Paul Metcalf is not one of the Clacton League’s most celebrated players but, week-in week-out, he’s an exceptionally effective performer. And he stepped into the limelight this week with a top-class hat-trick in Brotherhood C’s 7-3 victory over Brotherhood E in Division Two.

The underrated ‘C’ team regular was the only unbeaten player on the night, but it was a hard-earned hat-trick, Metcalf (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) coming from behind to edge past Fred Gallone 3-2 (9-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10) before taking the scalp of Kevin Pryor also in five (11-9, 11-13, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9).

Metcalf’s team-mates John Gallagher and Mark Boyland each won a couple, but Boyland surprisingly went down to Pryor, 11-6 in the fifth. Pryor and Gallone took the doubles for the ‘E’ side by the same score against Metcalf and Gallagher.

The win keeps Brotherhood C as joint-leaders of the Division alongside title favourites Windsor Buzzards who were also 7-3 winners, this against Nomads Tigers. Scott Campbell and Dave Martin stayed unbeaten for the Buzzards, with Campbell and Ray Chillingworth sharing an 11-6 in the decider doubles victory over Bob Jillins and Zein Shafat.

Hat-tricks for Paul Woolnough and Neil Chegwidden, together with a doubles win for Chegwidden and Paul Stanton, saw Windsor Penguins home 7-3 against Windsor Magpies. Alan Rutledge of the Magpies opened his account for the season with an 11-7 in the fifth victory over Stanton.

Nomads Jaguars were forced to field a guest against Windsor Harriers but were still good enough to win 6-4. Chris Petrou took three, Tom Wilkin two, with the pair sharing a doubles success.

In Division Three, Dominic Joannou of Nomads Leopards inflicted a first defeat of the season on Joe Sherwin of leaders Brotherhood F. But Joannou himself suffered his first reverse of the season, two of them in fact, by Ruby Gallagher and Lucy Carvell. Both Gallagher and Carvell went on to record trebles in their side’s 9-1 win.

Brotherhood H were also 9-1 winners, this over Holland Lancasters, and remain eight points behind in second place. Savindu De Silva was another to lose his 100% season record, Dave Wright of the Lancasters winning their individual battle 3-2 (9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4) in the opening match of the evening. Harindu De Silva and Owen Woollard remained unbeaten for the winners.

Nomads Bobcats, 7-3 victors over Windsor Falcons, are a further seven points adrift in third place. Jack Riddleston, Alex Baldock and Sam Watling all won twice, with Watling edging past Nikki Hayes 11-7 in the decider in the closest match of the contest. But none of them could get the better of Kelvin Olano who remained unbeaten.

There was another three for Olano, together with two from Nigel Rolph and one from Nikki Hayes, as the Falcons beat Holland Vulcans 7-3. Derek Foxley picked up two for the losers.

There was a maximum for Lynette Sparks, and two each for Maggie Earle and Adrian Sexton, in Walton D’s 7-3 success against Nomads Ocelots. Walton were made to fight hard for their victory, Sparks beating Andrew Cousins 11-7 in the fifth and Earle edging past the same player 11-9 in the fifth. Cousins and Arthur Wells-Garrett each won one for the losers, and shared an excellent doubles win against Sparks and Sexton.

The all-Holland clash between the Hurricanes and the Mosquitos ended in a comfortable 10-0 victory for the Hurricanes, Gerry Widnell, Ian Gwillim and Pam Cousins all taking trebles.

In Division One, a strong Windsor Eagles trio defeated Brotherhood A 7-3. Gary Cattermole won three, John Pattrick two and Phil Smith one, Pattrick beating Siu Leung 11-6 in the fifth while Smith lost to Brotherhood’s Martin Edwards by the same score. John Cleasby took a couple for the losers.   

Graham Buxton was in fine form for Walton C, staying unbeaten in his side’s match against Walton B. And although his team-mate Clive Allenby enjoyed a fine win over Jason Gale, it was the ‘B’ side who emerged triumphant, winning 6-4, Paul Meikle and Mark Ratclife each getting a couple.

Walton A fielded a guest against Nomads Lions and, unsurprisingly, went down 9-1. Adam Cuthbert and Ethan Lloyd stayed unbeaten for the Lions. Adam Wilkin had a tight 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 15-13, 11-6) win against Gavin Price but went down in three-straight to Derek Willis, Walton’s sole points-scorer.

Finally, Brotherhood B fielded a weakened side against Nomads Panthers, the 10-0 result proving somewhat inevitable, with none of the individual matches extended beyond three sets. James Denyer, Gracie Edwards and Denes Somodi were the winning trio.

* The Windsor Club’s Quiz Evening is on Saturday 16 November at the Brotherhood Hall, starting at 7.30pm. For more details or to enter a team, contact Jenny Higgins on 07790 240566.

RESULTS
Division 1
Walton C 4 Walton B 6
Nomads Lions 9 Walton A 1
Brotherhood A 3 Windsor Eagles 7
Brotherhood B 0 Nomads Panthers 10
Division 2
Windsor Harriers 4 Nomads Jaguars 6
Windsor Magpies 3 Windsor Penguins 7
Nomads Tigers 3 Windsor Buzzards 7
Brotherhood E 3 Brotherhood C 7
Division 3
Windsor Falcons 3 Nomads Bobcats 7
Holland Vulcans 3 Windsor Falcons 7
Holland Lancasters 1 Brotherhood H 9
Nomads Ocelots 3 Walton D 7
Holland Mosquitos 0 Holland Hurricanes 10
Nomads Leopards 1 Brotherhood F 9