Windsor Falcons and Windsor Eagles were involved in the closest match of the week in the Clacton League’s Handicap Cup competition, the Falcons fighting back from 3-1 down to win their Group D tie 5-4.

In the deciding final doubles, Kelvin Olano & Ferdy Rodriguez (pictured above, +3) beat Gary Cattermole & John Pattrick (-8) in three-straight to seal the win.

Olano remained unbeaten whilst Windsor stalwart Rodriguez took a crucial win in match seven to give the Falcons the lead for the first time in the match, (on +3) winning 11-2, 11-9 against Cattermole (-10).

In the other Group D match, John Gallagher continued his excellent form for Brotherhood C, undefeated in his side’s 5-2 win over Windsor Buzzards.

It was Brotherhood’s second win of the competition and they look almost certain to qualify, with the second qualifying place dependent on a winner-takes-all match between the Falcons and the Buzzards in their final Group match.

In Group A, both Brotherhood F and Nomads Bobcats enjoyed 5-0 wins, Joe Sherwin, Lucy Carvell and Ruby Gallagher of Brotherhood F cruising to victory over Holland Vulcans, while Nomads Bobcats defeated a two-player Nomads Jaguars.

These wins guarantee Brotherhood F and the Bobcats a place in the knockout stage of the competition.

Brotherhood D kept their Cup hopes alive in Group B with a 5-3 victory over Windsor Magpies. The Brotherhood team were never headed in an encounter where all bar one of the individual matches were settled in four sets.

Group C has turned out to be a massive non-event, with Windsor Penguins and Nomads Ocelots automatically going through having never hit a ball in anger, qualifying because their opponents have conceded their matches.

In Group E, it’s looking good for Brotherhood B who recorded a second win in the competition, 5-1 over Walton D. Simon Smith-Daye and Joe Plummer were unbeaten, with only Adrian Sexton’s (+2) narrow 11-9, 12-10, 14-12 success against Sam Plummer (-11) preventing a Brotherhood whitewash.  

The final fixture in the Group between Walton A and Walton D now looks pivotal, with the winner likely to progress.  

Brotherhood H lead Group F following a walk-over win against Brotherhood G and are near-certain to qualify for the round of the last sixteen.  

But Nomads Tigers had to field a guest against Walton C, who unsurprisingly won 5-1, leaving the Tigers needing probable victory against Brotherhood H in their final group match to qualify.

Windsor Kestrels and Nomads Lions both preserved their 100% records in Group G knowing that, when they meet in their final match, they will both already have qualified.

The Kestrels were 5-1 winners against fellow-Division Two team Brotherhood E, the result somewhat surprising considering both teams had similar handicap grades. Debra Found and Jackie Bunce were unbeaten, Found (-3) recovering from a horrendous start to edge out Tony Edmonds (+1) 2-11, 3-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8 in the closest encounter.

There was not a lot of grade difference either in the all-First Division meeting between Nomads Lions and Windsor Hawks. Despite losing both doubles, it was the Lions who triumphed 5-2, taking two of the three matches which went the distance, one of which was Adam Cuthbert’s (-5) 12-10 in the decider victory over John Barton (+1).

In Group H top-flight Brotherhood A were too good for Third Division Holland Hurricanes and, despite losing the opening doubles, ended as comfortable 5-1 winners.

Cup-holders Walton B are still hanging in there following a similar 5-1 scoreline victory over Lawford. Mark Ratcliffe and Paul Meikle (-3) took time to get into gear in the opening doubles, eventually winning 0-11, 3-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7 against Ian Sherwood and Richard Spence (+1) in the tightest match of the tie.

Walton B will now have to beat the Hurricanes in their final group match if they are to succeed in their ambition to become the first team since 1991 to retain the trophy.

* With the Clacton League now taking a two-week break, the League’s Media Team would like to take this opportunity to wish all players, supporters and followers of the League a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

RESULTS
HANDICAP CUP
Group A
Holland Vulcans 0 Brotherhood F 5
Nomads Jaguars 0 Nomads Bobcats 5
Group B
Windsor Magpies 3 Brotherhood D 5
Group C
Nomads Panthers 0 Nomads Ocelots 5 (w/o)
Group D
Windsor Buzzards 2 Brotherhood C 5
Windsor Eagles 4 Windsor Falcons 5
Group E
Brotherhood B 5 Walton D 1
Group F
Brotherhood G 0 Brotherhood H 5 (w/o)
Walton C 5 Nomads Tigers 1
Group G
Nomads Lions 5 Windsor Hawks 2
Brotherhood E 1 Windsor Kestrels 5
Group H
Lawford 1 Walton B 5
Brotherhood A 5 Holland Hurricanes 1