The meeting of the two Brotherhood teams in Division One of the Clacton League ended in an honourable draw. None of the players stayed unbeaten but every player picked up at least one point.
Martin Edwards (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) and Kevin Gowlett won two each for the ‘A’ side, with Tim Leung contributing a valuable win over Joe Plummer. There were a couple for Simon-Smith-Daye of the ‘B’ team, one each for Plummer and reserve Mark Boyland, with Smith Daye and Plummer combining to take the doubles 3-0 (11-3, 12-10, 17-15) against Gowlett and Edwards. The closest match of the evening was match ten, Smith-Daye edging past Gowlett 11-8 in the fifth to secure a share of the spoils.
Nomads Panthers were given a severe test by Windsor Hawks before coming through 8-2 victors, taking three of the four matches which went the distance. Greg Green maintained his 100% record, although he was taken to five by both Andy Vincent and Felipe Rodriguez. The closest match was the doubles, Green and John Hatley beating Vincent and Rodriguez 11-9 in the fifth.
No-one stayed undefeated in the Walton A v Windsor Eagles encounter, a match which Walton eventually took 6-4. Gavin Price and Kevin James both won two for Walton, Price inflicting a rare defeat on Windsor’s Gary Cattermole. Cattermole and Phil Smith took a pair apiece for the Eagles.
In Division Two, Dave Martin and Scott Campbell recorded trebles in Windsor Buzzards hard-earned 8-2 victory against Windsor Penguins, winning three of the four matches which went the distance. Penguins’ captain Neil Chegwidden defeated Ray Chillingworth but lost close in five to both Martin and Campbell.
Brotherhood C beat Brotherhood G 9-1, a result which moves them seven points clear in second place. Mark Boyland and John Gallagher took hat-tricks. Gary Simpson of the ‘G’ team recorded a surprise 11-9 in the decider victory over Mark Beckham.
Brotherhood D were forced to field a reserve against Brotherhood E and went down 6-4. Kevin Pryor was undefeated for the ‘E’ team, with Fred Gallone winning two. The crucial match was the doubles, Pryor and Gallone edging past Paul Alden and Tricia Salter 3-2 (14-12, 13-11, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10). Alden picked up two points for the losers, as did Salter and reserve Owen Woollard.
Despite a hat-trick from Dave Miller, Nomads Tigers, playing with a reserve, went down 6-4 to Windsor Kestrels, the Kestrels winning all three matches which went the distance. Jackie Bunce and Debra Found took a couple each for the Kestrels, Bunce doing well to beat Bob Jillins 11-8 in the fifth and Found defeating the same player 12-10 in the fifth.
Windsor Harriers defeated Windsor Magpies 9-1, John Plummer saving the Magpies’ blushes with a win over Jenny Higgins in the final match. Plummer also took Isabel Barton close before going down 11-5 in the decider.
In Division Three, Brotherhood F extended their lead at the top with a comfortable 10-0 victory over Holland Lancasters, Joe Sherwin, Lucy Carvell and Ruby Gallagher the successful trio.
It was also 10-0 for Matt Sage, Alex Baldock and Sam Watling of Nomads Bobcats against bottom team Holland Mosquitos. The victory moves the Bobcats to within two points of second-placed Brotherhood H who were without a game this week.
The Mosquitos also went down 6-4 in an all-Holland clash with the Vulcans. Derek Foxley won three and James Horsler two for the winners, whilst there was a couple for Brian Abram, and one each for Tracy Abram and Pam Blakeley for the losers.
But a two-player Holland Vulcans later went down 7-3 to Windsor Falcons, although Derek Foxley again had the satisfaction of staying unbeaten.
Three for Gary Stallwood, two for John Smith-Daye and one for Gerry Widnell saw Holland Hurricanes home 7-3 against Nomads Leopards. Dominic Joannou with two and Anne Bonny with one were the Leopards’ points-scorers. Stallwood and Smith-Daye took the doubles 11-5 in the fifth against Joannou and Bonny, only the second Leopards’ doubles defeat all season.
* A reminder that the Windsor Club’s ‘Pig Race Evening’ takes place on Saturday 8 March at the Brotherhood Hall.
* Entry forms for the Closed Championships, sponsored by The Survey Initiative, have been sent out to all players. The closing date for entries is Friday 14 March. The qualification is five matches. Full details are also on the League’s website.
RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood B 5 Brotherhood A 5
Walton A 6 Windsor Eagles 4
Windsor Hawks 2 Nomads Panthers 8
Division 2
Windsor Harriers 9 Windsor Magpies 1
Brotherhood G 1 Brotherhood C 9
Windsor Buzzards 8 Windsor Penguins 2
Nomads Tigers 4 Windsor Kestrels 6
Brotherhood E 6 Brotherhood D 4
Division 3
Holland Lancasters 0 Brotherhood F 10
Holland Mosquitos 0 Nomads Bobcats 10
Holland Vulcans 6 Holland Mosquitos 4
Windsor Falcons 7 Holland Vulcans 3
Nomads Leopards 3 Holland Hurricanes 7
