Division 1
Defending champions Whistlers A and their anticipated title rivals Lions A both maintained their 100% winning record and are now the only sides in the Division yet to drop points.
The Whistlers side heads the table mathematically and they defeated the side at the foot of the table, Lions D, by the commanding scoreline of 8-2. Lawrence Stacey spearheaded the charge for his side with singles wins against Liam Robilliard, Sam Clark and reserve Jez Powell, with just the single game dropped to Powell in the process. Ryan Gilson and Matthew Casey each provided solid support by winning 2 singles matches each. They both defeated Clark in straight sets, whilst Casey earned an excellent straight sets win over Robilliard and Gilson came back from 2-1 down to beat the same player 11-8 in the deciding end. It was the combination of Stacey and Gilson that won the doubles rubber against Robilliard and Clark in 4 sets.
The Lions side on the other hand were tested firmly by 3rd placed side Whistlers B, but edged through 6-4. Ben Foss led the way well with singles wins over Josh Stacey, Ellis Tomlin and reserve Dawn Morgan. The wins over Tomlin and Morgan came over 4 sets, whilst Foss needed to stop a Stacey come-back to win in 5 sets, having earlier led 2-0. Ryan Bichard and Jamie Ferbrache each defeated Tomlin in singles action, however Ferbrache did it the hard way after trailing 2-0 before coming through in 5. Bichard on the other hand won in straight sets. The doubles rubber proved to be decisive in the encounter and it was the Lions duo of Foss and Ferbrache that came through 11-9 in the 5th and deciding end of an encounter against Stacey and Tomlin which they had led 2-0 in.
Lions B and Lions C earned their first point of the season following a 5-5 draw in what was a surprise result for the C side. Paul Hainsworth missed the opening match of the season for his C side, but he took no time to get into his stride and completed an evening of unbeaten singles action. The highlight was a strong straight sets win over Phil Ogier, who had 2 nights prior impressively claimed the Senior Group title. His other wins came against Dan Collenette and Andre De Carteret in straight sets. Andy Gill battled hard in his opening game against De Carteret and saved 3 match points from 7-10 in the deciding game before squeezing through 13-11. He followed up on this with an excellent 4 sets win over Collenette to secure the draw. Each of the B side defeated Charlotte Casey in singles action, however Casey played well in a 5 set defeat to Collenette and a 4 set loss to De Carteret. Ogier overcame Gill in straight sets and he also teamed with De Carteret to overcome Hainsworth and Casey in 5 sets in the doubles match.
Division 2
Whistlers C and Lions G are level at the top of the 2nd Division on 5 points apiece, however there are a further 3 teams on 4 points in what looks to be a very competitive and exciting Division.
The Whistlers side of Kay Chivers, Keith Opie and Ben Sharp were ruthless 10-0 victors over Ravenscroft Panthers B. Despite the brush, 4 of the 10 matches were won over the full 5 set distance, so the result is harsh on the beaten side of Sam Kershaw, Richard Edwards and Pete Vivian. Kershaw lost in 5 sets to both Chivers and Sharp and had led 2-0 and 2-1 in these matches respectively. Edwards and Vivian on the other hand each lost in 5 sets to Opie.
The Lions side missing Luke Le Tissier dropped off top spot after being held to a 5-5 draw by the St Pauls A missing Maurice James. Nye Matthew was on strong form for the joint league leaders after defeating Chas Elliott, Trevor Bourgaize and reserve Derek Carter. Ian Le Page beat Carter in straight sets, whilst reserve Jonah Ingrouille saved his best until the end where he earned a good 4 sets win over Bourgaize in the final game of the night.
Outside of the top, defending champions Lions E are one of the sides on 4 points and they picked up a hard-fought 6-4 win over Whistlers D this week. This win was obtained despite a man of the match performance from Paula Le Ber, who impressively beat Tim Le Page, Steve Ozanne and Carl Le Tissier in singles action. All of the Lions players beat reserve Callum Gilson, whilst Le Page and Ozanne beat Martin Sarre. Le Page and Ozanne also teamed well to win the important doubles clash over Sarre and Le Ber in 4 sets.
Division 3
Lions J have a 2 point lead at the top of the Division and are the only side yet to lose. They defeated Ravenscroft Panthers C 8-2 this week. Edward Rowe and James Crocker each defeated Mick Ingrouille, Juliette Yeaman and Shaun Mosley in singles action. Jayden Tucknott added wins over Mosley and Ingrouille, but was defeated in 4 sets by Yeaman. Mosley and Yeaman picked up a nice 5 set doubles win against Rowe and Crocker.
Division 4
Lions K and Whistlers G are tied at the top after each side won their 2nd consecutive league match.
The Lions side lead the way on games ratio and they beat Whistlers H 7-3 this week. Graham Mallett, Derek Cave and reserve Tim Grosvenor all defeated Jacques Bideau and Sabato Folmi in singles action. Mallett and Cave then teamed to defeat Jacques Bideau and father Mark Bideau in straight sets in the doubles match. Reserve Mark Bideau went unbeaten for his side with 3 strong singles wins.
