The Brotherhood Club has swept the board this season, with their teams winning all three Divisions of the League, only the second time in the League’s history that teams from one Club has won Divisions One, Two and Three in the same season.
In Division One, Brotherhood A completed their programme with a 10-0 victory over Windsor Buzzards, a win which sealed their position as the top team in the League. Many congratulations to Gracie Edwards, Kevin Gowlett, Daniel Young and Gary Young who thus provided the Brotherhood Club with their first Division One title since 2011.
Nomads Lions could field only two players against Walton B but hat-tricks from Jason Lloyd and Martyn Green still gave them the 6-4 win. Walton’s Clive Allenby and Graham Buxton shared a fine three-straight doubles victory against Lloyd and Green. The Lions have challenged hard all season and finish as worthy runners-up, a superb achievement for a talented squad of players.
And so Nomads Panthers, who were without a match, will finish in third place, thus ending their long and proud reign as champions, having won the Division One title a record twelve years running.
Elsewhere, Walton A ended their season with a flourish, defeating Brotherhood C 7-3 with Mark Gale unbeaten, Derek Willis taking two and Mark Ratcliffe one. Martin Edwards picked up a couple for Brotherhood and John Cleasby one.
But it was a bad day at the office for Windsor Hawks who, in a match where both sides played with a reserve, crashed to a 10-0 defeat at the hands of Brotherhood B. Russell Hillier, Simon Smith-Daye and reserve Joe Sherwin took the Brotherhood points.
Brotherhood G are the new champions of Division Two following their 7-3 success over Windsor Harriers, Mark Boyland and John Gallagher taking trebles. But the real hero of the night was Paul Metcalf – even though he didn’t win a point. Paul was summoned during the evening to replace a player who hadn’t turned up and, after making a 40-mile journey when he finished work, turned up to play to ensure his side wasn’t deducted points for fielding a short team. Credit, too, to the Harriers for not claiming the points.
Brotherhood F have pushed the ‘G’ team hard all season and they finish as well-deserved runners-up, only three points behind their Club-mates. This week, trebles for Mark Salter and Paul Alden, plus a couple from Tricia Salter, saw them end the season with a 9-1 victory over Windsor Kestrels. Windsor’s Peter Aumord had two close matches, beating Tricia Salter 11-7 in the decider but going down 11-8 in the decider to Mark Salter.
Brotherhood J drew with Windsor Penguins and finish in a highly-impressive third place. Kelvin Olano-Harper took his three for the Penguins, but only just, scraping past Ruby Gallagher 17-15 in the fifth in one of the tightest matches of the season. Gallagher and Tom Bryden each won two for Brotherhood, and Lucy Carvell one.
And to emphasise Brotherhood’s domination of Division Two, Brotherhood D are confirmed in fourth place. In their last match, they shared the spoils with Nomads Jaguars, although an unbeaten Chris Petrou was the player of the match for the Jaguars. Kevin Pryor took a couple for Brotherhood.
Nomads Tigers warmed up nicely for their forthcoming Cup Final appearance, producing a fine team performance to draw with the battle-hardened Lawford side. Tom Wilkin took two, and Alex Baldock and Sam Watling one each, with Wilkin and Watling taking the doubles 11-9 in the fifth against Ian Sherwood and Charlie Denholm, only a second doubles win of the season for the Tigers. Richard Spence recorded his first hat-trick of the season for Lawford, with Denholm winning two, defeating Watling 11-9 in the fifth but losing 11-8 in the fifth to Wilkin.
The two leading sides met in Division Three and Brotherhood H sealed their position as the top team with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Holland Hurricanes. There were two each for Danny Still, Dan Grindrod and Owen Woollard, Woollard winning five-setters against both Ian Gwillim and Gerry Widnell. Gary Stallwood maintained his 100% season record for the Hurricanes. In a nice touch of sportsmanship, the Hurricanes’ score-card was annotated with the comment, ‘Well deserved win for Brotherhood H, Holland Hurricanes congratulate Brotherhood H on winning the League and wish them the best of luck in Division Two’.
It was also even-stevens between third-placed Nomads Leopards and Holland Lancasters. Peter Evans stayed undefeated for the Lancasters, with Tony Aresti and Dave Wright each winning one. Anne Bonny and Dominic Joannou won a pair apiece for the ever-reliable Leopards’ team, also sharing a doubles success.
Walton C, who will finish in a commendable fourth position, beat Holland Vulcans 7-3. Lynette Sparks took her maximum, while there were a pair apiece for Adrian Sexton and Maggie Earle. Bob Keefe won two for the Vulcans and combined with Derek Foxley for a doubles victory. Foxley came close to getting on the score-sheet but went down 11-9 in the decider to Sexton and 11-6 in the decider to Earle.
The Brotherhood E v Windsor Magpies fixture ended with honours even. Eleven-year-old Jack Hillier, the youngest player in the League, completed an excellent first season League table tennis with his seventh hat-trick. For the Magpies, John Plummer and Alan Rutledge both won two and Dave Sweetland one, but each was involved in matches which went the distance, Plummer beating Rodney Betts 11-7 in the fifth, Sweetland defeating the same player 11-9 in the fifth and Rutledge edging past Joe Hillier 13-11 in the fifth.
Windsor Falcons were 7-3 victors against Nomads Ocelots, who once again were playing with a guest. Mike Wellum made a welcome return after injury for the Ocelots in their final match and remained unbeaten, although it was a tight 11-9 in the fifth against Matt Thomas. There was a point each for Thomas, Nikki Hayes and Gary Barnes of the Falcons.
* An end-of-season word of praise must be given to the three teams which finished bottom in each of the Divisions, Windsor Buzzards, Windsor Kestrels and Nomads Ocelots. All three teams, for differing reasons, have had difficult seasons but all three have battled on and seen the season through. A massive pat on the back to the players of the Buzzards, Kestrels and Ocelots.
And an honourable mention, also, to those players who went through the season winning only a handful of matches and, in a couple of cases, none at all. Players like these – players who turn up week in week out with little prospect of winning but still apply themselves to their task – are the lifeblood of our League and, to them, we say a special ‘Well done and thank you’.
* The Handicap Cup Final between Brotherhood A and Nomads Tigers is the last event of the League’s 2025/26 season. It takes place on Tuesday 21st April at the Brotherhood Hall with play starting at 7.30 pm. All players and friends of the League are encouraged to attend to support the finalists.
* A reminder that James Denyer, Martin Edwards and Daniel Young are among the nominations for the Harry Walker Trophy, awarded each year to the Essex County Player of the Year. Any League player who has played at least eight League matches is entitled to vote, with the closing date for voting 30th April.
* For the record, before the Brotherhood Club this season, the only other Club whose teams have won Divisions One, Two and Three in the same season is the Clacton Youth Centre who did it back in the 1964/65 season. The three teams involved were CYC Nomads, CYC Unpredictables and CYC Optimists. Among the players in the CYC Optimists’ squad which won Division Three that year was a certain Dave Martin, a player who can still be found plying his trade for Windsor Buzzards over 60 years later. The Optimists also lived up to their name that season by winning the KO Cup.
* Finally, this weeks’ report ends on a sad note as the League is sorry to have to report the death of Colin Webber, aged 71 years. Colin was a loyal member of the League and the Nomads Club for many years. A full tribute will appear later.
RESULTS
Division 1
Brotherhood C 3 Walton A 7;
Windsor Hawks 0 Brotherhood B 10;
Walton B 4 Nomads Lions 6;
Windsor Buzzards 0 Brotherhood A 10.
Division 2
Brotherhood D 5 Nomads Jaguars 5;
Brotherhood J 5 Windsor Penguins 5;
Nomads Tigers 5 Lawford 5;
Windsor Harriers 3 Brotherhood G 7;
Brotherhood F 9 Windsor Kestrels 1.
Division 3
Holland Hurricanes 4 Brotherhood H 6;
Windsor Falcons 7 Nomads Ocelots 3;
Brotherhood E 5 Windsor Magpies 5;
Walton C 7 Holland Vulcans 3;
Nomads Leopards 5 Holland Lancasters 5.
Report by Tony Oswick
