Whether at the top or bottom of the Clacton League, there’s always healthy competition, and there was healthy competition aplenty in this week’s all-Holland clash at the foot of Division Three between the Lancasters and the Mosquitos.

And it was the Lancasters who came out on top 7-3, Dave Wright, the Holland Club Secretary who’s been central in getting four Holland teams up-and-running in the League this season, starring with a treble.   

There were also two welcome debut League wins for Grace Andrews, one of which was a tight 3-2 (11-9, 4-11, 12-14, 11-8, 11-9) victory over Chris Woods. Ann Peart also picked up a singles win for the Lancasters and shared a doubles success with Wright. For the Mosquitos, Brian Abram won two and captain Pam Blakeley one.

No-one stayed unbeaten as Holland Hurricanes recorded a 7-3 victory over Nomads Ocelots, with Ian Gwillim, Pam Cousins and John Smith-Daye all winning two. But it was an up-and-down evening for Smith-Daye, who enjoyed an excellent 11-5 in the decider success over Arthur Wells-Garrett but surprisingly went down to Norman Jacobs in four sets. Wells-Garrett’s two points for the Ocelots included a five-set win over Cousins.

Brotherhood H were 6-4 winners against Windsor Falcons, Savindu De Silva, Harindu De Silva and Owen Woollard taking a couple each. Kelvin Olano again stayed unbeaten for the Falcons but he came the nearest to defeat all season, scraping home against an inspired Savindu De Silva 3-2 (11-7, 5-11, 12-14, 11-7, 12-10).

Nomads Bobcats consolidated their position in the top three with an emphatic 9-1 victory over Holland Vulcans, Matt Sage and Sam Watling unbeaten. Derek Foxley was the Vulcans’ best player, defeating Jack Riddleston and taking Watling close before losing 11-7 in the fifth.

Lynette Sparks took three, Adrian Sexton two and Deborah Pallett one as Walton D defeated Nomads Leopards 6-4. Dominic Joannou won a couple for the Leopards and Anne Bonny one, the pair also combining to take the doubles.

In Division One, Nomads Lions beat Brotherhood B 8-2, Adam Cuthbert taking his maximum, and Charlie Fulcher and Jason Lloyd two each. But Joe Plummer produced two excellent results for the losers, his two points including a surprise 3-0 (15-13, 11-9, 14-12) success over Fulcher.

An Andy Vincent hat-trick, plus two for Felipe Rodriguez and one for John Barton, gave Windsor Hawks a 6-4 win over Walton A. For Walton, Gavin Price took a couple and Kevin James one, the pair also beating Vincent and Rodriguez in the doubles, a first doubles defeat of the season for the Hawks.

Walton B continued their fine form with a 7-3 success over Brotherhood A, this after Brotherhood led 3-1. Mark Ratcliffe took a treble, Mark Gale two and Paul Meikle one, with Gale and Ratcliffe combining for an 11-6 in the decider doubles success against John Cleasby and Russell Hillier. Four of the matches in the encounter went the distance, the two sides sharing them equally, with Hillier’s 11-9 in the decider win over Gale being the closest.  

In Division Two, Brotherhood D, playing with a reserve, and Nomads Jaguars played out a hard-fought draw. Mark Salter stayed undefeated for Brotherhood. The Jaguars won all three matches which went the distance, Chris Petrou beating both Paul Alden and reserve Lucy Carvell in five, whilst Tom Wilkin’s two included an 11-8 in the fifth win over Alden. Callum Hogg took the Jaguars’ fifth point.

Fred Gallone recorded a fine treble for Brotherhood E in his side’s 6-4 victory over Nomads Tigers. Kevin Pryor’s two for Brotherhood included an 11-5 in the decider win over Bob Jillins, while Dave Miller had wins for the Tigers against Pryor and Duncan Dunne, the latter 11-4 in the decider.

It was also 6-4 for Windsor Penguins against Brotherhood G, Neil Chegwidden winning three and Paul Woolnough two, although it was a tight 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-7) for Woolnough against Brotherhood reserve Tom Bryden. Dan Grindrod won a couple for the losers, with Bryden and Gary Simpson winning one each, Simpson edging out Paul Stanton 3-2 (7-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-13, 11-8).

An all-Windsor clash ended 7-3 in favour of the Kestrels over the Harriers, Graham Bunce taking three, Peter Aumord two and Jackie Bunce one. Barry Allen won two for the Harriers and Isabel Barton one, Barton involved in the closest match of the evening, going down 13-11 in the fifth to Aumord.

Finally, Brotherhood C were comfortable 10-0 winners over Windsor Magpies, Mark Boyland, Mark Beckham and Paul Metcalf unbeaten.

* Details about the Handicap Cup competition have been circulated to all players. The first stage of the competition will be played in Groups, to be played during weeks commencing 9 December, 16 December and 6 January.

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