An unprecedented three teams from Division Three have made it through to the semi-finals of the Clacton League’s Handicap Cup, with pride of place going to Windsor Falcons who pulled off a famous win in Round Two with a nerve-jangling 5-4 success over 2023 cup-winners Brotherhood A of Division One.

The Falcons’ trio of Kelvin Olano-Harper, Ferdy Rodriguez and Nikki Hayes led 2-1, 3-2 and 4-3 but were pegged back on each occasion by the Brotherhood trio, who eventually levelled the score at 4-4 to send the tie into a decider.

And it was somewhat inevitable that the final match of the evening should also go all the way, with the result in the balance almost until the final ball was played. But it was Olano-Harper and Rodriguez (+1) who edged a see-saw match 3-2 (11-6, 11-13, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5) against Kevin Gowlett and Russell Hillier (-8)

Olano-Harper remained unbeaten for the Falcons with Rodriguez and Hayes providing excellent support, no more so than Rodriguez’s (+1) 11-9 in the decider victory over Tim Leung (-5).

The Third Division Nomads Bobcats side of Matt Sage, Alex Baldock and Sam Watling reached the Cup semi-finals for a second year running by defeating Division Two Windsor Penguins 5-2. Sam Watling was their best player on the night, staying unbeaten. Windsor’s Neil Chegwidden won both his singles for his team’s points.

A Division Three side was always guaranteed a place in the semi-final when the Division’s two leading teams of young players, Brotherhood F and Brotherhood H, were drawn against each other. The tie ended as a resounding 5-0 victory for the ‘F’ team’s Joe Sherwin, Tom Bryden and Ruby Gallagher over Brotherhood H, Sherwin and Gallagher (-1) sealing the win with an 11-7 in the fifth victory over Savindu De Silva and Tony Woollard (+1) in the only match which went to five.

Nomads Lions are now the highest-ranked side left in the competition, winning their Round Two tie 5-1 against Cup-holders Walton B in an all-Division One clash. In the final two matches of the evening, Adam Cuthbert and Adam Wilkin (-3) edged past Mark Gale and Paul Meikle (+1) 11-5 in the fifth, while skipper Jason Lloyd (-3) wrapped up matters with an 11-7 in the fifth success over Mark Ratcliffe (+1).

The draw for the semi-finals, to be played in week beginning 24 March, will be made on this week.  

* In Division One of the League, three from Gavin Price proved the difference as Walton A took the honours 6-4 against Lawford.

Charlie Denholm and Glen Laing won two each for Lawford. The four matches which went the distance were shared between the teams. Walton’s Andy Foster edged past Richard Spence 11-9 in the fifth, while Price defeated Laing 12-10 in the fifth. For Lawford, Denholm defeated Foster 11-7 in the fifth and Kevin James 15-13 in the fifth.

Brotherhood C have a firm hold on the runners-up spot in Division Two after a convincing 9-1 victory over a much-weakened Brotherhood D. John Gallagher and Mark Boyland remained unbeaten, Gallagher edging past Tricia Salter 11-7 in the decider in the only match which went all the way.

In a second all-Brotherhood encounter, the ‘E’ team defeated the ‘G’ team 7-3, Kevin Pryor winning three, Fred Gallone two and Tony Edmonds one. The ‘G’ team reserve, Owen Woollard, impressed with a couple of good wins for the losers.

Meanwhile, the top v bottom clash between Windsor Buzzards and Windsor Magpies ended in a predictable 10-0 victory for the Buzzards.

The only match in Division Three saw Nomads Bobcats succeed 7-3 against Nomads Leopards. Matt Sage took his maximum, with Alex Baldock and Sam Watling each taking two. For the Leopards, Dominic Joannou beat Watling 11-3 in the fifth and Baldock 11-9 in the fifth, whilst he shared an excellent doubles win with Lily Liu, in her first appearance of the season, against Watling and Baldock in three-straight.

* Entry forms for the League’s Closed Championships, sponsored once again by The Survey Initiative, have been sent to all players. The closing date is Friday 14 March.

RESULTS
Handicap Cup: Round Two
Walton B 1 Nomads Lions 5
Windsor Falcons 5 Brotherhood A 4
Brotherhood F 5 Brotherhood H 0
Nomads Bobcats 5 Windsor Penguins 2
League
Division 1
Walton A 6 Lawford 4
Division 2
Brotherhood G 3 Brotherhood E 7
Windsor Magpies 0 Windsor Buzzards 10
Brotherhood D 1 Brotherhood C 9
Division 3
Nomads Bobcats 7 Nomads Leopards 3