The title fight is in Division One of the Clacton League is the closest it has been for many years, with little to choose between Brotherhood A and Nomads Lions.
Brotherhood A are marginal favorites and continued their good form this week with an 8-2 win over the dangerous Windsor Eagles. The ever-reliable Kevin Gowlett remained undefeated, with Gracie Edwards and Gary Young winning two each. John Patrick took the points from the two Eagles.
Nomads Lions played twice and recorded two 7-3 victories. In their first match they defeated Brotherhood B, Charlie Fulcher’s treble including an 11-6 in the fifth win over Russell Hillier and an 11-4 in the fifth win over Joe Plummer. Jason Lloyd and Adam Wilkin won two each. But Hillier proved a thorn in the side of the Lions, winning two and sharing an excellent doubles success with Plummer on Fulcher and Lloyd.
The much-improved Ethan Lloyd (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) was the Lions’ star player in their second match against Windsor Hawks, taking a well-deserved maximum. Jason Lloyd won two, including an 11-7 in the decisive victory over Scott Campbell, and Adam Wilkin one. Andy Vincent won a pair for the Hawks, although it was a close 11-7 in the fifth against Wilkin.
The Lions now lead by five points, but Brotherhood A have a game in hand and the result of the match between the two teams at the end of March could well decide the final destination of the 2025/26 Division One title.
Elsewhere, the meeting between the Walton A and B teams ended with honors for the second time this season. Each player took at least one point, but Pete Burrows from the ‘B’ team was the undefeated player of the match. Clive Allenby and Graham Buxton, with an 11-6 in the fifth win over Paul Meikle, were the other points scorers for the ‘B’ team. For Walton A there were a pair for Mark Gale, one each for Meikle and Derek Willis, plus a Gale/Meikle doubles win, only their second doubles success of the season.
Brotherhood C won 9-1 against the Windsor Buzzards team with a guest player, while Dave Miller and Tim Leung remained undefeated. Two games went the distance, Miller beating Andy Cawley 11-5 in the decider and Dave Martin taking a consolation point for the Buzzards with an 11-8 in the decisive win over Graham Playle.
Top with bottom in Division Twoand, predictably, Brotherhood G defeated Windsor Kestrels 10-0. Mark Boyland, Mark Beckham and John Gallagher were the winning trio, although Beckham struggled against Peter Aumord before emerging victorious 11-7 in the decider. It was only the second 10-0 result in the division this season.
Second-placed Brotherhood F ran out 7-3 winners against Nomads Jaguars, who were forced to include a guest player at the last minute. Mark Salter remained undefeated for Brotherhood, while Chris Petrou’s pairing for the Jaguars was the only five-setter of the meeting, beating Paul Alden 11-9 in the decider.
Hat-tricks for Joe Sherwin and Tom Bryden were more than enough to give Brotherhood J an 8-2 victory over Windsor Harriers. Brotherhood’s Lucy Carvell was involved in the only two matches that went the distance, gaining the upper hand over Ferdy Rodriguez but falling to Barry Allen. Isabel Barton took the second Harriers point.
Ian Sherwood produced his best form of the season as the Lawford captain remained unbeaten and led his side to an 8-2 success against Windsor Penguins. His hat-trick included an unexpected 11-9 in the decisive victory over Kelvin Olano-Harper. John Colvin and Richard Spence each won two for Lawford, as did Olano-Harper for the Penguins.
Another captain, Brotherhood D’s Fred Gallone, was also in fine form, scoring a first hat-trick of the season as his side defeated Nomads Tigers 7-3. Kevin Pryor won two, including an 11-9 in the fifth win over Tom Wilkin, and Lily Liu one. Matt Sage won two for the Tigers.
Dan Grindrod, Danny Still and Gary Simpson of Brotherhood H take another step towards the Division Three title with a comprehensive 10-0 victory over third-placed Nomads Leopards, a result that is likely to hamper the Leopards’ outside chances of finishing second.
Current second place Holland Hurricanes defeated Walton C for the second time this season, 8-2. Gary Stallwood grabbed his three, while Gerry Widnell and Ian Gwillim grabbed a pair each. Just one match went to five, with Widnell getting the better of Adrian Sexton in a tight battle, 3-2 (7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 14-12, 12-10).
The match between Windsor Falcons and Brotherhood E ended all-square, a first draw of the season for the Falcons but a third for Brotherhood. Jack Hillier impressed again for Brotherhood with a treble, Joe Hillier and Rodney Betts each won one. Gary Barnes and Matt Thomas won two each for the Falcons, sharing a five-set doubles win, although Barnes’ 12-10 in the decisive win over Betts was the best match of the match.
Windsor Magpies had just two fit players for most of the second half of the season and having to field another guest against Holland Vulcans it was no surprise that they went down 6-4. Bob Keefe remained undefeated for the Vulcans, while John Plummer won two for the Magpies.
*This year Closed championships will take place on April 11 and 12 in the sports hall of the Lift School (formerly Clacton Coastal Academy). The closing date for registration is Friday, March 20. The tournament is not only a highly competitive two-day table tennis tournament, with thirteen titles at stake, but is also a friendly and very enjoyable occasion, with the opportunity to see the League’s best players in action.
For the fifth year, the championships are sponsored by The Survey Initiative. The League is very grateful to Gary Cattermole for his continued and generous sponsorship of the Championships which, among other things, has kept entry prices unchanged since 2017.
RESULTS
Division 1
Fraternity A 8 Windsor Eagles 2
Walton B5 Walton A5
Windsor Buzzards 1 Fraternity C 9
Nomads Lions 7 Windsor Hawks 3
Brotherhood B 3 Nomads Lions 7
Division 2
Brotherhood G 10 Windsor Kestrels 0
Nomad Tigers 3 Brotherhood D 7
Lawford 8 Windsor penguins 2
Brotherhood F 7 Nomad Jaguars 3
Windsor Harriers 2 Fraternity J 8
Division 3
Windsor Falcons 5 Fraternity E 5
Walton C2 Holland Hurricanes 8
Nomads Leopards 0 Brotherhood H 10
Holland Vulcans 6 Windsor Magpies 4
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