Brotherhood F may have already guaranteed top spot in Division Three of the Clacton League, but the battle for the runners-up position is still wide open.

Brotherhood H won 6-4 against Windsor Falcons, Savindu De Silva, Harindu De Silva and Owen Woollard all winning two. Kelvin Olano-Harper took three for the Falcons but was pushed all the way by Woollard before edging it 11-7 in the fifth.

Matt Sage, Alex Baldock and Sam Watling of Nomads Bobcats picked up all available points in the 10-0 victory over Holland Vulcans. This Bobcats’ victory means that, with just two matches left to play, the Bobcats are now just a single point behind their Brotherhood H rivals.

Elsewhere, Holland Hurricanes defeated Nomads Ocelots 7-3, Gary Stallwood unbeaten. Ian Gwillim’s two for the Hurricanes included an 11-9 in the decider success over Arthur Wells-Garrett.

An all-Holland clash saw the Lancasters defeat the Mosquitos 7-3, Dave Wright taking three, Pam Cousins two and Grace Andrews one. For the Mosquitos, Brian Abram won two and Pam Blakeley one.

Nomads Leopards drew with Walton D in a match where no-one stayed unbeaten. Dominic Joannou and Lily Liu won two each for the Leopards, as did Maggie Earle and Lynette Sparks for Walton.

In Division One, second-placed Nomads Lions were 9-1 victors over Walton C, Adam Cuthbert and Jason Lloyd undefeated, but they were held to a draw by Brotherhood A, Kevin Gowlett taking his maximum for Brotherhood. 

Hat-tricks for Andy Vincent and Felipe Rodriguez helped Windsor Hawks to a 7-3 success over Walton A, the pair capping an excellent week by staying unbeaten in the Hawks’ 8-2 victory over Lawford.

In Division Two, Brotherhood C, playing with a guest, beat Windsor Magpies 7-3, to guarantee them a well-deserved runners-up spot. The two Marks, Boyland and Beckham, took maximum points.

Windsor Penguins defeated Brotherhood G 6-4, Neil Chegwidden remaining undefeated. Paul Woolnough won twice for the Penguins, as did Brotherhood reserve, Owen Woollard.

It was 6-4 also for Brotherhood D against Nomads Jaguars, Mark Salter inflicting a first defeat of the season on Jonathan Hockley on his way to a treble.

Windsor Harriers took three of the four matches which went the distance to edge past Windsor Kestrels 6-4, Jenny Higgins taking vital wins over Jackie Bunce, 11-8 in the fifth, and Peter Aumord, 11-9 in the fifth.

* The Closed Championships, sponsored by The Survey Initiative, take place this weekend on 12 and 13 April at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. Play starts at 8.45am on both days, with the finals scheduled for soon after 2.45pm on both days. Details of check-in times and other information are being sent to all entrants.

* The League has belatedly learned of the death last year of former player Terry Kirby, aged 95 years.

After a long career in table tennis, Terry came to the Clacton League in the late 1990s and played until 2012, when he was well into his 80s. He played for the Walton, Brotherhood and Nomads clubs, initially in Division One. There, he was a wily competitor although never a high-flyer, but latterly, when he moved to Division Two, he was one of the top players at that level and, in 2010/11, helped Nomads Cougars to the runners-up spot. The following year, in his last playing season, he was a member of the Nomads Jaguars team which finished as Knock-Out Cup runners-up.

Terry had success at the Closed Championships as winner of the Restricted Singles in 2001, and was twice a Division Two Singles winner in 2010 and 2011. But the Super-Veterans title eluded him, finishing as beaten finalist four times in the first six years the event was held.

Off the table, Terry often liked to relate stories, usually with an element of humour, of his table tennis past when he played at a higher level and with higher-ability players. On the table, he was phlegmatic, enjoying the times when he won but philosophical when he lost. As importantly, Terry was a genuinely amiable person who loved his sport. A true table tennis character.

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