Nomads Panthers and Windsor Hawks have occupied the top two spots in Division One of the Clacton League for most of the season so far, but Nomads Lions this week recorded two wins and are emerging as the third challenger for top honours.

Their first victory was a decisive 9-1 success over Brotherhood A, both Paul Hume, making his first appearance of the season, and Ethan Lloyd taking maximum points. Jason Lloyd won a couple but fell foul of Russell Hillier, who won their individual encounter 11-6 in the fifth.

And the Lions followed this up with a 7-3 victory against Walton B, Hume (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) again staying unbeaten, with Jason Lloyd and Adam Wilkin each winning two. Mark Gale and Mark Ratcliffe took a point each for Walton, and also won the doubles.

In their second match, the Walton B side enjoyed a 7-3 win of their own against Brotherhood B, despite having to play with a guest. Gale and Ratcliffe took maximum points and shared an 11-6 in the fifth doubles win against the Plummer brothers.  

Meanwhile, leaders Nomads Panthers had a comfortable 9-1 victory over a below-strength Windsor Eagles, Greg Green and James Denyer taking three each, and Gill Locke two. John Pattrick defeated Locke for the Eagles’ point.

Windsor Hawks maintained their interest at the top with victory over Lawford, Gary Young, Andy Vincent and Felipe Rodriguez all unbeaten in the 10-0 win, in an encounter where only two matches were extended to a fourth set.

Three for Pete Burrows, two for Graham Buxton and a doubles victory for the pair gave Walton C bragging rights over Walton A, winning 6-4. Dave Binns won two for the ‘A’ team, and Andy Foster and Derek Willis one each.

In Division Two, Windsor Buzzards had a good scrap with Brotherhood E before ending as 8-2 winners. Scott Campbell took his maximum, with Dave Martin and Pete Bloomfield each winning two, although it was a mighty close 16-14 in the fifth decider for Bloomfield against Fred Gallone. Kevin Pryor won the two Brotherhood points.

There was a treble for Jonathan Hockley, and two each for John Hockley and Callum Hogg, in Nomads Jaguars’ 8-2 success over Windsor Penguins. For the Penguins, there was one each for Kayley Rodriguez, in her first appearance of the season, and Paul Woolnough. Woolnough was involved in two five-setters, including an interesting-looking encounter with Jonathan Hockley who took the match 8-11, 13-15, 11-7, 19-17, 11-1. 

A Boyland-less Brotherhood C failed to win for the first time this season, held to a draw by Windsor Harriers, mainly thanks to an unbeaten performance from Barry Allen. The Harriers edged both matches which went the distance, Allen beating John Gallagher 12-10 in the decider and Isabel Barton beating Mark Beckham 11-9 in the decider. Gallagher and Paul Metcalf each won two singles, and combined for a doubles success.

Brotherhood D were 9-1 victors over bottom-team Windsor Magpies, Mark Salter and Paul Alden undefeated. Only John Plummer’s win over Tricia Salter prevented the whitewash.   

It was also 9-1 for Nomads Tigers against Brotherhood G, Bob Jillins and Dave Miller both taking trebles, and Zein Shafat two. Brotherhood’s reserve Tom Bryden was their best player on the night, defeating Shafat 11-7 in the fifth and taking Miller all the way before eventually going down 11-8 in the fifth.

In Division Three, leaders Brotherhood F beat Windsor Falcons 7-3 but no-one could get the better of an unbeatable Kelvin Olano. Ruby Gallagher, Tom Bryden and Lucy Carvell all won two, with Gallagher and Joe Sherwin taking the doubles in the closest match of the evening, 11-8 in the fifth against Olano and Nikki Hayes.

Hat-tricks for Andrew Cousins and Arthur-Wells-Garrett saw Nomads Ocelots home 8-2 against Holland Vulcans, although Wells-Garrett needed all five sets to beat both James Horsler and Derek Foxley. There was a point each for Foxley and Horsler, the latter scaping past Hazel Blanche 12-10 in the decider in the closest encounter of the evening.  

And the Vulcans suffered a second 8-2 defeat, this at the hands of Walton D, Maggie Earle and Lynette Sparks unbeaten. Foxley and Horsler again picked up a point apiece for the Vulcans, Horsler beating Deborah Pallett 11-4 in the fifth.

Three for Dominic Joannou, two for Anne Bonny and one for Mark Taylor gave Nomads Leopards a 7-3 victory over Holland Lancasters. For the Lancasters, Dave Wright won two and Ann Peart one, Peart also taking Bonny close before going down 12-10 in the decider.

Finally, Brotherhood H were 10-0 winners against Holland Mosquitoes who were forced to field a guest, whilst it was also 10-0 for the Bobcats in their all-Nomads fixture with the Ocelots.

RESULTS
Division 1
Walton C 6 Walton A 4
Brotherhood A 1 Nomads Lions 9
Windsor Hawks 10 Lawford 0
Nomads Panthers 9 Windsor Eagles 1
Brotherhood B 3 Walton B 7
Nomads Lions 7 Walton B 3
Division 2
Brotherhood E 2 Windsor Buzzards 8
Brotherhood G 1 Nomads Tigers 9
Windsor Harriers 5 Brotherhood C 5
Windsor Magpies 1 Brotherhood D 9
Nomads Jaguars 8 Windsor Penguins 2
Division 3
Holland Vulcans 2 Walton D 8
Holland Vulcans 2 Nomads Ocelots 8
Windsor Falcons 3 Brotherhood F 7
Nomads Ocelots 0 Nomads Bobcats 10
Holland Mosquitoes 0 Brotherhood H 10
Nomads Leopards 7 Holland Lancasters 3