As a result of the final Group stage matches of the Handicap Cup Competition organised by the Clacton & District League, the last 16 teams will comprise seven from Division One, six from Division Two and three – Holland Hurricanes, Nomads Leopards and Windsor Falcons – from Division Three.

After two convincing wins in Group C, the Hurricanes ended their programme with a 7-2 defeat at the hands of Holland Lancasters. They still finish top but, eventually, by just a single point. For the Lancasters’ trio of Peter Evans, Dave Wright and Tony Aresti, it was a case of ‘what-might-have been’ had they not had to concede their opening match against Nomads Ocelots and therefore forfeit the nine points. In the end, they finished bottom of the table but a mere three points behind the Hurricanes.

And so the Ocelots of Division Three and Second Division Brotherhood G were left to fight it out for the second qualifying spot, with Brotherhood requiring seven points or more to get through. And they did it by the skin of their teeth, winning 7-2, but having to win the three matches which went the distance to do so. Paul Metcalf (-5) beat Andrews Cousins (+1) 11-7, 2-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7, John Gallagher (-1) beat Mike Wellum (+1) 8-11, 12-10, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, and, in the very last match of the evening, Gallagher and Mark Boyland (-6) scraped past Wellum and Cousins (+1) 1-11, 12-10, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7.

Group C certainly proved to be the closest of all the eight groups, with just three points separating the four teams – the Hurricanes (on 15 points), Brotherhood G (14 points), the Ocelots (13 points) and the Lancasters (12 points).

The Leopards did well to win all three of their matches and finish top of Group E, looking particularly impressive in defeating top-flight Brotherhood B 5-4 in their third match, Doug Green, Dominic Joannou and Anne Bonny winning all three doubles. Brotherhood, whose points came from two singles wins apiece from Simon-Smith Daye and Russell Hillier, qualify in second place. 

The second group result was therefore academic but it ended 9-0 for Holland Vulcans against Windsor Magpies, Bob Keefe, Derek Foxley and James Horsler unbeaten. 

The Falcons were the third team from Division Three to qualify, finishing as runners-up in Group A, a group which had hitherto been one of the tightest of the groups but which ended with two whitewash scorelines.

In a winner-takes-all encounter, the Falcons produced a stellar performance against top-flight Walton B, Matt Thomas, Gary Barnes and Nigel Rolph taking full advantage of their handicap advantage to run out 9-0 winners.

The result left Nomads Panthers needing at least seven points from their final match to qualify alongside the Falcons, but they failed to secure a single against Brotherhood F who made it three Cup wins in a row with a convincing 9-0 victory. Mark Salter, Paul Alden and Tricia Salter were once again the victorious trio.

There were rather more dramatic happenings in Group F where another Third Division side, Brotherhood E, came close to qualifying, all coming about when cup favourites Brotherhood A, due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, failed to arrive for their match with Walton A. Walton, reluctantly, claimed the match 9-0, points which were sufficient to leave them as group leaders.

Although it still left Brotherhood A in pole position to qualify after two previous 7-2 wins, Brotherhood E could still make it through ahead of their ‘A’ team if they beat Lawford by an unlikely 8-1. Despite a tremendous effort, they could only manage a 7-2 victory, Jack Hillier and Rodney Betts outstanding to remain unbeaten. It meant they finished level on 14 points with Brotherhood A but the ‘A’ team qualified having won the individual match between the two teams.

Elsewhere, Brotherhood D had already qualified from Group B so it was down to the final match between Nomads Tigers and Windsor Buzzards to determine who would join them. After a tightly-contested encounter, it was the Tigers who edged it 5-4, Sam Watling their most successful player, winning one singles and his two doubles, both of which went the distance.

In Group D, Windsor Hawks edged past Windsor Eagles 5-4, the points for each side sufficient to ensure both teams qualified for the next round. John Barton was the Hawks’ best player, winning both singles and one doubles, while the Eagles’ Gavin Price took one singles and was successful in both doubles. The closest matches were the first and last doubles of the evening, the Eagles winning them both, Price and Phil Smith (-3) beating Barton and Scott Campbell (+1) 11-8 in the decider, while Price and John Pattrick defeated Campbell and Andy Vincent 11-6 in the decider in a scratch-match.

The result meant that Windsor Penguins needed a whitewash victory over Windsor Kestrels if they were to qualify but their eventual 6-3 victory against a two-player Kestrels’ side was not enough and so both these Second Division sides bowed out of the competition.

In the first of the three-team groups, Nomads Jaguars of Division Two beat First Division Brotherhood C 5-4 in Group G, Bob Jillins taking one singles and both his doubles. But it was insufficient to see them to a top two place, Brotherhood C qualifying alongside Windsor Harriers.

Both Brotherhood J and Nomads Lions had already qualified before their final Group H match against each other. For the record, it ended in a 7-2 victory for Brotherhood, Joe Sherwin and Joe Bryden unbeaten in both singles and doubles.

* Round One of the knockout stage takes place during week commencing 9 February. Details about the draw and players’ grades will be sent to those teams remaining in the competition by Saturday 31 January at the latest.

* There are just a handful of places left for the League’s Handicapped Singles Tournament which takes place on Saturday 7 February at St James’ Hall. Any interested players should contact League Secretary Isabel Barton.

RESULTS: HANDICAP CUP

Group A
Nomads Panthers 0 Brotherhood F 9
Windsor Falcons 9 Walton B 0
Group B
Brotherhood H 0 Brotherhood D 9 (w/o)
Nomads Tigers 5 Windsor Buzzards 4
Group C
Holland Hurricanes 2 Holland Lancasters 7
Brotherhood G 7 Nomads Ocelots 2
Group D
Windsor Kestrels 3 Windsor Penguins 6
Windsor Hawks 5 Windsor Eagles 4
Group E
Holland Vulcans 9 Windsor Magpies 0
Nomads Leopards 5 Brotherhood B 4
Group F
Walton A 9 Brotherhood A 0 (w/o)
Brotherhood E 7 Lawford 2
Group G
Nomads Jaguars 5 Brotherhood C 4
Group H
Brotherhood J 7 Nomads Lions 2