The top flight of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues remains to be closely contested with just 2 points separating the top 5 sides.
Whistlers C remain top of the table, but have the same points as Whistlers B. The C side came out winners in the top of the table clash against Lions C this week, although it was a hard-fought encounter which ended 6-4. Alice Edwards proved to be key to the league leaders as she maintained her unblemished start to the season. She beat Liam Robilliard and Matt Stubbington in straight sets singles action and Joshua Butler in 4 sets. She also teamed with Dawn Morgan to win the important doubles clash against Butler and Robilliard in 4 sets, despite losing the opening end. Morgan got the leaders off to the perfect start on the night by beating Stubbington in 4 sets and it was in the very next rubber that Mark Pipet earned a hugely important straight sets win over Butler. Roblliard was the top performer for the Lions side with wins over Morgan and Pipet in straight sets, whilst Butler bounced back well to beat Morgan comfortably in straight sets. Stubbington came through the final match of the night against Pipet in 4 sets.
Despite being behind due to games difference, Whistlers B indeed remain the only side yet to lose in the Division. They maintained this impressive record due to their tight 6-4 win over Lions E. Joshua Stacey was the main man in this fixture as he beat Ryan Bichard, Steve Ozanne and reserve Nye Matthew for the loss of just 2 sets, 1 to Bichard and 1 to Matthew. He also teamed with Joseph Bourgaize to win the doubles against Bichard and Ozanne in 4 sets. Matt Casey was the player to seal the final 2 rubbers as he beat Ozanne in straight sets and Matthew in 4 sets. All of the Lions players beat Bourgaize in singles action, whilst Bichard added a further tightly contested 4 set win over Casey.
Lions B moved up a spot into 4th after their comfortable 8-2 win over bottom placed side Lions D. Ben Foss impressed with an unbeaten evening which included straight sets wins over Charlotte Casey and reserve Jonah Ingrouile, however he did need to withstand a fightback from Paul Hainsworth in the final match of the night, eventually coming through comfortably in the decisive 5th end of their encounter. He teamed well with Jamie Ferbrache to defeat Hainsworth and Casey in 4 sets in the doubles. Jamie and uncle and Division 2 reserve Andy Ferbrache got the B side over the line due to their victories over Casey and Ingrouille, however both were beaten in straight sets by Hainsworth.
Lions A slipped down into 5th placed after being held to a 5-5 draw by 6th placed side Whistlers A. Lawrence Stacey was the decisive factor in the result for his Whistlers side as he was unbeaten in singles action. His best win came against Ogier after he battled back incredibly from 2-0 down and saved multiple match points in the process. Such was the close nature of the clash, the final 3 ends were won by the Whistlers man 15-13, 15-13, 12-10, with the first end also having gone beyond the regulation score when Ogier took it 15-13. In fact none of the ends were won by more than 2 points as Ogier took a tight second 11-9. His other wins were much more emphatic, but he was still tested during his 4 set wins over Jez Powell and Peter Bretel. Ben Sharp and Ryan Gilson each earned straight sets singles wins over Bretel to ensure the point was earned. Ogier and Powell each beat Sharp and Gilson in singles action before combining to beat Stacey and Sharp in 4 sets in the doubles match.
Ravenscroft Panthers D remain top of the Division on games difference, but were clawed back by title rivals Ravenscroft Panthers C due to being held to a 5-5 draw by 4th placed side St Pauls B. Mark Windsor and Mick Ingrouille each beat Derek Carter and John Wills in singles action, whilst the team of Ingrouille and Pierre Jehan won the crucial doubles match over Wills and Rob Vile in 5 sets. The Panthers players were however unable to find the decisive 6th rubber. Jehan came the closest but fell to a 5 set loss to Carter despite having started strongly where he had led 2-0. Vile was the top player on the night as he beat all Panthers players in straight sets, whilst Wills added a 4 set win over Jehan.
