Division 1
Lions B dropped points for the 2nd consecutive week and have seen their lead over Lions A reduced to 5 points.
They were held to a 5-5 draw by 3rd placed side Whistlers A this week in a match which saw Garry Dodd maintain his 100% singles record for the season. Dodd signalled his intent from the offset with a comfortable straight game win over the current Island Men's Singles champion Joshua Butler, for the loss of just 9 points. His next singles match against Olly Langlois was a complete contrast and he was under pressure when trailing 2-1. He battled back well in the 4th, but looked in danger of losing his unbeaten record when Langlois held 2 match points at 10-8 in the decider. He used all of his experience in big match situations to scrap through and took 4 points in a row to edge it 12-10. Mark Pipet and Phil Hunkin each contributed well with important straight game wins over Ryan Bichard. Butler and Langlois defeated Pipet and Hunkin and also teamed to win a pivotal doubles match over Dodd and Pipet in straight games.
Lions A made no mistakes this week and earned a 7-3 win over Whistlers B, despite a hat-trick of wins for Alice Loveridge. Loveridge defeated Phil Ogier in 5 games, Jez Powell in 4 and reserve Luke Bichard in straight games. Ogier, Powell and Bichard all played well during singles wins over Chloe Le Tissier and reserve Joseph Bourgaize. Ogier and Powell were also on hand to pick up the doubles win in straight games over Loveridge and Le Tissier.
4th placed side Whistlers C battled back from 4-2 down to earn a draw with bottom of the table Lions C. Lawrence Stacey's form continues to improve and he experienced an evening of unbeaten singles action. He earned gritty 5 set wins over reserve Alex Robinson and Paul Hainsworth before dispatching Andre De Carteret in straight games. Twin Joshua added the other 2 singles wins after coming back from 2-1 to beat Hainsworth in 5 and defeating De Carteret in straight games. He was defeated by Robinson in another 5 game encounter. Hainsworth teamed up with De Carteret to earn a surprise 5 game doubles win over the Stacey twins. Each of the Lions players picked up wins over reserve Ian Fitchet.
Division 2
Division 2 proper commenced this week and Lions F made the perfect start and lead from Lions D on games difference.
The leaders were in ruthless form and started where they left off in the Division 2 qualifier, romping past Whistlers G 9-1. Luke Bichard and Jamie Ferbrache were unbeaten after earning singles wins over Matthew Casey, Albert Unden and Andy Lihou. Dan Collenette picked up wins over Casey and Lihou in 5, however he surprisingly lost in straight games to Unden, which prevented the whitewash from occurring. Collenette teamed with Ferbrache to win the doubles match over Casey and Unden in 5 games.
Lions D had a much tougher fixture and edged out their Whistlers counterparts 6-4. Martin Sarre made the ideal start to the division and powered to singles wins over Kay Chivers, Keith Opie and nephew Stuart. Andy Gill beat Opie and Sarre and was unfortunate to lose to Chivers in 5 having led 2-1. Ian Le Page added a very important 5 game win over Sarre to seal the victory.
Division 3
Whistlers E and Whistlers F are locked at the top of the 3rd after each picked up 8-2 wins on the opening evening of the division.
The E side beat Ravenscroft Panthers A in a match where Ian Fitchet and Ryan Gilson went unbeaten. Each defeated Ben Foote, Juliette Yeaman and reserve Mick Ingrouille in singles completion before they teamed to beat Foote and Yeaman in 4 games in the doubles match. Reserve Len Bretel added a win over Ingrouille 14-12 in the 5th, but he was beaten by Foote and Yeaman.
The F side's victims were Lions G and Joseph Bourgaize built upon his recent form with wins over Brian Ferbrache and reserve Mike Brehaut. Paula Le Ber and Daisy Kershaw each earned wins over Brehaut and the team of Bourgaize and Kershaw defeated Ferbrache and Brehaut in straight games in the doubles match. 3 matches were gained by walkover due to the absence of Theo Lepp for the Lions side.
Division 4
A second consecutive 9-1 victory sees Lions I take an 8 point lead into the Christmas break. Their opponents this week were Whistlers I and once more Andy and Sue Ferbrache were unbeaten on the night. They defeated Joe Le Page, Len Bretel and reserve Tom Hagerich in singles action. Sophie Ferbrache picked up wins over Bretel and Le Page, but was edged in 5 by Hagerich. Sophie teamed up with mother Sue to see off Hagerich and Le Page in a 4 game doubles win.
Division 5
Play resumes on 6th January for the next round of fixtures.
