Division 1
Lions A moved to the top of the 1st Division for the first time this season after a 7-3 win over Whistlers C.
The A side were missing their key player Joshua Butler and Daniel Collenette, however the reserves standing in were high calibre players in the form of Matthew Stubbington and Liam Robilliard. Both reserves contributed to singles wins over Matthew Casey and the Whistlers junior reserve Corey Brouard and this was a feat matched by the regular Lions A member Ben Foss. None of the players were able to get the better of Lawrence Stacey, who continues to show good form so far this season. Stubbington led 1-0 before being edged out in 4, but it was Foss that came the closest to upsetting the form books. Foss led 2-1 and was within a few points of sealing it in 4, Stacey holding his nerve to clinch the final 2 games 11-9, 11-8. The doubles encounter was won by the leaders who took it in straight games against the pairing of Stacey and Casey.
Lions C slipped off the top after being held to a 5-5 draw by the side occupying 4th position in the table, Whistlers A. Garry Dodd was once more pivotal for the Whistlers side and he maintained his 100% singles record. He was pushed by Paul Hainsworth in a tight opening match, where he needed to come back from 10-7 down to win an epic opener 16-14. He went on to take the 2nd 12-10 before powering through the 3rd. He dropped the 3rd end of his encounter with Phil Ogier, who competed well towards the latter end of their encounter, eventually falling away 11-8 in the 4th. Dodd was a comfortable straight game winner over Andre De Carteret in his final singles match and he had earlier completed an unbeaten evening due to his 4 game doubles win alongside Mark Pipet over Ogier and De Carteret. Pipet himself picked up the vital 5th win when he beat De Carteret in straight games. He also came very close to securing the win as he led Hainsworth 2-1, before the Lions player came back to win over the distance. Ogier dropped the opener to Pipet 14-12, but strongly came through in 4. Each of the Lions players defeated junior Ryan Gilson in straight games, despite some nice shots from the lefthander.
Lions B closed the gap to 2nd spot in the table to just a single point after they won 7-3 over Whistlers B. Olly Langlois deputised for the victors as he earned singles wins over Joshua Stacey, Joseph Bourgaize and reserve Ian Fitchet. His opener against Stacey was a key match and he looked comfortable having opened up a 2-0 lead, but Stacey battled back well to force the decider. The final end was hard fought, but it was Langlois that dug in and edged it 11-9. Luke Bichard weathered a fight back from Bourgaize to win in 5, having earlier led 2-0 and he also overcame Fitchet in 4. Elder brother Ryan was not so fortunate against Bourgaize as despite fighting back from 2-0 down himself, he was unable to claim the 5th, with Bourgaize pinching it 12-10. He did overcome Fitchet in straight games though on top of a 4 game doubles win alongside Langlois over Stacey and Bourgaize.
Division 2
Lions D and Lions E continue to be locked together at the top of the 2nd Division as each team recorded their 9th straight wins of the season.
The lead continues to switch on games difference and it is the D side that now heads the pack after their comprehensive 9-1 win over Lions G. Andy Gill and Jamie Ferbrache continue to impress and they each beat Brian Ferbrache, Andy Ferbrache and Sue Ferbrache in singles action. Jamie had the toughest match of the 2 in the last match of the night, where he needed the full 5 games to get past father Brian. Gill and Ferbrache completed perfect evenings by beating Brian and Sue 3-1 in the doubles. Reserve Terry Trustum earned wins over Sue and Brian, but he was edged 12-10 in the decider of his match with Andy, a result that prevented the whitewash.
Lions E had a much tougher time this week, but they held strong and edged past Lions F 6-4. Car Le Tissier and Mike Lucas both won 2 singles matches for the winners, however it was not plain sailing, with Lucas managing to crucially defeat Dave Sherbourne 17-15 in the 5th leg of their encounter. Luke Le Tissier may have only won 1 of his singles matches, over Steve Potter in 4, however he was very unlucky not to add to that tally, losing to Sherbourne in 5 having led 2-1 and also in 5 to Jez Powell, despite having led 2-0. He made no mistakes in the doubles where he ran out victorious alongside father Carl against Potter and Sherbourne in 4.
Division 3
Whistlers G are the new leaders of the 3rd Division after their tight 6-4 win over St Pauls B. Junior Ellis Tomlin continues to show rapid rates of improvement and he is the only player other than Dodd to retain a 100% singles record across all Divisions of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues. He was never in doubt of this slipping in this encounter as he earned wins over Derek Carter, Craig Dunning and John Wills on the night, dropping just the single end to Wills in the process. Fellow junior Tom Hagerich beat Dunning in 5 and Carter in 4, but lost out to Wills. The junior duo made sure of the win in the doubles clash where they overcame Wills and Carter 11-8 in the deciding leg. Young Jayden Tucknott made another reserve appearance and despite losing his matches to the experienced St Pauls players, the 8 year old continues to gain valuable experience.
Division 4
