Whistlers A further extended their lead at the summit of the top-flight of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues and now have a 6-point cushion, with around a third of the season completed.
Whilst the lead held by the Whistlers outfit is extremely healthy, they have played a match more than the chasing sides. This week they earned a hard fought 7-3 win over a Lions E side that sit in 6th place. The form of Joshua Stacey has been pivotal in the leaders strong start to the season and he sits clear top of the averages, having lost just 1 singles match of the 21 played so far and that defeat came in the second fixture of the season. Once more he was key to the success as he contributed directly to 4 of the rubbers won by his side. In singles action he defeated Paul Hainsworth, Andy Gill and Connor Powell for the loss of single ends to Gill and Powell, whilst in the doubles he teamed with Joseph Bourgaize to battle back from a 2-0 deficit to overcome Gill and Powell in 5 sets. The form of Bourgaize has also been important for the league leaders and once more he picked up 2 vital singles wins. He started with a tough 4 set win over Gill before comfortably beating Powell in straight sets in the penultimate match of the night. Matthew Casey was far from his best, however he did pick up a consolation win over Gill in straight sets to extend the margin of victory for his side. For the beaten Lions side, Hainsworth beat Casey in 4 sets and Bourgaize in straight sets, whilst Powell repeated his feat from the opening fixture of the season by impressively edging out Casey in 5 sets, 12-10 the score in the deciding end this time.
Lions B are up to 2nd place after they avenged the prior defeat they incurred against Lions D this week. In the opening week of the season they fell to a surprise 7-3 defeat, but this time they turned the tables and won 6-4. As in their prior meeting, Ben Foss led the way strongly with an unbeaten evening of singles action. He defeated Ryan Bichard, Steve Ozanne and Sam Clark without dropping a set. Jamie Ferbrache added a 5 set win over Ozanne and a 4 set win over Clark and also teamed with Foss to win the crucial doubles match against Ozanne and Clark in 4 sets. Each of the beaten D side players picked up straight sets wins over Nye Matthew, whilst Bichard added a further straight sets win over Ferbrache in the match opener.
Lions C are joint 2nd and only behind their B side on games difference following their tight 6-4 win over the bottom placed side, Whistlers B. Jez Powell was the star performer on the night as he beat Mark Pipet, Shelby Timms and reserve Oskar Cleal all in 4 sets. Phil Ogier added wins over Timms and Cleal in straight sets and also teamed with Charlotte Casey to win the important doubles rubber over Pipet and Timms. Each of the Whistlers players defeated Casey in singles action, whilst Pipet rolled back the years and played some fantastic table tennis in the opening game of the match to secure a surprise 4 set win over long-time rival Ogier, just the second singles defeat of the season inflicted on the Lions man.
Whistlers E hold a healthy 4-point lead at the top and took full advantage of a 3rd placed Lions F side missing Ellis Tomlin and won 7-3. Averages leader Craig Dunning defeated Caden Brouard, James Crocker and reserve Aiden Ozanne for the loss of just a single end to Crocker in the process. Oskar Cleal added wins over Brouard and Ozanne in straight sets, whilst Tim Le Page completed the win due to his straight sets win over Ozanne. The doubles match was won by Dunning and Le Page over Brouard and Crocker in 5 sets. Crocker had one of his best nights of the season for the beaten Lions side as he beat both Cleal and Le Page impressively in straight sets, whilst Brouard also overcame Le Page in straight sets.
The 100% winning starts to the season for Lions J and Ravenscroft Panthers C ended for the Panthers side this week and as a result the Lions side are now top by a single point.
The Lions side were missing Aiden Ozanne but still managed to record a strong 8-2 win over Whistlers F this week. Young Luke Evans continues to impress in his debut season in Division 3 and he beat Matthew Board in 5 sets as well as Darren Sarre and reserve Shaun Evans in straight sets. Andy Ozanne and reserve Lionel Jones each beat Sarre and Evans to make sure of the win, whilst Ozanne teamed with Evans to win the doubles against Board and Sarre in straight sets. Board prevented the whitewash on the night due to his straight sets wins over Ozanne and Jones.
The Panthers side rued the absence of Shaun Mosley as they were held to a 5-5 draw by their fellow Ravenscroft Panthers E side. Barney Groves did all he could for the 2nd placed side due to his wins over Albie Lihou, Alex Paul and Hollie Jenkins, all in 4 sets. Steve Martin beat Jenkins in straight sets and also teamed with Groves to win the doubles against Lihou and Jenkins in 4 sets, however they could not find a 6th rubber on the night. All of the E side picked up wins over reserve Xavier Ingrouille, whilst Paul and Lihou each did superbly to pick up 5 set upset wins over Martin, both from being in the position of a 2-1 deficit.
