It was the first week in the new table tennis season of the Clacton League, sponsored this year by the Chigwell Window Centre PLC, and Derek Willis continued to defy the years, producing an unbeaten performance in Division One for Walton A in their win over Brotherhood G.

Super-veteran Willis, now the League’s senior top-flight player, took his three as Walton A powered to an 8-2 success against the promoted Brotherhood side. His hat-trick included a hard-fought 3-2 (11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 16-14, 11-2) victory over John Gallagher.

Mark Ratcliffe and Paul Meikle picked up a couple each for Walton, as did Gallagher for Brotherhood.

It was also 8-2 for Nomads Panthers who got their campaign under way with victory over Windsor Hawks. James Denyer remained unbeaten, with Gill Locke and reserve John Hatley winning two each. Andy Vincent’s pair for the Hawks included a nail-biting 3-2 (13-11, 9-11, 13-11, 9-11, 12-10) success over Locke.

It was even better for Nomads Lions who recorded a straightforward 10-0 victory over Walton B, Adam Wilkin, Paul Hume and John Hatley, this time acting as a reserve for the Lions’ team, all remaining unbeaten. Only one match went beyond the standard three games.  

In Division Two, Andy Hart and Tom Wilkin set out their stall for Nomads Jaguars, both taking trebles in Nomads Jaguars’ impressive 7-3 victory over Lawford. Wilkin enjoyed two close wins, 11-9 in the fifth against Ian Sherwood and 11-7 in the fifth against Charlie Denholm, while it was also 11-7 in the fifth for Hart against Denholm.

A Kelvin Olano-Harper treble for Windsor Penguins was not enough to halt the progress of Windsor Buzzards, who took the match 7-3. Pete Bloomfield, Andy Foster and Ray Chillingworth each took two for the winners. The only match which went the distance was the first encounter of the evening, Chillingworth getting past Bob Keefe 3-2 (4-11, 11-9, 9-11, 18-16, 11-6).

Windsor Harriers defied the pundits’ predictions by defeating Brotherhood F 6-4. There were two each for Barry Allen and Isabel Barton, the crucial match proving to be Allen’s 14-12 in the fifth win over Paul Alden. But no-one could get the better of Neil Chegwidden who recorded a hat-trick for Brotherhood.

Trebles from Tom Bryden and Ruby Gallagher were the highlights of Brotherhood J’s victory against Nomads Tigers. For the Tigers, Matt Sage and Chris Petrou each enjoyed unexpected wins over Dave Miller, while Petrou and Alex Baldock played well to defeat Bryden and Gallagher 11-4 in the fifth in the doubles.

In Division Three, relegated Windsor Kestrels began their quest for a speedy return to the second tier of local table tennis with a 7-3 victory over a Nomads Leopards’ side forced to play with a guest. Peter Aumord’s two wins for the Kestrels included a tight 11-7 in the decider victory over Mike Wellum. Wellum won a couple for the Leopards.

Three each for Gerry Widnell and Gary Stallwood saw Holland Hurricanes home 8-2 against Brotherhood E. Rodney Betts and Tony Edmonds took a point each for the losers, both players also coming close against Widnell but eventually losing, Betts going down 11-9 in the fifth and Edmonds 11-6 in the fifth.

In an all-Windsor clash, the Seagulls, playing with a guest, defeated the Magpies 6-4. Ferdy Rodriguez took his three for the winners, Josh Court won two, the pair taking the doubles with victory over John Plummer and Malcolm Caley.

It was also 6-4 for Holland Bouncing Bombers against Walton C. Peter Evans remained unbeaten for the Bombers, Ian Gwillim won twice, with the pair winning the doubles 11-6 in the decider against Lynette Sparks and Derek Foxley. For Walton, Foxley won a couple whilst there was one each for Sparks and Deborah Pallett.

Finally, the new Brotherhood K team proved too strong for Holland Lancasters, breezing to a 10-0 victory in an encounter where every match was settled in three-straight. Ben Bryden, Cris Edwards and Maggie Earle were the winning trio.

RESULTS
Division 1
Walton A 8 Brotherhood G 2
Nomads Lions 10 Walton B 0
Windsor Hawks 2 Nomads Panthers 8
Division 2
Brotherhood J 7 Nomads Tigers 3
Windsor Harriers 6 Brotherhood G 4
Windsor Penguins 3 Windsor Buzzards 7
Nomads Jaguars 7 Lawford 3
Division 3
Brotherhood K 10 Holland Lancasters 0
Windsor Seagulls 6 Windsor Magpies 4
Holland Hurricanes 8 Brotherhood E 2
Holland Bouncing Bombers 6 Walton C 4
Nomads Leopards 3 Windsor Kestrels 7