Brotherhood A have capped a momentous season by winning the Clacton League’s 2026 Handicap Knock-Out Cup, in the final defeating Second Division Nomads Tigers 5-2.

The Brotherhood team become only the fourth team in the last 40 years to complete ‘the double’ of winning both the Division One title and the Handicap Cup in the same season.

Daniel Young, Kevin Gowlett and Gary Young of Brotherhood A are an impressive trio and, starting the Cup Final as strong favourites, immediately raced into a 2-0 lead.

Using the League rule where matches with large handicap differences are played as best-of-three sets, Brotherhood won both opening matches in two-straight. In the first doubles, Gowlett & Gary Young had to retrieve a 14-point deficit to beat Matt Sage & Alex Baldock, while Daniel Young got the better of Tigers’ skipper Tom Wilkin despite a 13-point difference.

But the Tigers are nothing if not fighters and there followed what proved to be the three pivotal matches of the final.

In match three, Baldock (+3) faced the vastly experienced Gowlett (-13) and, with a combination of great attacking shots and a handful of Gowlett errors, came out on top 11-2, 7-11, 11-7.

Then came the closest and tensest contest of the evening, Gary Young (-10) just preserving his season’s 100% record in Cup singles matches by edging past pen-holder Sage (+3) 11-9, 8-11, 13-11, this after being 1-9 down in the final set.

So Brotherhood took a 3-1 interval lead, but Wilkin and Baldock (+3) returned in combative mood and, in the middle doubles, inflicted an impressive 8-11, 12-10, 11-7 defeat on the two Youngs (-11).

Alas for the Tigers, it was to be their last success of the night, with Gowlett defeating Wilkin in match six and Daniel Young inflicting the coup de grace with victory over Sage in match seven. Both were settled in two-straight, both with the Brotherhood player needing to retrieve 13 points.

Thus, for a second season running, Baldock and Sage end as cup runners-up, having been members of the losing 2025 Nomads Jaguars’ cup final team. Nevertheless, all four members of the Tigers’ squad who played during the season should take pride, not only in their efforts in reaching the cup final but also for playing their part in providing the 30-plus spectators with an entertaining and competitive evening’s table tennis.

As for Brotherhood A, there’s little more that can be said about the history-making outfit of Daniel Young, Kevin Gowlett, Gary Young and Gracie Edwards, and now is surely the time for them to relax and open the champagne bottle to celebrate what has been a truly memorable season.

Cup final results
(Brotherhood A players named first: all matches best-of-three sets)
Match 1: K Gowlett/G Young (-11) beat M Sage/A Baldock (+3) 11-6, 11-9
Match 2: D Young (-10) beat T Wilkin (+3) 11-5, 11-9
Match 3: K Gowlett (-13) lost to A Baldock (+3) 2-11, 11-7, 7-11
Match 4: G Young (-10) beat M Sage (+3) 11-9, 8-11,1 13-11
Match 5: D Young/G Young (-11) lost to T Wilkin /A Baldock (+3) 11-8, 10-12, 7-11
Match 6: K Gowlett (-10) beat T Wilkin (+3) 11-6, 11-9
Match 7: D Young (-10) beat M Sage (+3) 12-10, 11-9

Trophies were presented to the two teams by League President, Jenny Higgins. Trophies were also awarded to the two non-playing members of the respective squads who had contributed to the teams’ successful runs up to the cup final – Gracie Edwards for Brotherhood A and Sam Watling for the Tigers. The umpires for the cup final were Mark Gale and Ferdy Rodriguez.