With just 3 fixtures left to play in the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues, there is a strong possibility that a number of titles could be decided next week following the outcome of some encounters this week.
Division 1
Defending champions Lions A are one such side that could potentially retain their crown next week as they hold a 4 point advantage at the top ahead of Whistlers A and were emphatic 8-2 winners over Whistlers B this week in a match which saw reserves competing for both sides. Ben Foss continues to play strong table tennis and he romped to a trio of straight sets singles wins over Ben Sharp and reserves Derek Webb and Erin Vaudin. Steve Ozanne and Lions reserve Nye Matthew each defeated Webb and Vaudin in straight sets singles action to secure the win, whilst the doubles rubber was won by Foss and Ozanne in straight sets over Sharp and Vaudin. Sharp won 2 for his beaten side with a 4 set win over Matthew and a straight sets win over Ozanne.
Whistlers A have dropped 3 points this season to 5th placed side Lions C but they made no mistake this week and kept themselves alive in the title race due to a comfortable 7-3 win. Josh Stacey's form is increasing in the run-in to the Island Championships and for the second week running he went unbeaten in singles action. He beat Paul Hainsworth, Andy Gill and Charlotte Casey for the loss of just a single end to Gill in the process. Reserve Mark Pipet defeated Gill and Casey in 4 sets, whilst Gilson defeated Casey in 4 sets to complete the win. The doubles was won by Stacey and Gilson over Gill and Casey in 4 sets. Hainsworth beat Gilson in 4 sets and Pipet in straight sets, whilst Gill earned a tidy straight sets win over Gilson.
Third placed side Lions B remain in the hunt for a runners-up spot as they are just 3 points off 3rd spot. They were comfortable 8-2 winners over bottom placed side Whistlers C in another match with players missing. Phil Ogier and Liam Robilliard each were unbeaten with wins over Matthew Casey and Joseph Bourgaize, however Robilliard's match with Casey went the distance, with the Lions man edging through 14-12. The Lions pair won the doubles rubber over the Whistlers pair in 4 sets. Casey and Bourgaize saved some face as each earned wins over Lions reserve Chloe Le Tissier in 4 and 5 sets respectively.
Whistlers D are still looking in good shape to win the Division 2 crown with a 3 point lead, however their lead has halved in the last 3 weeks. They dropped points for the third consecutive week as 6th placed side Lions E held them to a stalemate. Jez Powell was the difference maker for the Lions side as he won all of his singles matches over Kay Chivers, Keith Opie and reserve Shane Cotter and now looks in a strong position to clinch the Division 2 averages too. Jonah Ingrouille beat Cotter in straight sets and he also teamed well with Powell during their important 5 set doubles win over Chivers and Opie. Ingrouille came very close to giving the win for his side but was beaten by Opie in 5 sets.
St Pauls A are the side in 2nd and there is a big top of the table clash between the sides next week. This week they beat Ravenscroft Panthers A 7-3 despite an impressive unbeaten evening of singles action for Ben Foote. Foote beat Maurice James in straight sets in the match opener before battling past Tim Le Page and Chas Elliott in matching 5 set wins. The St Pauls players cleaned up the other matches over reserves Brandon Ferbrache and Tia Timms whilst the doubles was won by Le Page and Elliott over Foote and Ferbrache in 4 sets.
Ravenscroft Panthers B are the most likely to seal the title next time out as they have an incredibly strong 5 point lead and face 5th placed side Whistlers F next week. This week they were pushed close however but managed to edge through 6-4 over Whistlers G. Steve Martin was important as he won all of his singles matches over Shane Cotter, Ian Fitchet and reserve Robert Naftel. Richard Edwards added wins over Naftel and Cotter before teaming with Martin to win the pivotal doubles match against Fitchet and Cotter in straight sets.
