It remains tightly contested at the summit of the top flight of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues, however the lead changed for the 3rd consecutive week following some more close encounters.
Defending champions Lions A were back top last week but have slipped a point behind the leaders Whistlers A again this week after being held to a 5-5 draw by 3rd placed side Lions B.
Averages leader Phil Ogier has lost just 2 singles matches this season and he was pivotal for his B side in them obtaining the point. He impressively defeated Ben Foss, Ryan Bichard and Steve Ozanne without dropping a set. Liam Robilliard returned to action strongly courtesy of 4 set wins over both Bichard and Ozanne to secure the draw. Foss defeated Robilliard in straight sets and also teamed with Bichard to secure victory in the important doubles rubber over Ogier and Robilliard in 4 sets, whilst all of the A side's players picked up wins over Sam Clark. Clark came mightily close to securing the full points for the B side but was edged out 11-9 in the deciding end of his match with Ozanne.
Whistlers A's return to the top was far from straight forward as they needed to battle to edge past the side at the bottom of the table, Whistlers C 6-4. Josh Stacey put in a strong shift with singles wins over Matthew Casey, Ellis Tomlin and Joseph Bourgaize, dropping just 1 set to Tomlin in the process. Morgan and Ryan Gilson each defeated Tomlin to put the leaders on the brink and Morgan's narrow 5 set win over Bourgaize was the decisive rubber. Casey played well for his side with 5 set wins over both Morgan and Gilson whilst Bourgaize earned a solid straight sets win over Gilson. The doubles was won in straight sets by Casey and Bourgaize over Morgan and Gilson.
The final match of the week saw a 5-5 draw between 4th placed side Whistlers B and 5th placed side Lions C. The Lions side were unlucky not to snatch the victory having lost 2 5 set matches in which they led 2-0. Paul Hainsworth and Charlotte Casey fell to defeat in the doubles against Lawrence Stacey and Ben Sharp from 2-0 up, whilst the final match of the night saw Casey's 2-0 lead against Sharp disappear as the youngster battled back to edge the deciding 5th end 11-9. Hainsworth and Andy Gill each beat Ben Sharp and reserve Erin Vaudin in singles action, whilst Casey's straight sets win over Vaudin secured the point. Stacey was in good form for his side with a trio of wins over the Lions players, dropping just single ends during 4 set wins over Hainsworth and Gill.
Whistlers D hold a strong 4 point advantage at the top after their comfortable 8-2 win over Lions D this week. Kay Chivers and Keith Opie were both unbeaten on the night and it was just victories for Chloe Le Tissier and Shelby Timms over Erin Vaudin which prevented the whitewash.
Ravenscroft Panthers B remain 5 points clear at the top after they defeated Lions I 7-3. This was despite an unbeaten evening of singles action for Steve Potter, who defeated Shaun Mosley, Steve Martin and Richard Edwards in singles action. The Panthers trio made sure of the win due to their triumphs over Graham Mallett and Derek Cave in singles action whilst Martin and Edwards defeated Potter and Mallett in 4 sets in the doubles clash.
