It was a good week for the three Division One teams from the Walton Club who all won their Group matches to make it through to the Knock-Out stage of the Clacton League’s Handicap Cup competition.

Walton C in Group F had the toughest task, beating Brotherhood G 5-2 and winning three of the four tight matches which went the distance. John Marshall and Clive Allenby (-6 – pictured above) beat Dan Grindrod and Gary Simpson (+1) 11-9 in the fifth, Allenby and Graham Buxton (-8) beat Simpson and Danny Still (+1) 11-5 in the fifth, while Marshall (-6) beat Still (+1) 11-6 in the fifth. Allenby was Walton’s best player on the night, remaining unbeaten.

The Walton C team go through alongside Brotherhood H, who topped the group following a convincing 5-0 victory over Nomads Tigers.

Walton A and Walton D in Group E knew the winner of their group match would qualify whilst the loser would be eliminated. And it was the top-flight ‘A’ team who triumphed 5-2 over their Division Three club-mates, Derek Willis winning his two singles and one doubles.

Brotherhood B are the second side to go through in this group, despite losing 5-3 to Nomads Leopards. However, they did well considering they were forced to play with a guest, but Nomads’ Anne Bonny (+2) settled the match, winning 11-5, 11-6 against Sam Plummer (-15).

Walton B, who as Walton C won the Cup last year, are also through to the Knock-Out stage, this after recording a 5-0 win against Holland Hurricanes in Group H. The closest contest of the tie proved extremely close, Mark Ratcliffe (-17) edging past John Smith-Daye (+2) 12-10, 9-11, 12-10.

In the other match in this group, there were blue skies over Lawford who notched up their first victory in any competition this season with a hard-earned 5-4 victory over Brotherhood A, James Tindle remaining unbeaten in singles and doubles. Despite this, Lawford fail to qualify whilst Brotherhood A, with two previous victories, go through as Group winners.

In Group A, both Brotherhood F and Nomads Bobcats had qualified prior to the final week and, when the two teams faced each other, it turned out a 5-2 win for Brotherhood, Joe Sherwin undefeated.

The second group match was thus played for honour only, Nomads Jaguars chalking up a 5-1 victory over Holland Vulcans.

In Group B, Windsor Harriers were 5-1 victors over Windsor Magpies, winning all three matches which went the distance, including Barry Allen’s (-5) 12-10 in the fifth victory over John Plummer (+1).

The Harriers, alongside Brotherhood D who had completed their Cup programme and were without a match, qualify from the group.

Group C has been something of a disappointment, with five of the six scheduled matches conceded, although this is no reflection on the two teams who have qualified, Windsor Penguins and Nomads Ocelots. The two teams met this week in their final Group match, the Penguins winning 5-0 against a two-player Ocelots.

Brotherhood C made it three wins out of three to top Group D, finishing this stage of the competition by defeating Windsor Eagles 5-1.

But it was a winner-takes-all situation in the other group match between Windsor Falcons and Windsor Buzzards. And in a contest which went to the wire, Nigel Rolph, Matt Thomas and Nikki Hayes of the Falcons edged it 5-4, Rolph and Thomas (+2) taking the final match 11-0, 6-11, 11-9 against Scott Campbell and Pete Bloomfield (-15).

Both Windsor Kestrels and Nomads Lions had qualified in Group G before they met in their final fixture, the Kestrels winning 5-0 against a two-player Lions’ side.

In the other group match, Brotherhood E enjoyed a consolation 5-3 win against a two-man Windsor Hawks. But the Hawks almost took the tie to a decider, Kevin Pryor (+1) getting Brotherhood over the line with a 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 0-11, 13-11 victory over Felipe Rodriguez (-5).

* The matches for Round One of the knockout stage of the competition will be played during week beginning 27th January. It will feature six teams from Division One, and five each from Divisions Two and Three. Brotherhood will have six teams in the draw, Windsor four, with Nomads and Walton each having three. Details of the draw and grades will be circulated by Thursday 16th January at the latest.

* The League’s Handicap Singles Tournament takes place at the Windsor venue of St James Hall on Saturday 8 February. Entries will be limited to 32. The closing date for entry is Friday 31 January. Full details are being circulated to all players.

* Team Secretaries should note a temporary change as regards e-mailed result cards. For League matches played during the period 13 January to 9 February, result cards should not be e-mailed to Gavin Price. Instead, e-mailed result cards, as well as being sent to Tony Oswick, should also be copied to John Barton. Result cards can still be delivered personally to Tony Oswick in the usual way.

RESULTS
HANDICAP CUP
Group A
Nomads Jaguars 5 Holland Vulcans 1
Brotherhood F 5 Nomads Bobcats 2
Group B
Windsor Harriers 5 Windsor Magpies 1
Group C
Nomads Ocelots 0 Windsor Penguins 5
Group D
Windsor Falcons 5 Windsor Buzzards 4
Brotherhood C 5 Windsor Eagles 1
Group E
Walton D 2 Walton A 5
Nomads Leopards 5 Brotherhood B 3
Group F
Brotherhood H 5 Nomads Tigers 0
Walton C 5 Brotherhood G 2
Group G
Windsor Kestrels 5 Nomads Lions 0
Brotherhood E 5 Windsor Hawks 3
Group H
Lawford 5 Brotherhood A 4
Holland Hurricanes 0 Walton B 5