Year in, year out, Windsor Eagles have proved themselves the most consistent team in Division One of the Clacton League.
In every year since 2003, an Eagles’ side has finished in the top half of the table, and Gary Cattermole, John Pattrick, Phil Smith (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) and Gavin Price are continuing that proud record this season.
Currently in fourth position, this week the Eagles defeated lowly Walton B 10-0, with only two of the matches extended beyond three-straight. Skipper Phil Smith picked up his second maximum of the season.
The Eagles may even have their eyes on third place as Nomads Panthers fell to a 10-0 defeat at the hands of club-mates Nomads Lions. The Panthers weren’t helped when they were forced to play a guest, while Gill Locke will feel unfortunate to have lost 11-9 in the decider to both Charlie Fulcher and Ethan Lloyd.
But Brotherhood A remain top, this week showing little mercy on their ‘B’ side when the two teams met, Gracie Edwards, Kevin Gowlett and Daniel Young maintaining their side’s five-point lead over the Lions with a 10-0 victory.
And there was a fourth 10-0 result as Walton A defeated Windsor Buzzards, Mark Gale, Mark Ratcliffe and Derek Wilis the winning trio. However, arguably more important than the result, was the very welcome return to table tennis action for Windsor’s Pete Bloomfield after his serious illness.
The final match in the Division saw Windsor Hawks beat Brotherhood C 9-1. Andy Vincent guaranteed his treble with an 11-8 in the decider win over Graham Playle in the final match of the evening. Scott Campbell and John Barton each won two.
In Division Two, Brotherhood F took another step to securing a top-two placing with an 8-2 win over a Windsor Penguins’ side fielding a guest player. Paul Alden stayed unbeaten for Brotherhood, his wins including an 11-8 in the fifth success over Paul Woolnough. Woolnough won the two Penguins’ points.
There were three for Tom Bryden, two for Ruby Gallagher and one for Lucy Carvell as Brotherhood J defeated Windsor Kestrels 6-4. Peter Aumord took a couple for the Kestrels and, with Jackie Bunce, shared an unexpected 11-9 in the decider doubles victory over Bryden and Gallagher.
The Brotherhood Club’s good week in the Division continued when their ‘D’ team beat Windsor Harriers 9-1, Russell Stone and Kevin Pryor recording hat-tricks. Lily Liu won two but narrowly failed to convert it to a treble, losing 11-8 in the fifth to Barry Allen.
Chris Petrou and Andy Hart stayed unbeaten as Nomads Jaguars defeated Nomads Tigers, playing with a guest, 9-1. The Jaguars won all three matches which went the distance, Petrou’s 11-9 in the fifth win over Tom Wilkin the closest. Wilkin took the Tigers’ sole point.
In Division Three, leaders Brotherhood H were forced to field a guest but still won 6-4 against Walton C. Danny Still remained unbeaten and Gary Simpson took two, his narrow 11-9 in the fifth victory over Lynette Sparks proving crucial to the final result.
Second-placed Holland Hurricanes closed the gap at the top with a 9-1 success over a weakened Windsor Falcons. Gary Stallwood and Ian Gwillim were unbeaten for the Hurricanes whilst Nigel Rolph picked up the Falcons’ point with an 11-6 in the fifth win over Gerry Widnell.
It was also 9-1 for Nomads Leopards against Windsor Magpies, yet another side having to play with a guest. Anne Bonny and Dominic Joannou remained undefeated for the Leopards. John Plummer took the Magpies’ point but went down 11-6 in the fifth to Bonny.
Jack Hillier’s excellent form continued for Brotherhood E, the talented young player staying unbeaten in his side’s 8-2 victory over Holland Lancasters. There were two each for Joe Hillier and Rodney Betts, as there was for Holland’s Peter Evans. The closest match was Bett’s 13-11 in the decider win over Dave Wright.
It was good to see Nomads Ocelots fielding a full side this week but, despite a couple from Andrew Cousins, they lost 8-2 to Holland Vulcans. Bob Keefee took his maximum for the Hollanders whilst there were two each for Derek Foxley and James Horsler.
* The draw for the semi-finals of the Handicap Cup sees the two big guns of the league, Brotherhood A and Nomads Lions, drawn to face each other. Coincidentally, the cup match will be played a week after the two teams meet in a crunch league match. Division Two is guaranteed a representative in the final, with Nomads Tigers drawn at home to Brotherhood D. The semi-finals will be played in w/c 30 March, with the final taking place on Tuesday 21 April.
* 62 players have entered this year’s Closed Championships sponsored by The Survey Initiative, courtesy of Gary Cattermole. The Tournament takes place on 11 and 12 April at The Lift School (formerly Clacton Coastal Academy) Sports Hall. Entrants will receive further details, including check-in times, by 7 April at the latest.
RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Eagles 10 Walton B 0
Brotherhood B 0 Brotherhood A 10
Walton A 10 Windsor Buzzards 0
Brotherhood C 2 Windsor Hawks 8
Nomads Lions 10 Nomads Panthers 0
Division 2
Windsor Penguins 2 Brotherhood F 8
Windsor Kestrels 4 Brotherhood J 6
Nomads Jaguars 9 Nomads Tigers 1
Brotherhood D 9 Windsor Harriers 1
Division 3
Holland Hurricanes 9 Windsor Falcons 1
Brotherhood H 6 Walton C 4
Holland Lancasters 2 Brotherhood E 8
Nomads Ocelots 2 Holland Vulcans 8
Windsor Magpies 1 Nomads Leopards 9