Of all the eight Groups in the Handicap Cup Competition organised by the Clacton & District League, Group A is proving the closest, with all four teams – Division One sides Nomads Panthers and Walton B, Division Two’s Brotherhood F and Windsor Falcons from the Third Division – still in with a chance of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Brotherhood F currently top the group after recording a second impressive win, this week a 7-2 victory over Walton B, taking the last five matches of the evening to clinch the victory. But it was a close-run thing, the final three matches all being five-setters which could easily have swung Walton’s way. The closest was Paul Alden’s 16-14 in the decider win against Paul Newbould in a match played off scratch. Mark Salter (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) remained unbeaten for Brotherhood.

Windsor Falcons will feel pleased with their 5-4 victory over Nomads Panthers, Matt Thomas, Gary Barnes and Nigel Rolph crucially taking the three doubles between them. In an encounter where all the matches were best-of-three sets, the Panthers were forced to work hard for their points, Kevin James (-17) beating Barnes (+3) 12-10 in the third, John Hatley (-15) beating Thomas (+3) 11-8 in the third while Denes Somodi (-15), who won both his singles, beating Barnes (+2) 11-8 in the third.

So although the Panthers are bottom of the group with just five points, a good result in their final match against Brotherhood F could still see them through, while the Falcons v Walton B tie will be a winner-takes-all match, with the victorious side certain to qualify.   

In Group B, Brotherhood D’s 6-3 win over a two-player Windsor Buzzards means that have definitely qualified for the knockout stage of the competition. Ray Chillingworth and Andy Foster of the Buzzards each picked up a singles win, and shared a doubles success, Chillingworth’s (+1) 11-8 in the decider victory over Kevin Pryor (-1) the closest match of the evening. The Buzzards’ fate now rests with their final match against Nomads Tigers, with at least six points needed to secure a qualification place.

Holland Hurricanes won all three doubles in beating Nomads Ocelots 7-2 in an all-Division Three clash in Group C, but it was Ian Gwillim who starred for a second week running, staying unbeaten in both singles and doubles. The win for the Hurricanes almost, but not quite, guarantees them a place in the knockout stage.

Holland Lancasters of Division Three played well to overcome Second Division leaders Brotherhood G 5-4. Peter Evans and Tony Aresti won both their singles matches and shared a doubles success for the Lancasters. But, having conceded their first match, the Lancasters are almost certainly out of the running for a qualification place, while Brotherhood G will need a convincing win against the Ocelots in their final match to get through.

In the all-Windsor Group D, Gary Cattermole was unbeaten in the Eagles’ 7-2 victory against the Kestrels, although (on -8) he had to summon all his fighting talent and experience against Peter Aumord (+3) before winning a narrow 5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 encounter.

In the second group match, the Hawks led the Penguins 5-0 at the halfway stage but a magnificent rearguard action from the Penguins saw the final score end as 5-4. No player remained unbeaten but, unusually, all six players picked up at least one singles victory.

The Eagles and Hawks look favourites to qualify but the Penguins, who have narrowly lost both their matches 5-4, are still in with a shout and a good result in their final match against the Kestrels could yet see them through.

Group E is the most clear-cut of all the eight groups, where Nomads Leopards and Brotherhood B are odds-on to qualify for the knockout stage.

In an all-Third Division tie, the Leopards defeated Holland Vulcans 7-2, winning all three doubles. The final match turned out to be a nail-biter, Doug Green and Dominic Joannou (-6) scraping home 12-10 in the decider against Derek Foxley and James Horsler (+1). Joannou was the Leopards’ best player, staying undefeated on the night. 

Division One Brotherhood B won two five-setters on their way to an 8-1 victory over Third Division Windsor Magpies. In those two matches, Simon Smith-Daye (-8) defeated John Plummer (+2) 11-8 in the decider while Joe Plummer (-8) edged past Alan Rutledge (+2) 13-11 in the decider. The Magpies’ sole point was Dave Sweetland’s (+2) win in four against Joe Plummer (-8).

Daniel Young, Kevin Gowlett and Gracie Edwards recorded a second 7-2 win in Group F for Brotherhood A, who are fast emerging as Cup favourites. In the two matches which went the distance, Kevin Gowlett (-8) beat Charlie Denholm (+2) 11-9 in the decider, and Gowlett and Young (-8) beat Denholm and Ian Sherwood (+3) 11-7 in the decider.

Brotherhood E of Division Three are making a great effort to secure the second qualification place, this week winning 5-4 in their encounter with top-flight Walton A. Jack Hillier took both his two singles and, with Rodney Betts (on +2) won the crucial final doubles 11-7, 6-11, 11-8 against Mark Ratcliffe and Derek Willis (-10) in a best-of-three encounter.

Windsor Harriers defeated Nomads Jaguars 8-1 in an all-Second Division tie in the three-team Group G, Barry Allen leading the way for the Windsor side with an unbeaten performance. The win guarantees the Harriers a place in the knockout stage, while the Jaguars are left needing a 7-2 win or better in their final match with Brotherhood C to stay in the competition. 

But it’s the end of the road for Third Division Walton C after losing for a second time in Group H, this week 6-3 to Second Division Brotherhood J. Walton took two of the three doubles, but two singles wins each for Joe Sherwin and Tom Bryden, one from Ruby Gallagher, plus a Bryden/Gallagher doubles success, saw Brotherhood J safely home. Both they, and Nomads Lions, are now guaranteed a place in the last 16.

* Entries for the League’s annual Handicapped Singles Tournament which takes place on Saturday 7 February at Windsor’s St James’ Hall venue can be sent online to Isabel Barton or by post to Tony Oswick. The entry fee is £4. Entry is limited to 32 players and the closing date is Friday 30 January.

RESULTS: HANDICAP CUP
Group A
Walton B 2 Brotherhood F 7
Nomads Panthers 4 Windsor Falcons 5
Group B
Brotherhood D 6 Windsor Buzzards 3
Nomads Tigers 9 Brotherhood H 0 (w/o)
Group C
Holland Hurricanes 7 Nomads Ocelots 2
Brotherhood G 4 Holland Lancasters 5
Group D
Windsor Eagles 7 Windsor Kestrels 2
Windsor Penguins 4 Windsor Hawks 5
Group E
Windsor Magpies 1 Brotherhood B 8
Holland Vulcans 2 Nomads Leopards 7
Group F
Lawford 2 Brotherhood A 7
Brotherhood E 5 Walton A 4
Group G
Nomads Jaguars 1 Windsor Harriers 8
Group H
Brotherhood J 6 Walton C 3