Whistlers C remain 2 points clear at the top in the top flight of the Doric Insurance Sponsored senior leagues after being held to a draw by their nearest title rivals Lions C.
The top of the table tussle between the C sides was a tight affair which resulted in a 5-5 draw, which was probably the right result for the fixture. The league leading Whistlers side did control the fixture when leading 4-1 after the doubles rubber, but the Lions side came back strong in the second half to level at 4-4 before the final 2 matches were shared. Joshua Butler put in his best performance of the season for the Lions side during this match as he won all of his singles matches. This was courtesy of straight sets wins over Dawn Morgan and Mark Pipet, but more impressively a 4 set win over Alice Edwards, who was second in the averages prior to the clash. Liam Robilliard defeated Pipet in 4 sets and more crucially came back from 2-1 down against Morgan to take the final 2 sets 11-7, 13-11. Matt Stubbington came close to clinching the victory for the Lions outfit but he fell in 5 sets to Morgan in the match prior to the doubles encounter, despite having led 2-1. Stubbington lost to Pipet in 4 sets in the match opener and Edwards in straight sets. Edwards added a straight sets win over Robilliard and also teamed with Morgan to win the vital doubles clash in straight sets over Butler and Robilliard.
Lions A gained a point on their title rivals and moved level on points with their C side in second spot. They beat a Whistlers A side missing top player Lawrence Stacey 7-3 this week. Phil Ogier and Jez Powell made no mistakes during singles wins over Ben Sharp, Ryan Gilson and reserve Stuart Sarre and the duo also won the doubles over Sharp and Gilson in straight sets. All of the Whistlers players earned consolation victories over Lions reserve Connor Powell.
Lions B are just a further 2 points back after they beat a bottom placed Lions D side missing Paul Hainsworth and Charlotte Casey 7-3. Ben Foss was comfortable during his singles wins over Andy Gill and reserves Jonah Ingrouille and Jayden Tucknott. Jamie Ferbrache beat Ingrouille in 4 sets and Tucknott in straight sets, whilst Chloe Le Tissier beat Tucknott in straight sets. Ferbrache and Le Tissier won the doubles match against Gill and Ingrouille in 4 sets. Gill did well for the defeated side by edging Ferbrache in 5 sets, saving 2 match points when 10-8 down in the 4th and he also beat Le Tissier in straight sets. Ingrouille also played well when he beat Le Tissier in 4 sets in the final match of the night.
Whistlers B are level on points with the Lions B side and still only 4 points off the league leaders after they comfortably beat 7th placed side Lions E 7-3. Joshua Stacey, fresh off his Capelles Open Singles triumph just 2 nights prior, was in strong from and dropped just 1 set during his wins over Ryan Bichard, Steve Ozanne and Sam Clark and this was to the former. Matt Casey added wins over Ozanne and Clark in 4 sets, whilst Joseph Bourgaize beat Ozanne in 4 sets and Clark in straight sets. Bichard beat Bourgaize in straight sets and Casey in 4 sets, whilst he also teamed with Ozanne to win the doubles against Stacey and Casey in 5 sets, coming back from 2-0 down in the process.
The defeat has seen their decisive lead at the top cut by 2 points, however they are still 6 points clear of their closest rivals, Whistlers D.
Lions I remain top following a strong 8-2 win over Whistlers G. Young Cameron Powell continues to impress on his debut season in the 3rd Division as he beat Ken Falla, Shane Cotter and Oskar Cleal in singles action, dropping just the single set to Falla in the process. Steve Potter mirrored this feat, dropping single ends to Cotter and Cleal, whilst Jenny Powell battled past Falla in 5 sets. The doubles was won by Potter and Cameron over Cotter and Cleal in 5 sets.
