Mark Salter made his first appearance of the season in Division Two of the Clacton & District League, sponsored by the Chigwell Window Centre, and celebrated with a hat-trick in Brotherhood F’s hard-fought 8-2 success over club-mates Brotherhood J.

Paul Alden and Neil Chegwidden both won a couple for the winners, with Salter (pictured above, photo by Gavin Price) and Chegwidden sharing a doubles victory.

But it was a closer match than the score-line might suggest with the ‘F’ side winning four of the five matches which went the distance. The ‘J’ team’s Tom Bryden was involved in three of these, edging past Alden 12-10 in the decider but going down 11-8 in the decider to both Salter and Chegwidden.

Elsewhere, there was a convincing victory for the Buzzards over the Harriers in the all-Windsor clash, Andy Cawley and Ray Chillingworth taking trebles in their 9-1 victory. Barry Allen picked up the Harriers’ consolation point with a win over Pete Bloomfield.

A John Colvin hat-trick, which included victory over Kelvin Olano-Harper, two for Charlie Denholm and one from Ian Sherwood helped Lawford to a 7-3 victory against Windsor Penguins. Olano-Harper won two for the Penguins, getting past Sherwood 3-2 (11-7, 8-11, 12-14, 11-9, 11-9), while Bob Keefe defeated the same player 11-5 in the fifth.

Each side played with a guest in the Brotherhood H v Brotherhood D fixture which explains the unusual 7-2 scoreline, the match ending in favour of the ‘D’ team. Fred Gallone and Lily Liu were unbeaten for the winners.

Brotherhood K, the only new team in the League this season, are looking a promising outfit as they showed with a hard-earned 7-3 victory over Walton C in Division Three. Ben Bryden took three, newcomer Sid Hills two and Gary Barnes one. But it was a nip-and-tuck affair, Bryden edging past Lynette Sparks 3-2 (11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9), whilst it was an even closer 3-2 (11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 10-12, 14-12) for Barnes against Adrian Sexton. For Walton, Sparks won two and Derek Foxley one. 

Holland Hurricanes notched up their second 8-2 victory in as many weeks with victory over Holland Lancasters. Gary Stallwood and John Smith-Daye each took trebles, with Pam Blakeley winning one. Tom Collins and James Horsler were the Lancasters’ points-scorers.

Every player picked up at least one point as Windsor Seagulls defeated Windsor Kestrels 6-4. Ian Fielder won three for the Seagulls, and Jenny Higgins and Josh Court one each, while Peter Aumord took two for the Kestrels, and Graham Bunce and Jackie Bunce one apiece. The doubles ultimately proved crucial, Fielder and Court defeating Aumord and Graham Bunce 11-7 in the fifth.

Peter Evans was on good form for Holland Bouncing Bombers, remaining unbeaten in their 6-4 win over Windsor Magpies. Brian Hill won two on debut, including a match-winning 11-9 in the decider victory against Dave Sweetland in the final encounter of the evening. For the Magpies, John Plummer won two, and Sweetland and Malcolm Caley one each.

The big match in Division One was the all-Nomads clash between the Panthers and the Lions, and it was the Panthers who came out on top 7-3, Toby McLewin taking a treble. Reserve John Hatley won two for the Panthers, as did Adam Cuthbert for the Lions.

Meanwhile, champions Brotherhood A started their defence of the title with a resounding 10-0 victory over Walton A, Daniel Young, Kevin Gowlett and new signing Tom Hinds unbeaten.   

Finally, three for Russell Hillier, and two each for Russell Stone and Joe Plummer, saw Brotherhood B to an 8-2 success over club-mates Brotherhood G. Mark Boyland won two for the losers, while the closest match saw Plummer edge past John Gallagher 11-8 in the fifth. 

RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood B 4 Windsor Eagles 6
Brotherhood A 10 Walton A 0
Nomads Panthers 7 Nomads Lions 3
Brotherhood G 2 Brotherhood B 8

Division 2
Brotherhood F 8 Brotherhood J 2
Lawford 7 Windsor Penguins 3
Brotherhood H 2 Brotherhood D 7
Windsor Buzzards 9 Windsor Harriers 1

Division 3
Holland Lancasters 2 Holland Hurricanes 8
Windsor Magpies 4 Holland Bouncing Bombers 6
Walton C 3 Brotherhood K 7
Windsor Kestrels 4 Windsor Seagulls 6