The top-flight of the Doric Insurance sponsored leagues contains just a single side with a 100% winning record after just 3 weeks and it is the runners-up from the prior season, Whistlers A.
The unblemished leaders put an end to the exceptional start to the season by Lions D, although only just as they edged past the previously unbeaten side 6-4. The outcome of the match could have been very different, but it was the victorious Whistlers side that won 2 pivotal matches over the full 5 set distance during the second half of the contest, both from losing positions. The first of these came in the 6th match of the night and saw Joseph Bourgaize battle back from 2-1 down strongly to overcome Sam Clark 11-8 in the deciding set. The other rubber came in the penultimate match of the night as Joshua Stacey did likewise when he reversed a 2-1 deficit against Steve Ozanne to win the deciding end of their encounter 11-7. Stacey had earlier shown his class with comfortable straight sets singles wins over Ryan Bichard and Clark and he also combined well with Bourgaize in the doubles rubber where they earned an important straight sets win over Clark and Ozanne. The 6th and final rubber came via Matthew Casey and it came just at the right time. Heading into his match with Clark, his side was 5-4 up and he duly converted a 4 set win to seal the result. Bichard and Ozanne both fared well against Casey and Bourgaize in singles action and took 2 singles wins a piece on the night.
Defending champions Lions A were back to full strength this week however it was not enough for them to secure a victory as they were held to a gripping 5-5 draw by Lions C. Phil Ogier proved to be the difference maker on the night as he powered to singles wins over Joshua Butler, Liam Robilliard and Matthew Stubbington for the loss of just a single end to Stubbington in the process. Jez Powell also had a strong evening as he earned 2 pivotal wins over the course of 5 sets during the second half of the match. His first win came against Robilliard where he took the deciding end 11-5, whilst his win over Stubbington saw him need to battle back from 2-1 down to come through the remaining ends 11-8, 11-9. The C side were unable to take a 6th rubber but came closest in the doubles match where Powell and Charlotte Casey led Butler and Robilliard 2-1 before the A side stormed through the final 2 ends for the loss of just 8 points. Casey was unable to take any of her singles matches, whilst Butler added a further 4 set win over Powell.
The leading Whistlers sides, Whistlers D and Whistlers E look strong at this early stage of the season as they are the only sides with 100% winning records. They each showed their quality with heavy wins this week.
The D side lead the way as they have played a match more than their E side. It looked like they would have a tough match against the then unbeaten St Pauls A side, however they made it look fairly easy with a convincing 9-1 victory. Kay Chivers and Jayden Tucknott, fresh from his success in the CI Top 12 Junior qualification event just 2 nights prior, were in strong form and each was unbeaten in the fixture. They defeated Gary Wilcocks, Terry Trustum and Trevor Bourgaize in singles action, however Tucknott had tough matches against both Trustum and Bourgaize. He trailed Bourgaize 2-1 before winning in 5 but made an even better comeback against Trustum as he overcame dropping the opening 2 sets before edging a tight final end 12-10. Keith Opie added further wins against Bourgaize and Wilcocks in 4 sets, however he was beaten by Trustum in straight sets. Chivers and Opie won the doubles match against Trustum and Bourgaize in 4 sets.
The E side were even more ruthless as they churned out a 10-0 whitewash of Ravenscroft Panthers B. Craig Dunning, Tim Le Page and Oskar Cleal all beat Marli Barker, Juliette Yeaman and reserve Steve Martin in singles action. Barker came the closest to preventing the brush when leading Cleal 2-1, however the younger player comfortably won the final 2 ends. The doubles was won by Dunning and Cleal in straight sets over Barker and Yeaman.
Ravenscroft Panthers C and Lions J each extended their impressive start to their campaigns to 5 consecutive wins.
The Panthers side are top due to a stronger games ratio of 3 matches, although this was clawed back by 1 match this week.
They defeated St Pauls B 8-2 this week as Barnaby Groves and Steve Martin were unbeaten. They each earned singles wins over Derek Carter, John Wills and reserve Keira Eldridge in addition to combining to win the doubles over Carter and Wills in straight sets. The Panthers reserve Jamie Regan competed well and earned a win against Eldridge in straight sets. He also played good table tennis in his other matches despite a 4 set loss to Wills and a 5 set loss to Carter.
The Lions side earned themselves a sizable 9-1 win against Lions L in a fixture where Aiden Ozanne and father Andy were unbeaten. They each beat Graham Mallett, Alex Cleal and reserve Derek Cave in singles action. Luke Evans beat Cleal and Cave, but was edged out in 5 sets by the experienced Mallett. The youngsters Ozanne and Evans teamed well in the doubles match where they defeated Mallett and Cleal in straight sets.
Lions O and Ravenscroft Panthers F remain unbeaten at the top of the 4th Division.
The Lions side are top as they have played a match more than their title rivals. They were 9-1 winners over Whistlers H this week. Lionel Jones and Frank Copollo each defeated Sian Craig, Ruth Vaudin and Sandra Sebire in singles action. Katy Collenette defeated Sebire and Vaudin and also teamed with Jones to beat Craig and Vaudin in straight sets in the doubles match. The whitewash was prevented due to Junior Craig's straight sets win over Collenette in the match opener and she also did well to take a set off Jones in the final match of the night.
