Three teams from Division Three have made it through to the quarter-finals of the Clacton League’s Knock-Out Cup, following this week’s Round One matches, all three winners defeating sides from Division Two.
Brotherhood E take pride of place after their 5-3 win against Lawford, the often under-rated Tony Edmonds defying the years and his tag as the League’s senior player, staying undefeated in his two singles and two doubles.
But the score-line disguises a tough-fought tie, with four of the five Brotherhood wins coming from matches which went the distance, Edmonds involved in three of them.
Both doubles matches went to five, the closest seeing Edmonds and Tricia Salter (+1) defeat Ian Sherwood and Charlie Denholm (-5) 6-11, 12-14, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9.
It was also 5-3 for Brotherhood F’s Joe Sherwin, Lucy Carvell and Savindu De Silva against Brotherhood C, the ‘F’ team coming back from 3-1 down at the half-way stage. Lucy Carvell (+1) beat Paul Metcalf (-8) 11-6 in the decider to clinch the victory.
By comparison, Nomads Bobcats breezed through their encounter with Walton D, Matt Sage, Alex Baldock and Jack Riddleston hurrying to a 5-0 victory with something to spare.
Windsor Penguins are only one of two Second Division sides still remaining in the competition. Annabelle Stallwood was their unbeaten heroine in the all-Division Two clash with Nomads Tigers, Stallwood, Scott Campbell and Sharon Gowlett taking it 5-2.
Cup-holders Brotherhood A bowed out 5-0 to Division Two pace-setters Brotherhood D in an encounter where one match was adjudged void because of an incorrect starting handicap and where John Cleasby was forced to concede what turned out to be the final match of the tie.
One top-flight team was guaranteed to go through, and Walton C and Windsor Eagles enjoyed a hard-fought encounter before Walton took it 5-2, five of the seven matches going the distance. Walton skipper Mark Gale was unbeaten in his two singles and one doubles. In a hard-fought opening doubles, Mark Ratcliffe and Paul Meikle (+1) defeated Phil Smith and John Hobson (-1) 11-8 in the fifth. Ratcliffe narrowly failed to win a singles, (on -3) going down 11-5 in the fifth to Hobson (+1) and (on +2) losing 11-7 in the fifth to Mel Rampton (-5).
Division One Windsor Hawks edged it 5-4 against last season’s runners-up, Division Three side Nomads Leopards. Andy Vincent won two singles and, with John Barton (on -11), the final doubles 13-11, 11-6 in a best-of-three match against Bob Jillins and Stu Wilkinson (+2) The closest match of the evening saw Jillins (+2) edge past Barton (-8) 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9.
But favourites Nomads Panthers are still in the competition and still looking good after their 5-1 victory over Division Two Windsor Kestrels. James Denyer retained his 100% Cup record this season, in the process sealing the tie (on -13) with a 9-11, 11-9, 11-9 win over Dad Allen Denyer (+3).
* Round Two of the competition takes place during week beginning 19th February. Details of the draw will be circulated by 4th February.
* Next Saturday (3rd February) sees the Handicap Singles Tournament at Windsor’s St James Hall venue. Details of check-in times and other information will be circulated to all competitors beforehand.
RESULTS
Knock-Out Cup : Round One
Nomads Bobcats 5 Walton D 0;
Windsor Hawks 5 Nomads Leopards 3;
Brotherhood A 0 Brotherhood D 5;
Windsor Penguins 5 Nomads Tigers 2;
Brotherhood F 5 Brotherhood C 3;
Walton C 5 Windsor Eagles 2;
Windsor Kestrels 1 Nomads Panthers 5;
Brotherhood E 5 Lawford 3.
