BROTHERHOOD A were given their sternest test of the season so far in division one of the Clacton and District League and were grateful to a Kevin Gowlett hat-trick to see them home 6-4 against Windsor Hawks.

Gowlett's treble was supported by two from Martin Edwards, whose pair included a tight 11-8 in the decider win over Andy Vincent, and one from Alan Burgess.

For the Hawks, Felipe Rodriguez played well to defeat both Edwards and Burgess, while Vincent edged past Burgess 11-8 in the fifth.

Going into the match, both teams were unbeaten in doubles but it was the Hawks who preserved their 100 per cent record, with Rodriguez and Vincent defeating Gowlett and Edwards 11-5 in the fifth.

Walton A continued their excellent form with a 9-1 success against Nomads Lions, with Gary Young and Daniel Young taking hat-tricks.

Kevin James won two, including an 11-8 in the fifth win over Adam Cuthbert, but lost to Adam Wilkin.

In the doubles, the two Youngs, Daniel and Gary, beat the two Adams, Cuthbert and Wilkin, 11-4 in the decider.

Despite it being early season, the Windsor Harriers v Brotherhood G fixture in division two already had a relegation look about it.

A good, all-round team performance saw Brotherhood triumph 7-3, with Paul Metcalf taking three, Mark Beckham two and John Gallagher one, with Metcalf and Gallagher sharing the doubles.

The closest match saw Metcalf beat Ferdy Rodriguez 11-9 in the fifth.

In division three, Nomads Leopards beat Brotherhood F 6-4.

It was the Brotherhood side's third 6-4 defeat in three weeks.

Nomads' Bob Jillins stayed unbeaten and Stuart Wilkinson won two, with the pair taking the doubles together.

Dave Wright failed to get on the scoresheet, narrowly losing 11-4 in the fifth to Maci Harvey and 11-6 in the fifth to Harley Wood.

According to Nomads Pumas captain Lionel Goddard, their fixture against Walton D was "brought forward because of Boris", the original match having been scheduled for December 12 when their venue would be required for election purposes.

But it ended well for the Pumas, who won 8-2, with Dave Harris taking a treble and Alan Dockerill and John Bowers two each.

Bowers had three close matches, beating Sparks 11-9 in the fifth, Toni Hayhow-Khan 11-5 in the fifth and, with Harris in the doubles, defeating Hayhow-Khan and Tony Sharman 11-6 in the fifth.

Sharman and Sparks took a point apiece for Walton.

In the Handicap Doubles Challenge, the groups are: Group A - Windsor Magpies, Brotherhood C, Windsor Robins, Nomads Pumas; Group B - Windsor Buzzards, Windsor Kestrels, Brotherhood B, Windsor Hawks; Group C - Windsor Eagles, Brotherhood E, Walton E, Nomads Lions; Group D - Nomads Ocelots, Windsor Penguins, Nomads Jaguars, Brotherhood G; Group E - Nomads Leopards, Brotherhood F, Nomads Lynx, Nomads Bobcats; Group F - Brotherhood D, Brotherhood A, Walton A; Group G - Nomads Panthers, Lawford, Walton C; Group H - Walton D, Windsor Merlins, Windsor Harriers.

Full details, including fixtures and grades, are on the league's website.

Results: Division one: Brotherhood A 6 Windsor Hawks 4; Nomads Lions 1 Walton A 9.

Division two: Windsor Harriers 3 Brotherhood G 7.

Division three: Nomads Pumas 8 Walton D 2; Brotherhood F 4 Nomads Leopards 6.

DIVISION ONE

P W D L Pts

Panthers 6 6 0 0 53

Brotherhood A 6 6 0 0 53

Walton A 5 5 0 0 45

Hawks 5 4 0 1 37

Eagles 6 4 0 2 34

Walton B 6 2 0 4 19

Walton C 6 0 1 5 17

Walton E 6 0 1 5 16

Lions 6 0 2 4 15

Brotherhood B 6 0 0 6 1

DIVISION TWO

P W D L Pts

Brotherhood D 6 5 0 1 42

Lawford 6 4 1 1 40

Brotherhood C 6 4 1 1 40

Kestrels 6 5 0 1 35

Buzzards 6 3 1 2 32

Bobcats 6 2 1 3 28

Brotherhood E 6 1 1 4 25

Brotherhood G 6 2 0 4 22

Harriers 6 0 2 4 20

Magpies 6 0 1 5 16

DIVISION THREE

P W D L Pts

Jaguars 6 6 0 0 55

Penguins 6 5 0 1 40

Pumas 6 5 0 1 37

Leopards (2) 5 4 0 1 34

Walton D 6 3 0 3 30

Brotherhood F 5 2 0 3 30

Ocelots 6 2 0 4 19

Lynx (2) 6 1 0 5 15

Robins (2) 6 1 0 5 12

Merlins 6 0 0 6 12

(Points deducted in brackets).