Division 1

Lions B are the early outright leaders of the top flight by a single point following their 7-3 victory over Whistlers A. Despite the defeat, Garry Dodd emphatically led the way with 3 singles wins for the Whistlers outfit. Olly Langlois managed to pinch the opener against the reigning CI Top 12 champion, however this was as much joy as he could get, with Dodd cruising through the following 3 legs. Current Island Men’s Singles champion Joshua Butler was unable to make any progress and lost out in straight games, the same fate that befell junior Ryan Bichard. Langlois defeated Phil Hunkin in a 4 game opener and ended with a straight game win over Mark Pipet. Butler battled hard to overcome Pipet in 5 games before coming through against Hunkin in 4. The important doubles fixture was clinched by Langlois and Butler in 4 games over the team of Dodd and Pipet. Bichard evidenced his continued improvement with 2 excellent straight victories over Pipet and Hunkin, which proved decisive in helping his side towards the win.

A weakened Lions A side that was missing Jez Powell came unstuck this week and were held to a 5-5 draw by a Whistlers B team including Alice Loveridge, who made a timely return to local league table tennis this week. Absent from the opening week’s clash against the current league leaders Lions B, the recent 2015 Island Games Women’s Singles gold medallist chipped in with 3 important wins. Despite her 100% singles start, she was tested by both Phil Ogier and Ben Foss where she needed the full 5 legs in each encounter to emerge victorious. Her team-mates Dawn Morgan and Chloe Le Tissier each held their nerve by defeating the Lions 2^nd Division reserve Luke Bichard in straight games to secure the draw. For the Lions side, Ogier and Foss were both comfortable winners over Le Tissier and Morgan and they combined to win the doubles clash over Loveridge and Morgan in 4 games.

Whistlers C earned their first win of the season following a convincing 8-2 victory over their Lions counterparts. Joshua and Lawrence Stacey each went through the fixture unbeaten and contributed to 7 of the 8 rubbers obtained. Josh had a tough opener against Liam Robilliard, but held his nerve to close it out in the deciding 5^th leg. He followed up with narrow straight game wins over Paul Hainsworth and Andre De Carteret. Lawrence overcame De Carteret in straight games, Robilliard in 4 games and Hainsworth over 5 sets in an encounter where the first 4 ends were settled after the regulation 11 point finish. The twins combined to defeat Hainsworth and Robilliard in 4 games in the doubles match. The Whistlers junior 2^nd Division reserve Matthew Casey lost to Hainsworth and Robilliard in straight games, but he earned an excellent 5 game win over De Carteret to pick up his first 1^st division win of the season.

Division 2

Lions D, E, F and St Pauls A are the only teams left with a 100% winning start to the season. The E side head the way due to a superior games difference ratio, however it was Lions F that obtained an impressive win this week.

The victory in question came over the Whistlers D side consisting of Kay Chivers, Keith Opie and Stuart Sarre. It was young Luke Bichard that stole the show with 3 big singles wins. He opened with a hard fought 5 set win over Sarre before earning a mightily impressive 5 set win over the previously unbeaten Chivers. His final win came over Opie in straight games. Jamie Ferbrache beat Opie and Sarre, but lost out to Chivers in 4 games in the final match of the night. Another junior, Dan Collenette, was on hand to pick up the important 6^th win for the Lions side, a straight game win over Sarre doing the job.

Division 4

Lions I and St Pauls B already hold 3 point leads ahead of the rest of the pack after each picked up their 2^nd consecutive wins of the season. The I side consisting of Andy Ferbrache, Sue Ferbrache and reserve Jan Priest beat Whistlers I 8-2 and head the way by games difference. Both Ferbrache’s earned wins over Len Bretel, Chris Mcquaigue and Joe Le Page, whilst reserve Priest beat Bretel and Mcquaigue. Le Page beat Priest in 4 games in the final match of the night and also combined with Bretel to beat Andy and Sue in a 4 game doubles success.

The St Pauls B side of Derek Carter, Brian Le Cras and Brandon Ferbrache also won 8-2 this week, with Lions J the side to taste defeat. Young Ferbrache had a top evening and managed to beat Lynn Finn, Bolette Hjorth and reserve Rose Powell.

Division 5

Lions L and Lions M head the way in the 4^th following their 3^rd successive wins this week. Lions L are top on games difference and they emphasised this with a 10-0 dismissal of Whistlers L. Graham Mallett, Janine Mallett and Derek Cave all earned singles wins over Morgan Price, Matthew Hale and Tom Hagerich. The Mallett’s beat Hagerich and Price in a 4 game doubles win.

Lions M had a much trickier time at the office and edged out Whistlers K 6-4. Jenny Powell came in with 3 big wins over the junior trio of Callum Gilson, Ben Sharp and Caden Brouard. Priest beat Sharp and Brouard and the duo teamed to win the pivotal doubles match over Sharp and Brouard in 4 games.