Division 1
This week saw conclusion of the opening round of fixtures from the top Division of the Doric Insurance sponsored Senior Leagues.
Whistlers B continue to lead the way after they recorded their 5th straight win of the season over Lions B. Previously all of their victories had been narrowly obtained 6-4, but this week they put in their best performance yet and won 8-2 over the side in 3rd place.
Lawrence Stacey has lost just the single individual match in the league so far this season and he again went unbeaten thanks to 4 set singles wins over Phil Ogier and Dan Collenette and a straight sets win over Andre De Carteret. Matthew Casey and Ryan Gilson also had good evenings and both managed to defeat De Carteret and the higher ranked Junior player Collenette. The 8th rubber was claimed by Stacey and Casey over Ogier and De Carteret in the doubles clash, which was won over 4 sets. Ogier spared the blushes for his side when he defeated both Casey and Gilson in singles action.
Second placed side Lions A showed their intent this week during their clash with Whistlers A as a 9-1 victory was obtained, the largest margin of victory thus far in the Division. Ben Foss and Ryan Bichard each defeated Dawn Morgan, Ellis Tomlin and reserve Ian Fitchet in singles action, but each needed the full 5 sets to edge past Morgan. Jamie Ferbrache defeated Tomlin and Fitchet, but he lost to Morgan in 4 sets in the match opener which prevented the whitewash. Bichard and Ferbrache won the doubles encounter over Morgan and Tomlin in 4 sets.
The final match of the week between 4th placed side Lions C and 5th placed side Whistlers B ended as a 5-5 stalemate. For the Lions outfit, Paul Hainsworth and Corey Brouard each defeated Mark Pipet and Charlotte Casey in singles action. Brouard's victory over Pipet was a good scalp for the youngster, who needed to come back from 9-6 down in the deciding leg to sneak it 11-9. The other win for the Lions side came through Andy Gill's straight sets win over Casey. Joshua Stacey was unbeaten for the Whistlers side courtesy of 4 set wins over Hainsworth and Gill and a straight sets win over Brouard. Pipet came through a tough 5 setter against Gill and the duo also combined to comfortably dispatch Hainsworth and Gill in straight sets in the doubles match.
Division 2
Whistlers D remain 2 points clear at the top after their commanding 9-1 win over Lions G. Kay Chivers and Ben Sharp both overcame Mike Lucas, Nye Matthew and George Eker in singles action. Keith Opie added wins over Matthew and Eker, but was beaten in 4 sets by Lucas. Chivers and Sharp won the doubles over Lucas and Matthew in straight sets.
St Pauls B and Lions H remain locked together at the top of the table after each side recorded wins this week.
The St Pauls side came through a tough tie with the side previously level on points at the top, Ravenscroft Panthers D and edged it 6-4. Craig Dunning continues to be the difference maker for the leaders as he experienced another comfortable unbeaten evening which included straight sets wins over Rob Vile, Mark Windsor and Mick Ingrouille. He also won the doubles alongside Derek Carter over Windsor and Ingrouille in 4 sets. It was Brian Le Cras that picked up the remaining wins required for the St Pauls side on the night as he earned a 4 set win over Windsor and a superb unexpected straight sets win over Vile.
The Lions side reduced the games ratio arrears due to their superior 8-2 win over Whistlers G. Peter Powell and Edward Rowe were unbeaten due to singles wins over James Crocker, Matthew Board and Robert Naftel. Oscar Pearson picked up wins over Crocker and Naftel, but was defeated by Board in straight sets. The Whistlers pair of Board and Naftel did well to win the doubles over Rowe and Pearson in 5 sets.
Division 4
Like the 3rd Division, there are 2 sides locked together at the top of the table on 8 points. The sides in question are Whistlers I and Lions K.
The Whistlers side were emphatic 9-1 winners over their L side this week. Andy Le Page and Max Burrows won their singles matches over Len Bretel, Sabato Folmi and Matthew Hale, whilst Joe Le Page added wins over Folmi and Hale. The Le Pages won the doubles over Folmi and Hale in straight sets. Bretel prevented the whitewash with a 4 set win over Joe Le Page.
