning the three matches which went to five. Paul Alden recorded a fine personal maximum and clinched the Brotherhood victory with an 11-9 in the decider success against Denes Somodi in the final match of the evening. Mark Salter picked up two for Brotherhood while, for the Tigers, Somodi took a couple, with captain Dave Miller and Mike Wellum, making a welcome return to local table tennis, taking a point each.

Brotherhood F chalked up a second 8-2 win in as many matches in Division Three, this week beating Nomads Lynx. Joe Sherwin took three while there were a couple each for Ruby Gallagher and Tom Bryden. Dave Wright’s two points for Lynx included a narrow 11-8 in the decider win over Gallagher, a result which denied the Brotherhood player her hat-trick.

Lynette Sparks led the way for Walton E in their 6-4 victory over Nomads Ocelots, the Walton captain remaining unbeaten. There were a couple for her team-mate Maggie Earle, as there were also for Arthur Wells-Garrett of the Ocelots.

Nomads Leopards were 9-1 winners against Brotherhood G, Dominic Joannou and Bob Jillins taking trebles. Dan Grindrod picked up the Brotherhood consolation point with a good win over Stu Wilkinson.

Finally, it was also 9-1 for Windsor Harriers in a competitive match against Nomads Bobcats, Mike Vilka’s win over Isabel Barton saving the whitewash. Ferdy Rodriguez was unbeaten for the Harriers.

RESULTS
Division 1
Walton B 3 Windsor Hawks 7
Walton A 8 Walton C 2
Nomads Panthers 9 Windsor Eagles 1
Division 2
Brotherhood C 3 Lawford 7
Windsor Penguins 7 Walton D 3
Nomads Tigers 4 Brotherhood B 6
Nomads Jaguars 4 Brotherhood D 6
Division 3
Nomads Leopards 9 Brotherhood G 1
Nomads Bobcats 1 Windsor Harriers 9
Walton E 6 Nomads Ocelots 4
Brotherhood F 8 Nomads Lynx 2