Of all eight groups in the Handicap Cup competition organized by the Clacton & District League, Group A appears to be the closest, with all four teams – Division One sides Nomads Panthers and Walton B, Division Two’s Brotherhood F and Third Division Windsor Falcons – still having a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Brotherhood F currently top the group after a second impressive victory, a 7-2 victory over Walton B this week, taking the final five games of the evening to complete the victory. But it was a close-run thing, the last three matches were all five-setters that could have easily gone the way of Walton. The closest was Paul Alden’s 16-14 in the decisive win against Paul Newbould in a match that was played from scratch. Mark Salter (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) remained undefeated for Brotherhood.
Windsor Falcons will be happy with their 5-4 win over Nomads Panthers, Matt Thomas, Gary Barnes and Nigel Rolph crucially taking the three doubles between them. In a meeting where all matches were best-of-three sets, the Panthers had to work hard for their points, with 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 matches, defeated Barnes (+2) 11-8 in the third.
So while 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 tie between Falcons and Walton B will be a winner-takes-all match, with the winning side certain to qualify.
In Group BBrotherhood D’s 6-3 win over two-way Windsor Buzzards means they have definitively qualified for the knockout stages of the competition. The Buzzards’ Ray Chillingworth and Andy Foster each picked up a singles victory and shared a doubles success, Chillingworth’s (+1) 11-8 in the decisive win over Kevin Pryor (-1), the closest match of the evening. The Buzzards’ fate now lies with their final match against Nomads Tigers, with a minimum of six points needed to secure a qualifying place.
Holland Hurricanes won all three doubles matches, beating Nomads Ocelots 7-2 in an all-Division Three match in Group Cbut it was Ian Gwillim who starred for the second week in a row, remaining undefeated in both singles and doubles. The victory for the Hurricanes almost, but not quite, guarantees them a place in the knockout stages.
Holland Lancasters from Division Three played well to beat 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 after getting their first match, the Lancasters are almost certainly out of the running for a qualifying place, while Brotherhood G will need a convincing win over the Ocelots in their final match to get through.
In the full Windsor Group DGary Cattermole was unbeaten in the Eagles’ 7-2 win against the Kestrels, although (at -8) he had to muster all his fighting talent and experience against Peter Aumord (+3) before winning a narrow 5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10.
In the second group match, the Hawks led 5-0 against the Penguins at halftime, but a brilliant rearguard action by the Penguins ensured that the final score ended at 5-4. No player went undefeated, but unusually all six players achieved at least one singles victory.
The Eagles and Hawks look favorites to qualify, but the Penguins, who have narrowly lost both games 5-4, are still in the race and a good result in their final game against the Kestrels could still see them through.
Group E is the clearest of all eight groups, with Nomads Leopards and Brotherhood B having a chance to qualify for the knockout stages.
In an all-Third Division tie, the Leopards defeated Holland Vulcans 7-2, winning all three doubles matches. The final match proved to be a nail-biter, Doug Green and Dominic Joannou (-6) moving home 12-10 in the decider against Derek Foxley and James Horsler (+1). Joannou was the Leopards’ best player and remained undefeated that 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) outpaced Alan Rutledge (+2) 13-11 in the decider. The Magpies’ only point came in Dave Sweetland’s (+2) win in four against Joe Plummer (-8).
Daniel Young, Kevin Gowlett and Gracie Edwards recorded a second 7-2 victory Group F for Brotherhood A, who are quickly emerging as cup favourites. In the two matches that went the distance, Kevin Gowlett (-8) defeated Charlie Denholm (+2) 11-9 in the decider, and Gowlett and Young (-8) defeated Denholm and Ian Sherwood (+3) 11-7 in the decider.
Division Three’s Brotherhood E are making a strong bid to secure the second qualifying place, winning 5-4 in their meeting with top-flight Walton A this week. Jack Hillier took both his singles titles to win the crucial final doubles with Rodney Betts (at +2) 11-7, 6-11, 11-8 against Mark Ratcliffe and Derek Willis (-10) in a best-of-three.
Windsor Harriers defeated Nomads Jaguars 8-1 in an all-Second Division three-team tie Group GBarry Allen leads the way for the Windsor side with an unbeaten performance. The win guarantees the Harriers a place in the knockout stages, while the Jaguars need a 7-2 win or better in their final match against Brotherhood C to stay in the competition.
But it is the end of the road for Third Division side Walton C after losing for the second time Group Hthis week 6-3 for Brotherhood J. from the Second Division. Walton took two of the three doubles matches, but two singles wins for Joe Sherwin and Tom Bryden, one by Ruby Gallagher, plus a doubles success from Bryden/Gallagher, saw Brotherhood J get home safely. Both they and Nomads Lions are now assured of a place in the last 16.
*Entries for the League’s annual handicap singles tournament, which takes place on Saturday, February 7 at Windsor’s St James’ Hall, can be sent online to Isabel Barton or by post to Tony Oswick. The entrance fee is €4. Participation is limited to 32 players and the closing date is Friday, January 30.
RESULTS: HANDICAPCUP
Group A
Walton B 2 Fraternity F 7
Nomads Panthers 4 Windsor Falcons 5
Group B
Brotherhood D 6 Windsor Buzzards 3
Nomads Tigers 9 Brotherhood H 0 (without)
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 Fraternity B 8
Holland Vulcans 2 Nomads Leopards 7
Group F
Lawford 2 Fraternity A 7
Brotherhood E 5 Walton A 4
Group G
Nomad Jaguars 1 Windsor Harriers 8
Group H
Brotherhood J 6 Walton C 3
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