It’s already tight at the top of Division One of the Clacton League, sponsored by the Chigwell Window Centre PLC, and Nomads Panthers are looking in the mood to mount a formidable challenge in an effort to regain their position as the League’s top dogs.

This week, hat-tricks for Kevin James and Gill Locke, and two for Nigel Hodder, saw the Panthers to a hard-fought 9-1 victory over Windsor Eagles. But the Panthers had to win all three matches which went the distance, James beating Gavin Price 11-7 in the fifth and John Pattrick 11-4 in the fifth, while it was 11-8 in the fifth for Locke against Pattrick. Pattrick defeated Hodder 3-1 (10-12, 11-8, 12-10, 17-15) for the Eagles’ point.

Reigning champions Brotherhood A currently top the table, three points ahead of the Panthers, and they had a 10-0 victory over Brotherhood C, Kevin Gowlett, Dan Young and Tom Hinds all unbeaten, with Young and Hinds sharing a doubles win.

John Barton defeated Derek Willis 11-4 in the fifth and Felipe Rodriguez defeated Mark Ratcliffe 11-9 in the fifth on the way to Windsor Hawks’ 9-1 victory over Walton A. Rodriguez and Andy Vincent recorded trebles for the winners, with Ratcliffe picking up the Walton point with a success against Barton.

Peter Burrows made his first appearance of the season for Walton B and his unbeaten three helped his side to a share of the spoils with Brotherhood G. There was one each for his team-mates Graham Buxton and John Marshall, whilst there were a pair apiece for Brotherhood’s Mark Boyland and John Gallagher. In the two closest matches, Marshall defeated Mark Beckham 11-5 in the decider and Gallagher edged past Buxton 11-9 in the decider.

In Division Two’s battle of the top two teams, Windsor Buzzards emerged victorious, 8-2 against Brotherhood F. There were excellent trebles for Andy Foster and Andy Cawley, Cawley defeating Neil Chegwidden 11-8 in the decider in the only match which went the distance.

In an all-Brotherhood encounter, an in-form Ruby Gallagher remained undefeated, while there were two each for Tom Bryden and Dave Miller as the ‘J’ team defeated the ‘D’ team 7-3. Brotherhood J won the three matches which went all the way, Gallagher beating Fred Gallone 11-5 in the fifth, Bryden beating the same player 11-9 in the fifth, while it was also 11-9 in the fifth for Miller against Kevin Pryor.

Lawford’s Charlie Denholm was the star player as his team drew their match with a Nomads Tigers’ side which included John Hatley. Richard Spence contributed an important couple while, for the Tigers, Hatley took two, and Chris Petrou and Sam Watling one each.

Nomads Jaguars are proving a formidable side this season, maintaining their winning run this week with a 9-1 victory over Windsor Harriers. Andy Hart and Tom Wilkin took three each and shared a doubles win. Bob Jillins’ two for the Jaguars included a see-saw 3-2 (11-7, 6-11, 17-15, 9-11, 15-13) success over Barry Allen.

There was no Olano-Harper in the Windsor Penguins’ line-up which faced Brotherhood H, and Brotherhood took full advantage to notch up a 6-4 win, their first win of the season. In a match where no-one stayed unbeaten, Danny Still and Dan Grindrod took two each for the winners, with Jack Hillier taking one. But it was the doubles which proved crucial, Grindrod and Hillier beating Paul Stanton and Paul Woolnough 15-13 in the fifth. Woolnough and Sharon Gowlett picked up a pair apiece for the Penguins, Gowlett having a tight scrap with Hillier before edging it 13-11 in the fifth.

Top met bottom in Division Three and Brotherhood K duly defeated Brotherhood E 9-1. Gary Barnes and Sid Hills remained unbeaten for Brotherhood K, with Rodney Betts beating Maggie Earle 11-7 in the decider for the ‘E’ team’s consolation point.

Nomads Leopards fielded a reserve but were still too good for Holland Lancasters, winning 6-4. Mike Wellum took three and Anne Bonny two, the pair also sharing a doubles win. Holland’s James Horsler enjoyed a narrow 11-9 in the fifth victory over Bonny.

It was also 6-4 for the Bouncing Bombers against the Hurricanes in the all-Holland clash. Brian Hill’s maximum for the winners included a close 13-11 in the fifth win against Gerry Widnell. Ian Gwillim won two and, with Hill, took the doubles in another hard-fought encounter, the pair defeating Widnell and John Smith-Daye 3-2 (8-11, 4-11, 14-12, 14-12, 11-8). Widnell won two for the Hurricanes, and Smith-Daye and Pam Blakeley one each.

Finally, Walton C defeated Nomads Ocelots 9-1, with trebles for Derek Foxley and Lynette Sparks. Andrew Cousins marked his first appearance of the season for the Ocelots with a consolation win over Adrian Sexton.

RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood B 9 Walton A 1
Brotherhood G 5 Walton B 5
Windsor Eagles 1 Nomads Panthers 9
Brotherhood A 10 Brotherhood C 0
Walton A 1 Windsor Hawks 9
Division 2
Brotherhood H 1 Brotherhood F 9
Windsor Penguins 4 Brotherhood H 6
Windsor Buzzards 8 Brotherhood F 2
Lawford 5 Nomads Tigers 5
Brotherhood D 3 Brotherhood J 7
Nomads Jaguars 9 Windsor Harriers 1
Division 3
Brotherhood E 1 Brotherhood K 9
Nomads Leopards 6 Holland Lancasters 4
Nomads Ocelots 1 Walton C 9
Holland Hurricanes 4 Holland Bouncing Bombers 6