Brotherhood A took a decisive step this week in their bid to take the Division One title of the Clacton League, recording a crucial 6-4 victory over their nearest challengers Nomads Lions.  

Three for Daniel Young (pictured above, photo by Gavin Price), two for Kevin Gowlett and one for Gary Young saw the Brotherhood team home to, what in the end, proved a convincing win.

Three of the four Lions’ points came from hard-fought five-setters. Paul Hume’s two included an 11-3 in the fifth win over Gary Young, while Ethan Lloyd defeated the same player 11-8 in the fifth. Hume and Adam Cuthbert took a close doubles against Gowlett and Gary Young, also 11-8 in the fifth.

And so, with two matches left, Brotherhood A need just 13 points to guarantee the title, which would be the first Division One success for a Brotherhood team since 2011.

Elsewhere, Nomads Panthers got back to winning ways, John Hatley and Denes Somodi unbeaten in the 9-1 victory over Brotherhood C. Somodi had a tight tussle with John Cleasby before winning 11-8 in the fifth, the same score by which Hatley and Somodi took the doubles against Cleasby and Graham Playle.

Windsor Eagles continued their challenge for third place with a comprehensive 10-0 victory over lowly Windsor Buzzards, with only one match extended beyond three-straight. Gary Cattermole, Gavin Price and Phil Smith were the winning trio.

Despite a Felipe Rodriguez hat-trick, Windsor Hawks went down 7-3 to a tenacious Walton A, Mark Gale, Mark Ratcliffe and Derek Willis each winning two for Walton. Windsor’s Scott Campbell lost two close matches, 11-5 in the decider to Willis and 11-7 in the decider to Gale.

And to cap a good week for the Walton Club, Walton B celebrated a first win of the season, 6-4 against Brotherhood B. Pete Burrows won three, Clive Allenby and Graham Buxton one each, with Burrows and Buxton taking the doubles. It now means that every team in the League has won at least one match.

In Division Two, the top-of-the-table clash saw second-placed Brotherhood F defeat leaders Brotherhood G 6-4, this despite a Mark Boyland hat-trick for the losers. In a contest where none of the individual matches went the distance, Mark Salter and Neil Chegwidden took two each for the winners, and Paul Alden one, with Salter and Alden sharing a doubles success.

But although Brotherhood F go top by a single point, they’ve played a game more than Brotherhood G who still remain title favourites.  

Brotherhood J defeated Brotherhood D 7-3 for a second time this season, Joe Sherwin’s irrepressible form continuing with yet another hat-trick. Ruby Gallagher took two and Tom Bryden one, with Sherwin and Bryden winning the doubles 11-9 in the fifth in against Russell Stone and Lily Liu in the closest match of the evening. Stone took two singles for the ‘D’ team although he had to battle hard against Gallagher before winning 11-7 in the fifth.

Trebles for Charlie Denholm and Ian Sherwood, his second in as many weeks, saw Lawford home 8-2 against Windsor Kestrels. Richard Spence had a close 11-6 in the fifth win over Allen Denyer in the opening match of the evening but went down to Graham Bunce in the final match, Bunce winning 3-2 (9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 7-11, 15-13). Peter Aumord took the second Kestrels’ point.

Nomads Jaguars chalked up their second 9-1 win in succession, this time against Windsor Harriers. Andy Hart and Chris Petrou stayed unbeaten, with Bob Jillins winning two. Barry Allen saved the Harriers’ blushes to take his side’s consolation point in match ten.

Windsor Penguins were 6-4 victors over a Nomads Jaguars’ side fielding a guest. Kelvin Olano-Harper remained unbeaten for the Penguins. There were two each for Nomads’ Tom Wilkin and Matt Sage, although it was a tight 12-10 in the fifth for Wilkin against Paul Woolnough.

In Division Three, Dan Grindrod, Danny Still and Gary Simpson of Brotherhood H proved once again they’re the class side of the Division, inflicting a 10-0 defeat on a spirited Windsor Falcons. It means Brotherhood need ten points from their final two matches to wrap up a well-deserved title.

Holland Hurricanes look odds-on to finish as runners-up, this week beating Brotherhood E 7-3. Gary Stallwood took three, Ian Gwillim two and Gerry Widnell one. Jack Hillier won a couple for Brotherhood while Joe Hillier enjoyed a close 11-9 in the fifth victory over Widnell.

Walton C won 7-3 against a Windsor Magpies’ side again forced to field a guest. Lynnette Sparks stayed unbeaten for Walton, although it was a tight 11-8 in the fifth against John Plummer, while Deborah Pallett enjoyed a surprise win in four over Plummer. Alan Rutledge took two for the Magpies and Plummer one. But all credit to John Plummer and Alan Rutledge who’ve battled manfully as virtually a two-person team for the Magpies for most of the second half of the season.

The all-Holland clash between the Lancasters and Vulcans ended 7-3 in favour of the Lancasters. Peter Evans remained unbeaten while there were two for Dave Wright and one for Grace Andrews. Evans and Wright also won a close doubles, 11-7 in the decider, against Derek Foxley and Bob Keefe. For the Vulcans, Foxley took two and James Horsler one.

Finally, an all-Nomads fixture ended 7-3 in favour of the Leopards over the Ocelots. Dominic Joannou took his maximum, Anne Bonny two, while Mark Taylor added an 11-5 in the decider win against Norman Jacobs. For the Ocelots, Andrew Cousins won two and Hazel Blanche one.

* The Handicap Cup competition is approaching its final stages and next week sees the semi-finals. Brotherhood A and Nomads Lions meet for a second week running, while Nomads Tigers take on Brotherhood D in an all-Division Two tie. The final takes place on Tuesday 21 April.

* There will be 61 players competing in this year’s Closed Championships. This represents about half of the league’s regular players. The tournament takes place on 11 and 12 April at The Lift School (formerly Clacton Coastal Academy) Sports Hall. Entrants will receive further details, including check-in times, by Tuesday 7 April at the latest.

The Championships are being sponsored for a fifth year by The Survey Initiative and the League is most grateful to Gary Cattermole for his continued support and generosity.

RESULTS

Division 1
Nomads Panthers 9 Brotherhood C 1
Walton B 6 Brotherhood B 4
Windsor Eagles 10 Windsor Buzzards 0
Brotherhood A 6 Nomads Lions 4
Windsor Hawks 3 Walton A 7

Division 2
Windsor Harriers 1 Nomads Jaguars 9
Brotherhood J 7 Brotherhood D 3
Lawford 8 Windsor Kestrels 2
Brotherhood F 6 Brotherhood G 4
Nomads Tigers 4 Windsor Penguins 6

Division 3
Windsor Falcons 0 Brotherhood H 10
Holland Vulcans 3 Holland Lancasters 7
Walton C 7 Windsor Magpies 3
Brotherhood E 3 Holland Hurricanes 7
Nomads Leopards 7 Nomads Ocelots 3