There is little to choose between Holland Hurricanes and Nomads Leopards Division Three of the Clacton League, as evidenced when they met this week, with the match ending in all squares.
Gary Stallwood took his usual three, while there was one each for Ian Gwillim and Gerry Widnell, Captain Widnell (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) secured a crucial final victory in the final match of the evening to secure the draw with a narrow 3-2 (11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9) victory over Anne Bonny. For the Leopards, Dominic Joannou and Doug Green took two each, sharing a four-set doubles victory over Stallwood and Widnell.
The result, a repeat of their early season encounter, leaves both teams tied for second place on 82 points, with the Leopards having played a game more.
Meanwhile, title favorites Brotherhood H reached 100 points for the season and extended their lead at the top with a 9-1 win over Holland Vulcans. Dan Grindrod and Owen Woollard took the trebles, while Derek Foxley took a consolation point for the Vulcans with a win over Danny Still.
The Division also produced one of the more bizarre scores of recent seasons as Windsor Magpies defeated Nomads Ocelots 7-1, due to the Magpies playing with one guest player and the Ocelots with two. For the record, the Magpies took five points from ‘conceded’ matches and the Ocelots one, with John Plummer and Alan Rutledge beating Hazel Blanche in the only two ‘valid’ matches.
Back inside Division OneNomads Panthers were predictable winners over Windsor Buzzards, John Hatley and Denes Somodi were unbeaten in their 8-2 win. But the Buzzards will take heart that they were able to take two points off the champions, with Andy Hart handing Kevin James a first defeat of the season, 3-2 (11-6, 9-11, 13-15, 11-9, 11-8), while Hart and Ray Chillingworth enjoyed an unexpected 3-2 (11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 5-11, 11-8) double win over Hatley and Somodi.
Russell Hillier was in scintillating form for Brotherhood B against Windsor Eagles, including a 14-12 in the fifth win over John Pattrick. Unfortunately for Hillier, these were his side’s only points, Pattrick, Gavin Price and Phil Smith each grabbing a pair for the Eagles in their 7-3 win against a weakened Brotherhood B.
Brotherhood C defeated Walton B 6-4, Graham Playle and Martin Edwards winning two each and Dave Miller one, although none could get the better of Pete Burrows who remained unbeaten for the losers. But Walton will feel that with a bit of luck they could have secured a win, with Graham Buxton losing 11-9 in Playle’s decider, while John Marshall lost 11-5 in Miller’s decider and 12-10 in Playle’s decider.
In Division Twoleaders Brotherhood G were 10-0 winners against a Windsor Penguins side with two reserves, Mark Boyland, Mark Beckham and Paul Metcalf the winning trio. However, the Penguins almost got on the scoresheet, Beckham narrowly beating Paul Woolnough 11-9 in the fifth, Metcalf getting past Windsor reserve Matt Thomas with an even closer 13-11 in the fifth, and Beckham and Metcalf taking the doubles 11-6 in the fifth against Woolnough and Thomas.
The brotherhood battle between the ‘D’ and ‘F’ teams was a thrilling affair that even ended with honors, a first draw of the season for both sides. Mark Salter took a treble and Neil Chegwidden two for the ‘F’ team, while Russell Stone won two for the ‘D’ team. Four games were close in five matches, with Mark Salter beating both Stone and Fred Gallone 11-9 in the decider, while the ‘D’ team also won two crucial five-setters, Stone and Gallone getting past Mark Salter and Tricia Salter 11-8 in the doubles decider, and Lily Liu highlighting her recent improvement with an 11-9 in the decisive win over Tricia Salter.
Three for Joe Sherwin, two for Tom Bryden, one for Ruby Gallagher, plus a Bryden/Gallagher doubles win gave Brotherhood J a 7-3 victory over Nomads Tigers. For the Tigers, Matt Sage won two, while Alex Baldock defeated Gallagher 11-6 in the fifth in the only meeting that went the distance.
Windsor Harriers drew for the second week in a row, this time against Windsor Kestrels, Barry Allen and Ferdy Rodriguez both taking a pair. But the Kestrels’ Peter Aumord was the player of the match. He recorded a first treble of the season and, together with Allen Denyer, achieved a crucial doubles victory 13-11 in the decider against Allen and Rodriguez. Denyer took the Kestrels’ fifth point.
In the end, Nomads Jaguars defeated a two-man Lawford 7-3, a result that is likely to wipe out Lawford’s outside chance of a top two finish. Andy Hart remained undefeated for the Jaguars, while Charlie Denholm picked up a few for Lawford.
* Registrations are now open for the Leagues Closed championships which will be held on April 11 and 12 at Lift Clacton Sports Hall (formerly Clacton Coastal Academy). The closing date is Friday March 20. There are events for players of all levels. To qualify, players must have played at least four league matches by the closing date. All details are on the League’s website.
RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Eagles 7 Fraternity B3
Nomads Panthers 8 Windsor Buzzards 2
Fraternity C 6 Walton B 4
Division 2
Windsor Penguins 0 Fraternity G 10
Windsor Kestrels 5 Windsor Harriers 5
Brotherhood J 7 Nomad Tigers 3
Nomad Jaguars 7 Lawford 3
Brotherhood D 5 Brotherhood F 5
Division 3
Windsor Magpies 7 Nomads Ocelots 1
Brotherhood H 9 Holland Vulcans 1
Holland Hurricanes 5 Nomads Leopards 5
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