As a result of the final group stage matches of the Handicap Cup Competition, organized by the Clacton & District League, the final 16 teams will consist of seven from Division One, six from Division Two and three – Holland Hurricanes, Nomads Leopards and Windsor Falcons – from Division Three.
After two convincing victories in Group Cthe Hurricanes closed their program with a 7-2 loss against Holland Lancasters. They still finish at the top, but in the end with only one point difference. For the Lancasters’ trio of Peter Evans, Dave Wright and Tony Aresti, it was a case of ‘what could have been’ had they not had to forfeit their opening match against Nomads Ocelots and forfeited the nine points in the process. Ultimately they finished bottom of the table, but only three points behind the Hurricanes.
And so the Ocelots of Division Three and Second Division Brotherhood G had to battle it out for the second qualifying spot, with Brotherhood needing seven points or more to get through. And they did it by the skin of their teeth: they won 7-2, but had to win the three games that went the distance. Paul Metcalf (-5) defeated Andrews Cousins (+1) 11-7, 2-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-7, John Gallagher (-1) defeated Mike Wellum (+1) 8-11, 12-10, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, and in the very last match of the evening, Gallagher and Mark Boyland (-6) cleared past Wellum and Cousins (+1) 1-11, 12-10, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7.
Group C certainly proved to be the closest of all eight groups, with just three points separating the four teams: the Hurricanes (on 15 points), Brotherhood G (14 points), the Ocelots (13 points) and the Lancasters (12 points).
The Leopards did well to win all three of their matches and finish top Group Ewho looked particularly impressive as they defeated top-flight Brotherhood B 5-4 in their third match, with Doug Green, Dominic Joannou and Anne Bonny winning all three doubles matches. Brotherhood, whose points came from two singles victories over Simon-Smith Daye and Russell Hillier, qualify in second place.
The second group result was therefore academic but ended with 9-0 for Holland Vulcans against Windsor Magpies, Bob Keefe, Derek Foxley and James Horsler undefeated.
The Falcons were the third team from Division Three to qualify and finished second Group Aa group that had been one of the tightest to date, but ended up with two whitewash scores.
In a winner-takes-all encounter, the Falcons put in a great performance against top-ranked Walton B, Matt Thomas, Gary Barnes and Nigel Rolph, making the most of their handicap advantage to run out 9-0 winners.
The result left Nomads Panthers needing at least seven points from their last match to qualify alongside the Falcons, but they failed to secure a single against Brotherhood F, who made it three cup wins in a row with a convincing 9-0 win. Mark Salter, Paul Alden and Tricia Salter were once again the victorious trio.
There were rather more dramatic events in it Group F where another Third Division side, Brotherhood E, came close to qualifying, which all came about when cup favorites Brotherhood A, due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, failed to arrive for their match with Walton A. Walton reluctantly claimed the match 9–0, points which were enough to leave them as group leaders.
Although Brotherhood A were still in pole position to qualify after two previous 7-2 wins, Brotherhood E could still come through ahead of their ‘A’ team if they beat Lawford by an unlikely 8-1. Despite a huge effort they could only manage a 7-2 victory, with Jack Hillier and Rodney Betts remaining excellent and undefeated. It meant they finished level with Brotherhood A on 14 points, but the ‘A’ team qualified after winning the individual competition between the two teams.
Elsewhere, Brotherhood D had already qualified Group B so it was up to the final match between Nomads Tigers and Windsor Buzzards to determine who would join them. After a hard-fought encounter it was the Tigers who took the lead 5-4, Sam Watling their most successful player, winning one single and his two doubles, both going the distance.
In Group DWindsor Hawks edged Windsor Eagles 5-4, the points for each team being enough to ensure both teams qualified for the next round. John Barton was the Hawks’ best player, winning both singles and one doubles, while the Eagles’ Gavin Price took one singles and was successful in both doubles. The closest matches were the first and last doubles matches of the evening, the Eagles won them both, Price and Phil Smith (-3) beating Barton and Scott Campbell (+1) 11-8 in the decider, while Price and John Pattrick beat Campbell and Andy Vincent 11-6 in the decider in a scratch match.
The result meant that Windsor Penguins needed a whitewash victory over Windsor Kestrels if they were to qualify, but their eventual 6–3 victory against a two-player Kestrels side was not enough and so both Second Division teams bowed out of the competition.
In the first of the three-team groups, Nomads Jaguars from Division Two defeated First Division Brotherhood C 5-4 in Group GBob Jillins takes one singles match and both are doubles matches. But it was not enough to take them to a top two finish, with Brotherhood C qualifying alongside Windsor Harriers.
Both Brotherhood J and Nomads Lions had already qualified for their finals Group H match against each other. To be clear, it ended in a 7-2 win for Brotherhood, Joe Sherwin and Joe Bryden, undefeated in both singles and doubles.
*The first round of the knockout stages will take place the week of February 9. Details about the draw and player figures will be sent to the teams remaining in the competition by Saturday 31 January.
* Only a handful of places remain for the League’s Handicapped Singles Tournament, which takes place on Saturday, February 7 at St James’ Hall. All interested players can contact League Secretary Isabel Barton.
RESULTS: HANDICAPCUP
Group A
Nomads Panthers 0 Brotherhood F 9
Windsor Falcons 9 Walton B0
Group B
Brotherhood H 0 Brotherhood D 9 (without)
Nomad Tigers 5 Windsor Buzzards 4
Group C
Holland Hurricanes 2 Holland Lancasters 7
Brotherhood G 7 Nomads Ocelots 2
Group D
Windsor Kestrels 3 Windsor Penguins 6
Windsor Hawks 5 Windsor Eagles 4
Group E
Holland Vulcans 9 Windsor Magpies 0
Nomads Leopards 5 Brotherhood B 4
Group F
Walton A 9 Fraternity A 0 (without)
Fraternity E 7 Lawford 2
Group G
Nomad Jaguars 5 Fraternity C 4
Group H
Brotherhood J 7 Nomads Lions 2
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