Brotherhood D eased their way up the table in Division Two of the Clacton & District League, chalking up a second 7-3 win in as many weeks, this time against Windsor Kestrels.

The often under-rated Mark Beckham took an excellent maximum, with Paul Metcalf and John Gallagher each contributing two. Graham Bunce and Debra Found won a point each for the Kestrels and shared a doubles win against Beckham and Metcalf.

The two closest matches came towards the end of the contest, Gallagher beating Jackie Bunce 11-5 in the fifth and Beckham edging out Graham Bunce 13-11 in the fifth.

In another clash of teams in the bottom half of the table, there was a welcome first win of the season for Brotherhood E. Kevin Pryor with three, Duncan Dunne with two and a shared doubles success saw them to a 6-4 victory over Windsor Harriers. Ferdy Rodriguez won two for the Harriers whilst Jenny Higgins had a welcome win over Rodney Betts.

Meanwhile, leaders Brotherhood B faced bottom team Nomads Bobcats, the result ending in a predictable 10-0 score-line for the Divisional favourites. John Owen, Martin Scarfe and Grant Sharpe all recorded trebles, Sharpe’s win in five against Kevin Hume the only match extended beyond three sets.

Lawford suffered a first reverse of the season, 6-4 at the hands of a rampant Nomads Jaguars. In a hard-fought contest, the Jaguars won all the three matches which were decided close in five. Daryl Lott starred for the Nomads’ side, his hat-trick including a 12-10 in the fifth win over John Colvin, as well as combining with Doug Green to edge the doubles 3-2 (15-13, 11-13, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7) against Colvin and Ian Sherwood.

Green and Chris Petrou each won one for the Jaguars, Petrou defeating Jack Cansdale 11-9 in the fifth in the final match of the evening to clinch the victory. In a contest where every player picked up at least one point, Colvin won two, and Sherwood and Jack Cansdale one each for Lawford.

Despite a maximum from their number one player Mark Salter, Brotherhood C were held to a draw by Windsor Buzzards. Russell Hillier earned the other two Brotherhood points whilst, for the Buzzards, Dave Martin won two, Andy Cawley and John Harvey one each, with Martin and Cawley taking the doubles.

Division Three looks like being one of the most closely-contested for many seasons and Walton E put down their marker for honours with a 6-4 victory over Windsor Penguins. Clive Allenby took three, Maggie Earle two and Rivhu Khan just one. Peter Aumord picked up two for the Penguins and, with Kayley Rodriguez, won the doubles 11-8 in the fifth against Allenby and Earle. Rodriguez had a fine 3-2 (8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9) victory over Khan.

Nomads Leopards drew for a third consecutive week, this time against Windsor Merlins. Bob Jillins stayed unbeaten for the Leopards, with Stuart Wilkinson and Dave Wright taking one each. Sam Plummer and Joe Plummer won a pair apiece for the Merlins and combined to win the doubles. Sam had to battle hard for his two singles victories, beating Wright 11-6 in the decider and Wilkinson 11-8 in the decider.

There was a second drawn match in the Division, this between Brotherhood F and Windsor Robins. Neil Chegwidden confirmed his excellent form, winning all his three matches in three-straight. Robins’ skipper Bob Bales won one but lost both his other singles close in five, 11-6 in the fifth against Ben Bryden and 11-9 in the fifth against Alex Marsh. Bryden and Marsh each won two for Brotherhood with Andrey Pavlov taking an important debut League win.

In Division One Gary Young took his maximum for Walton A against Windsor Eagles, his three including an 11-8 in the fifth success against Paul Hume. But it couldn’t prevent his side going down 7-3 and losing ground at the top of the table. Hume, Phil Smith and Mel Rampton each took a couple for the Eagles. Smith’s victories were both tight five-setters, 11-7 in the decider against Gavin Price and 11-6 in the decider against Paul Woolnough, while Rampton and Hume combined to take the doubles 11-7 in the fifth against Young and Woolnough.

Andy Vincent was another player to remain unbeaten but end up on the losing side, the Windsor Hawks’ player taking all three in his side’s 6-4 defeat at the hands of Brotherhood A. Vincent’s closest match was a 3-2 (10-12, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8) victory over Kevin Gowlett. There were two each for Gowlett, Martin Edwards and Gracie Edwards for Brotherhood, Gowlett involved in a second close match but this time ending as an 11-4 in the fifth victor over Felipe Rodriguez.

In an all-Walton bottom-of-the-table clash, the ‘C’ and ‘D’ teams enjoyed a combative contest and, with every player picking up at least a point, the match ended all-square. The ‘D’ team’s Jason Gale was the player of the match, staying unbeaten, with Paul Meikle and newcomer Andy Foster taking one apiece. Super-veteran John Rankin, making his first appearance of the season, recorded an excellent two wins for the ‘C’ team, with John Marshall and Paul Newbould taking one each and sharing an important 11-6 in the fifth doubles win against Foster and Gale.

* The draw has been made for the Group stage of the Handicap Cup. Group F provides the most intriguing prospect with four Division One sides in competition against each other, the ‘A’,’C’ and ‘D’ teams from the Walton club paired with Brotherhood A.

The full seven Groups are : GROUP A -Windsor Merlins, Brotherhood F, Nomads Bobcats, Nomads Lynx; GROUP B – Windsor Buzzards, Windsor Kestrels, Windsor Hawks, Nomads Jaguars;  GROUP C – Brotherhood E, Nomads Lions, Brotherhood B, Walton B; GROUP D – Walton E, Windsor Robins, Nomads Ocelots, Brotherhood D; GROUP E – Brotherhood C, Windsor Penguins, Windsor Magpies, Nomads Leopards; GROUP F – Walton C, Walton D, Brotherhood A, Walton A. GROUP G – Windsor Harriers, Lawford, Windsor Eagles, Nomads Panthers.

Matches are to be played during weeks commencing 6th December, 13th December and 3rd January, with the top two teams, and two best third-placed teams, going through to Round One of the Knock-Out stage.

Full details are on the League’s website.

RESULTS
Division 1
Walton D 5 Walton C 5
Windsor Eagles 7 Walton A 3
Brotherhood A 6 Windsor Hawks 4

Division 2
Brotherhood C 5 Windsor Buzzards 5
Brotherhood E 6 Windsor Harriers 4
Windsor Kestrels 3 Brotherhood D 7
Nomads Bobcats 0 Brotherhood B 10
Nomads Jaguars 6 Lawford 4

Division 3
Windsor Penguins 4 Walton E 6
Windsor Merlins 5 Nomads Leopards 5
Brotherhood F 5 Windsor Robins 5