The top four teams in Division One of the Clacton League all enjoyed 10-0 victories this week.

Brotherhood A’s win over Windsor Hawks means they still lead the table by four points. Daniel Young, Gary Young and Kevin Gowlett (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) were the winning trio, Gary Young’s 3-2 (11-8, 11-13, 11-13, 11-4, 11-5) victory over Andy Vincent the closest match. 

Ethan Lloyd, Jason Loyd and Adam Cuthbert of second-placed Nomads Lions remain four points behind after defeating Walton A 10-0 for a second time this season. Ethan Lloyd’s 11-3 in the decider win against Mark Gale was the only match which went all the way.

Brotherhood B fielded three reserves against third-placed Nomads Panthers and so the whitewash result was not unexpected. But Brotherhood’s Mark Boyland, Joe Sherwin and Ruby Gallaher put up stern resistance, Sherwin in particular, losing 11-5 in the fifth to Gill Locke and 11-7 in the fifth to Kevin James. Sherwin and Gallagher will also feel pleased to have taken a set off Kevin James and James Denyer in the doubles.

Windsor Eagles, who are currently fourth, took all 10 points against Brotherhood C, but ‘C’ team will feel unlucky not to have left with at least one point. Three individual encounters went close, Gary Cattermole beating Tim Leung 11-8 in the decider, John Pattrick defeating John Cleasby 12-10 in the decider, whilst Cattermole & Pattrick edged the doubles 3-2 (11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 10-12, 13-11) against Cleasby & Graham Playle.  

In the only non-whitewash top-flight match, bottom team Windsor Buzzards chalked up a rare win, defeating Walton B 6-4 for a second time this season. Andy Foster, Ray Chillingworth and Dave Martin each won two but none of them could get the better of Walton’s Pete Burrows who remained undefeated. But Walton will rue losing two matches which could have swung the result in their favour, Clive Allenby going down in five to Foster, while John Marshall suffered the heartbreak of losing 15-13 in the fifth to Martin.

In Division Two, leaders Brotherhood G suffered a first defeat of the season, 6-4 at the hands of Brotherhood J. Joe Sherwin starred for the ‘J’ team with a hat-trick, while Ruby Gallagher won two, including a win over Dad John. Lucy Carvell came oh-so-close to taking another, losing 14-12 in the fifth to John Gallagher in the only match which went to five.

It was a good week for Lawford who recorded two wins, 8-2 against Nomads Tigers and 7-3 against Windsor Harriers.

The victory was somewhat predictable against the Tigers who were forced to include both a reserve and a guest player. Paul Hewitt and Charlie Denholm both stayed unbeaten for Lawford. For the Tigers, Wilkin took a five-set singles win against Ian Sherwood whilst, with reserve Dominic Joannou, produced a surprise doubles win, defeating Denholm and Sherwood in three-straight. It was the Tigers’ first doubles win of the season but only a second doubles’ defeat for Lawford.   

Alex Dunne, making a first appearance of the season for Lawford, recorded a maximum against the Harriers. Denholm won two and Sherwood one, with Denholm and Sherwood this time successful in the doubles. Dunne had a nail-biting 3-2 (9-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9) win against Barry Allen, whilst Sherwood benefitted from an extravagant number of nets to get past Ferdy Rodriguez 3-2 (11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 10-12, 11-8). Barry Allen’s two for the Harriers included a tight 12-10 in the decider victory over Denholm.

Nomads Tigers also had a second match and, for a second time, tasted defeat, this time 6-4 at the hands of Brotherhood F. Neil Chegwidden took three and Paul Alden two, with the pair sharing a doubles win. Matt Sage won two for Tigers, beating Alden 11-8 in the fifth, whilst Tom Wilkin and Alex Baldock won one each, Baldock beating Tricia Salter 11-9 in the fifth.

Three for Chris Petrou, and two each for Andy Hart and Bob Jillins saw Nomads Jaguars home 8-2 against Windsor Kestrels. Peter Aumord won the two Kestrels’ points. Both Allen Denyer and Jackie Bunce came near to adding to the Kestrels’ score, Denyer going down 11-8 in the decider to Jillins and Bunce losing 11-5 in the decider to Petrou.

Windsor Penguins were 6-4 winners against a Brotherhood D side fielding a guest. Kelvin Olano-Harper was unbeaten in winning his two singles against Kevin Pryor and Fred Gallone.

In Division Three, leaders Brotherhood H defeated Holland Lancasters 7-3 in an encounter where no-one stayed unbeaten. Dan Grindrod, Danny Still and Gary Simpson all won two for Brotherhood, with Still and Simpson adding a tight 11-9 in the fifth doubles victory over Peter Evans and Dave Wright. Evans enjoyed good wins over Grindrod and Simpson, the latter a 12-10 in the decider victory, whilst Wright notched up a surprise success against Still.

Holland Hurricanes maintained their challenge at the top with an 8-2 win against a Windsor Magpies’ side fielding a guest, skipper John Plummer missing a match for the first time this season. Both the Magpies’ points came from matches which went the distance, Dave Sweetland beating Gerry Widnell 11-3 in the fifth and Alan Rutledge defeating Ian Gwillim 11-5 in the fifth.

Nomads Ocelots beat Brotherhood E, playing with a guest, 7-3, Andrew Cousins undefeated for the winners. Jack Hillier’s two for Brotherhood included a fine 11-6 in the fifth victory over Mike Wellum, only a second defeat of the season for Wellum.

Doug Green, Dominic Joannou and Anne Bonny of Nomads Leopards were 10-0 winners against a weakened Walton C, also playing with a guest. The closest match saw Bonny take an 11-6 in the fifth win against Deborah Pallett.

Finally, three for Bob Keefe, two each for Derek Foxley and James Horsler, plus a Keefe/Foxley doubles win, saw Holland Vulcans to an 8-2 success against Windsor Falcons. 

* The draw for Round One of the Handicap Cup sees the three Third Division teams left in the competition awarded tough ties against top-flight opposition. Holland Hurricanes face the sternest test against current Division One leaders Brotherhood A, Nomads Leopards will face Windsor Hawks while Windsor Falcons are rewarded with an away tie against Brotherhood C.

The full draw is: Walton A v Brotherhood J; Nomads Lions v Windsor Harriers; Windsor Hawks v Nomads Leopards; Holland Hurricanes v Brotherhood A; Brotherhood G v Nomads Tigers; Brotherhood D v Brotherhood B; Windsor Eagles v Brotherhood F; Brotherhood C v Windsor Falcons. The matches are to be played during w/c 9th February.

* The Handicapped Singles Tournament takes place this Saturday (7th February) at St James’ Hall. Play starts at 9.30am but all players will be sent details of their individual check-in times beforehand. The final is timed for approximately 4pm.