Five of the matches in the group stage of this week’s Handicap Cup competition, organized by the Clacton and District League, ended in a tight 5-4 draw. But none of them were closer than the entire Second Division Group B in which Nomads Tigers got past Brotherhood D in the last three games of the evening.
In total, five of the nine games went the distance, with Tigers captain Alex Baldock (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) involved in four of them. In his singles, Baldock (+1) got past Lily Liu (-1) 11-8 in the fifth, but lost (at +1) by the same score to Kevin Pryor (-6). In his doubles match, he and Tom Wilkin (+1) shared an 11-7 in the fifth win against Pryor and Fred Gallone (-5), but with Sam Watling (+1) they fell 9-11, 14-12, 11-13, 11-4, 3-11 to Gallone and Liu (-3).
In Group AIn a Division One clash, Walton B defeated the two-way Nomads Panthers 8-1. Both Paul Newbould and John Marshall were undefeated for the winners, with John Hatley taking the consolation point from the Panthers.
But the second Group match proved much closer, with Division Two’s Brotherhood F securing a 5-4 victory over their Third Division opponents Windsor Falcons by winning the final game of the evening. Mark Salter and Paul Alden each won two singles for the winners and also shared a doubles success, but it was Alden’s (-8) 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10 victory against Matt Thomas (+1) that proved to be the crucial match.
In Group CDivision Three’s Holland Hurricanes won the final two games of the evening against current Second Division leaders Brotherhood G, recording an impressive 6-3 win. Ian Gwillim was the Netherlands’ most successful player, going undefeated in both singles and doubles, one of his singles victories (at +2) a fighting 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 comeback victory against Paul Metcalf (-8). Tellingly, the Hurricanes won all three doubles matches.
In Group DDivision One Windsor Eagles led Division Two Windsor Penguins 4-0 at one point, but had to settle for an eventual 5-4 win. Phil Smith was the Eagles’ best player, unbeaten in his two singles matches, which included (at -6) an important success of 11-8, 4-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7 over Paul Woolnough (+1).
Top flight Brotherhood B trailed 4-2 against Division Three Holland Vulcans Group E but fought back to take the tie at 5-4. In a meeting where all matches were played as best-of-three sets, Brotherhood recorded the two closest wins, with Joe Plummer (-17) beating James Horsler (+2) 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, and Simon Smith-Daye and Sam Plummer (-13) getting past Horsler and Bob Keefe (+2) 7-11, 11-6, 11-9.
In an all-Group E Third Division match, Nomads Ocelots defeated Windsor Magpies 8-1. The Magpies were unlucky to concede two games due to a player injury, but the Ocelots were worthy winners nonetheless, with Anne Bonny and Dominic Joannou remaining unbeaten.
All matches in the Group F The meeting between Brotherhood A and Brotherhood E was best-of-three matches, but current Division One leaders Brotherhood A proved too good for their Third Division opponents, winning 7-2. Daniel Young and Gary Young remained undefeated for the winners, Jack Hillier and Joe Hillier each won for the losers.
Walton C and Lawford played just six games in their tie, but it was First Division Walton who emerged 5-1 winners over their Second Division opponents. It was good to see Paul Hewitt back in action for Lawford and he was involved in one of two close encounters on the evening, with Hewitt and Ian Sherwood (+1) losing 11-8 in the fifth to Mark Gale and Paul Meikle (-3), while Sherwood (+1) went down an even closer 11-9 in the fifth to Mark Ratcliffe (-6).
The only match in the three team Group G saw First Division Brotherhood C beat Second Division Windsor Harriers 5-4. John Cleasby and Tim Leung won both their singles matches, while Dave Miller (-5) secured an ultimately crucial 11-9 in the fifth victory over Isabel Barton (+1). The Harriers won all three doubles matches.
Finally in Group HCup holders Nomads Lions got off to a winning start in the second of the three-team Groups, beating Third Division Walton C 7-2, Ethan Lloyd the only player to remain unbeaten.
* Entries are now open for the League’s annual disabled singles tournament. This will take place on Saturday February 7 at Windsor’s St James’ Hall, with play starting at 9.30am. Entries can be submitted online to Isabel Barton or by post to Tony Oswick. Entries are limited to 32, so players are encouraged to submit their entries early.
RESULTS: HANDICAPCUP
Group A
Fraternity F 5 Windsor Falcons 4
Walton B 8 Nomads Panthers 1
Group B
Windsor Buzzards 9 Brotherhood H 0 (without)
Nomad Tigers 5 Brotherhood D 4
Group C
Nomads Ocelots 9 Holland Lancasters 0 (without)
Holland Hurricanes 6 Brotherhood G 3
Group D
Windsor Hawks 9 Windsor Kestrels (without)
Windsor Penguins 4 Windsor Eagles 5
Group E
Nomadic leopards 8 Windsor magpies 1
Brotherhood B 5 Holland Vulcans 4
Group F
Lawford 1 Walton A5
Brotherhood A 7 Brotherhood E 2
Group G
Fraternity C 5 Windsor Harriers 4
Group H
Walton C 2 Nomads Lions 7
#Clacton #Dist #Tight #win #Tigers #Table #Tennis #England