November 3, 2025 | Tony Oswick
If there was an award in the Clacton League for the most improved player in recent years, then John Gallagher of Brotherhood G would certainly be one of the leading candidates.
Having progressed from a run-of-the-mill Third Division player only a few seasons ago, the Brotherhood G captain is now one of the most consistent and reliable players in Division Two, as evidenced by a stand-out performance this week in his sideâ€s 8-2 success over Windsor Penguins. Gallagher (pictured above, photo by Roger Hance) remained unbeaten on the night, in the process inflicting a first defeat of the season on Kelvin Olano-Harper.
There were a couple each for his team-mates Mark Boyland and Mark Beckham, Beckham involved in the closest match of the contest, edging past Paul Woolnough 17-15 in the fifth. Olano-Haprperâ€s two points for the Penguins included a victory in five over Boyland.
The Brotherhood G victory puts them level at the top alongside Brotherhood F, 6-4 winners this week over Brotherhood D. Neil Chegwidden and Mark Salter took a couple each, and Paul Alden one, but the ‘D†teamâ€s Adi Kamma, making his League debut, stayed undefeated.
Lawford got on the winning trail at the fourth attempt, doing it in style 9-1 against Nomads Jaguars, with only four matches extended to a fourth set. Charlie Denholm and John Colvin took trebles for Lawford, Andy Hartâ€s win over Richard Spence the sole Jaguars†success.
A weakened Windsor Kestrels went down 7-3 to Windsor Harriers, Barry Allen taking his three for the Harriers and Ferdy Rodriguez two. For the Kestrels, there were a couple for Graham Bunce and one for Peter Aumord.
In Division Three, pre-season title favourites Brotherhood H had to battle hard before overcoming Holland Vulcans 8-2, Dan Grindrod and Gary Simpson both taking hat-tricks. Grindrod edged past Bob Keefe 11-9 in decider, whilst Simpson beat both Keefe and Derek Foxley by the same 11-5 in the fifth score. Danny Still took a couple for Brotherhood but was narrowly beaten 11-9 in the decider by Keefe.
Nomads Leopards and Holland Hurricanes are both eyeing a top-two finish and, when they met this week, the match ended all-square. Gary Stallwood took his maximum for the Hurricanes whilst there were two apiece for Doug Green and Dominic Joannouu of the Leopards. Green and Joannou beat Stallwood and Ian Gwillim in a crucial doubles.
A hat-trick for Peter Evans and two for Dave Wright, plus a shared doubles win, saw Holland Lancasters home 6-4 in a hard-fought match against Windsor Falcons. Matt Thomas†couple for the Falcons included a 3-2 (6-11, 12-10, 11-13, 12-10, 11-7) win over Wright.
Jack Hillier notched up a fine hat-trick in Brotherhood Eâ€s 6-4 success against Walton E. The two teams shared the four matches which went the distance, Waltonâ€s Maggie Earle involved in all four. She edged past both Tony Edmonds and Joe Hillier 11-9 in the fifth, lost 11-7 in the fifth to Jack Hillier and then, with Adrian Sexton in the doubles, went down 12-10 in the fifth against the two Hilliers. Sexton also won a couple for Walton.
Nomads Ocelots were again forced to field a guest player and once again, despite a Mike Wellum treble, ended up in defeat, this time 6-4 at the hands of Windsor Magpies. Wellumâ€s closest victory was against Dave Sweetland, 11-4 in the decider.
For the first time in many seasons, the battle at the top of Division One looks like developing into a three-horse race between Nomads Panthers, Nomads Lions and Brotherhood A.
Kevin James, in his first appearance as a Nomads Panthers†player, stayed unbeaten to help his side to a 10-0 victory over Windsor Buzzards. Denes Somodi and Greg Green also stayed unbeaten, Somodiâ€s 11-5 in the decider victory over Andy Foster the only match extended to a fifth set.
It was also 10-0 for Brotherhood A against Walton A, Gary Young, Gracie Edwards and Kevin Gowlett the winning threesome. Edwards had a close 3-2 (11-7, 7-11, 14-16, 11-7, 11-4) battle with Mark Gale, but the doubles was the closest match, Edwards and Gowlett beating Gale and Mark Ratcliffe 3-2 (11-6, 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6).
Despite dropping their first point of the season, Nomads Lions will feel content with their 9-1 victory over Windsor Hawks. Both Adam Cuthbert and Charlie Fulcher, making a first appearance this season, took trebles, but their shared doubles victory was too close for comfort, 17-15 in the fifth against Felipe Rodriguez and Andy Vincent. Adam Wilkin picked up two wins for the Lions but went down to Andy Vincent, Wilkin earning praise from his opponent for his sportsmanship after calling an edge against himself at a crucial point of the match when neither his opponent nor the umpire had seen it.
Windsor Eagles defeated a Brotherhood B side fielding two reserves 9-1 but the scoreline fails to tell the whole story, with the Eagles winning all five matches which went to a final set. Gary Cattermole and Gavin Price with trebles, and John Pattrick with two, were the Eagles†points-scorers. Simon Smith-Daye took Brotherhoodâ€s sole success in the first match of the evening against Pattrick.
Finally, three for Graham Playle, two for John Cleasby and one for Dave Miller saw Brotherhood C home 7-3 against Walton B. Pete Burrows got two points for Walton and Paul Newbould, with an 11-6 in the fifth win over Miller, their third.
* The closing date for the Leagueâ€s first Tournament of the season, the Drawn Doubles, is Friday 7 November. The Tournament takes place on Saturday 22 November at Windsorâ€s St James†Hall venue.
RESULTS
Division 1
Windsor Hawks 1 Nomads Lions 9
Windsor Buzzards 0 Nomads Panthers 10
Brotherhood A 10 Walton A 0
Brotherhood B 1 Windsor Eagles 9
Walton B 3 Brotherhood C 7
Division 2
Windsor Harriers 7 Windsor Kestrels 3
Brotherhood G 8 Windsor Penguins 2
Lawford 9 Nomads Jaguars 1
Brotherhood F 6 Brotherhood D 4
Division 3
Windsor Falcons 4 Holland Lancasters 6
Nomads Ocelots 4 Windsor Magpies 6
Walton C 4 Brotherhood E 6
Holland Vulcans 2 Brotherhood H 8
Nomads Leopards 5 Holland Hurricanes 5
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