LEADERS Brotherhood C are not so much striding as stuttering over the finishing line, in division two of the Clacton and District League.

Two defeats in their last three matches, and a meagre return of just 13 points, has seen their healthy lead at the top begin to disintegrate.

The Brotherhood team lost 6-4 to Windsor Owls, despite a Gary Stallwood hat-trick.

Frank Burbidge and Adam Jackson each won twice for Windsor and combined to take a close 12-10 in the fifth doubles against Stallwood and Kevin Pryor.

Brotherhood skipper Kevin Pryor went down 11-8 in the fifth to Jackson and 11-6 in the fifth to Tricia Salter.

Second-placed Brotherhood D closed the gap at the top but made hard work of beating bottom team Nomads Jaguars, 6-4. Russell Hillier won three and Morgan Harvey two, but Lee Harvey’s off-night saw him win only once, losing 13-11 in the fifth to Andy North.

Nomads Ocelots made up ground in convincing style with a 9-1 victory over Brotherhood F.

Peter Giles and Brian Parish stayed unbeaten for the Ocelots, although it was a tight 15-13 in the fifth for Parish against Lee Allen.

With a match in hand, the Ocelots are now just three points behind Brotherhood D and only 11 adrift of Brotherhood C.

At the other end of the table, Nomads Tigers continued their recovery with an 8-2 win against Brotherhood I.

Daryl Lott and John Marshall stayed unbeaten and Kai Hoang contributed one.

However, things are looking gloomy for Windsor Magpies, beaten 7-3 for a second time this season by Windsor Harriers.

Reserve Pete Bloomfield, with two, and Malcolm Caley, with one, took the Magpies’ points.