Windsor Buzzards edged ever-nearer to the Clacton League’s Division Two title with an 8-2 win over Brotherhood G and now need just six points from their last three matches to confirm their position as Divisional champions.

Andy Cawley (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) and Dave Martin took trebles in the Buzzards’ victory against Brotherhood G, but it was no push-over with four of the individual encounters going all the way. Cawley edged past Danny Still 11-9 in the fifth and, with Ray Chillingworth, defeated Dan Grindrod and Gary Simpson 11-7 in the fifth in the doubles.

Grindrod and Simpson took a point each for Brotherhood, Grindrod defeating Pete Bloomfield 11-8 in the fifth and Simpson beating the same player 11-6 in the fifth.

Third-placed Brotherhood D beat Windsor Harriers 6-4. Mark Salter took three and Paul Alden two, with the pair combining to win the doubles 3-2 (12-14, 11-4, 15-13, 9-11, 11-9) against Barry Allen and Isabel Barton. Among the five matches which went the distance were Allen’s two victories for the Harriers, 13-11 in the decider against Alden and 11-9 in the decider against Tricia Salter. The unlucky Salter also went down 11-6 in the decider to Barton.

Nomads Tigers beat Windsor Penguins 6-4, a reverse of their early-season score. Dave Miller stayed unbeaten for the Tigers, with Neil Chegwidden and Paul Woolnough winning a couple each for the Penguins. Tigers’ reserve Matt Sage picked up a point and narrowly lost 11-6 in the decider to Woolnough.

Peter Aumord of Windsor Kestrels is enjoying something of a table tennis Indian summer, beating Brotherhood E’s Duncan Dunne, Kevin Pryor and, in a tight contest, Fred Gallone 11-9 in the fifth on his way to an impressive maximum. Unfortunately, they were his side’s only points, Gallone, Dunne and Pryor each taking two in Brotherhood’s 7-3 success.  

There were trebles for father and son duo, John and Jonathan Hockley, as Nomads Jaguars defeated Windsor Magpies 9-1. Alan Rutledge nearly caused an upset against the previously unbeaten Jonathan Hockley, narrowly going down 11-8 in the fifth. John Plummer took a last-gasp consolation point for the Magpies with an 11-9 in the fifth success over Tom Wilkin in match ten.  

In Division Three, top met bottom with a predictable result, Brotherhood F beating Holland Mosquitoes 10-0, a result which mathematically – almost, but not quite – guarantees the Brotherhood juniors the title.

Second-placed Brotherhood H faced a determined Nomads Leopards’ trio and they had to battle hard for their 6-4 victory in a match where no-one stayed unbeaten. Owen Woollard won a couple for Brotherhood, but lost to Miaomei Liu, whilst Savindu De Silva was denied his hat-trick by Dominic Joannou. Harindu De Silva picked up a point and shared a 13-11 in the fifth doubles win with Woollard against Liu and Anne Bonny. For the Leopards, Joannou and Liu each won two.

So, with four matches left, Brotherhood H lead third-placed Nomads Bobcats, who were without a fixture, by just four points.

Elsewhere, Holland Hurricanes beat Windsor Falcons 6-4. Gary Stallwood remained unbeaten, his 3-1 (11-5, 11-4, 14-16, 11-8) win over Kelvin Olano-Harper ending the latter’s 30-match unbeaten run. Gerry Widnell picked up a couple for the Hurricanes but it was John Smith-Daye’s 11-9 in the decider win over Nikki Hayes which ultimately tipped the balance for the Hurricanes.

Holland Vulcans were 6-4 victors against a Nomads Ocelots’ side fielding a guest player to record their third win of the season. Derek Foxley was unbeaten for the Vulcans whilst Arthur Wells-Garrett took a couple for the Ocelots.

Holland Lancasters were forced to play with two guest players against Walton D so it was no surprise that Walton ended 8-2 winners. Dave Wright took the two Lancasters’ points but he was unable to get the better of Maggie Earle who took their individual match 3-2 (11-7, 10-12, 11-13, 11-8, 11-3).

Nomads Panthers continued their stately progress at the top of Division One with an 8-2 success over Brotherhood A. Greg Green maintained his 100% season record, with Gracie Edwards and Denes Somodi winning two each. The ever-reliable Kevin Gowlett took the two Brotherhood points, which included a hard-fought 3-2 (11-9, 3-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9) victory over Edwards.

But Nomads Lions, 7-3 winners against a two-player Windsor Eagles, are putting up an excellent challenge and are only ten points behind the Panthers. Charlie Fulcher stayed unbeaten against the Eagles, for whom John Pattrick won two and shared an unexpected three-set doubles win with John Hobson against Jason Lloyd and Adam Cuthbert.

Windsor Hawks were 8-2 winners against Walton B, Andy Vincent and Felipe Rodriguez remaining unbeaten. Hawks’ skipper John Barton was involved in the two closest matches of the evening, defeating Mark Ratcliffe 11-5 in the fifth but going down 11-6 in the fifth to Paul Meikle. Mark Gale picked up the second Walton point.

A Peter Burrows’ hat-trick, and two each for Graham Buxton and Clive Allenby, saw Walton C home 7-3 against Lawford. Glen Laing picked up two wins for Lawford and, with Ian Sherwood, celebrated Lawford’s first doubles victory of the season, 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5) against Burrows and Buxton.

* The League’s Closed Championships, sponsored by The Survey Initiative, has attracted an excellent entry of 70 players. The Championships are being held on 12 and 13 April at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. All entrants will receive more details, including individual check-in times, at least seven days before the Championships.

* Congratulations to the Clacton League players who were successful in the recent Colchester Closed Championships. Gracie Edwards swept the board in the Ladies’ events with success in the Ladies’ Singles, Ladies’ Doubles and, with Greg Green, in the Mixed Doubles. Paul Hume took a well-deserved first major individual title when he won the Men’s Singles by defeating his good friend, James Denyer. However, James did have success when, with Greg Green, he took the Men’s Doubles title.   

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