The final 100% winning record was ended this week in the top-flight of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues, leaving the table wide open.
Whistlers A failed to maintain their perfect start to the season after they let a 5-3 lead slip against Lions B and the match ended as a 5-5 stalemate. Josh Stacey gave his side the best chance of maintaining their dominant start to the season with an evening of strong performances. He avenged the defeat to Ben Foss just 2 nights prior in the Senior Group tournament to reverse the result and win in 4 very tight sets. His other wins came against Jamie Ferbrache in 4 sets and Nye Matthew in straight sets. Matthew Casey and Joseph Bourgaize both found form at the right time after the doubles encounter as each picked up crucial singles wins over Matthew and Ferbrache respectively, each in 4 sets, however the same duo lost out in the final 2 matches of the night to prevent the perfect record continuing. Foss won twice for his side against Casey and Bourgaize in straight sets, whilst Matthew earned a crucial 5 set win over Bourgaize. Ferbrache saved his best table tennis for the final match of the night where he impressively dispatched Casey in straight sets and he had also earlier teamed well with Foss in a pivotal 4 set doubles win over Stacey and Casey in a match where they edged the final 3 sets 14-12, 14-12, 12-10.
Defending champions Lions A took full advantage of the slip and are now just 2 points behind, with a game in hand, following their strong 7-3 win over 3rd placed side Lions D. Joshua Butler, Liam Robilliard and Matthew Stubbington all defeated Steve Ozanne and Sam Clark in singles action to make sure of the victory. The doubles was won by Butler and Robilliard as they stormed back from 2-0 to win the final 3 sets comfortably against Ryan Bichard and Clark. Bichard had a strong evening and was unbeaten in singles action for his side. He defeated Butler and Stubbington in 4 sets but had his toughest test during his opening contest against Robilliard. Robilliard battled back from 2-0 down to restore parity and in the end Bichard did just enough to come through the decisive 5th end 14-12.
4th placed side Lions C were held to a 5-5 draw by Lions E, in a result which has seen the E side earn their first point of the season and move off the bottom of the table. Phil Ogier was clinical for the C side as he beat Paul Hainsworth, Andy Gill and Connor Powell in singles action without dropping a set. He also teamed well with Jez Powell in the doubles match where they defeated Gill and Powell in straight sets. Jez added a further straight sets win of his own over son Connor, however he was unlucky to not add the further win required to get his side over the line. He looked in cruise control when leading Gill by one set and comfortably leading the second 10-5, however Gill battled back superbly to pinch the 2nd set 13-11 and he also made things difficult for Powell and edged the following ends 12-10, 13-11 to win in 4. His other opportunity came against Hainsworth in the 8th match of the night. Hainsworth had looked comfortable when leading 2-0 before Powell battled back well to force the decider. Hainsworth was however always in front and with fortune on his side was able to close it out 11-7. The other wins for the E side came against the C side's reserve Cameron Powell, however brother Connor did need the full 5 sets to come through in the crucial final match of the night.
Incredibly almost half of the league table, 4 sides, are all joint top with 8 points. Despite this fact, only 2 of these sides maintains 100% winning records, as the other 2 sides, Lions F and Whistlers C, have played 6 and 5 matches respectively.
Whistlers D and Whistlers E are the sides with perfect records and the D side has the better games ratio by a single match.
Ravenscroft Panthers C and Lions J remain locked at the top as each has won their first 6 matches of the season.
The Panthers side maintain their position officially at the top due to their superior games ratio and this was extended this week due to their unbeatable 10-0 whitewash of fellow side Ravenscroft Panthers D. Barnaby Groves, Steve Martin and Shaun Mosley all defeated Mick Ingrouille, Vikki Stacey and Huxley Le Conte in singles action. Ingrouille came the closest to picking up a win in the final match of the night, but Groves edged the deciding 5th set 12-10 to preserve his own 100% singles record so far this season. He had also earlier been on the ropes against Stacey, but managed to fight back strongly from a 2-0 deficit to win in 5 sets. The doubles was won by Martin and Mosley against Le Conte and Stacey in 4 sets.
The Lions side may not have won 10-0, but they were mightily impressive themselves and overwhelmed St Pauls B 9-1. The youthful Luke Evans and reserve Henri Whitehorne both impressed with singles wins against Rob Vile, John Wills and Brian Le Cras and they also teamed to win the doubles over Vile and Wills in 5 sets, despite losing the first 2 sets. Andy Ozanne added wins over Vile in 4 sets and Le Cras in straight sets, however he was beaten in 4 sets by Wills in a match which prevented the brush.
Lions O and Ravenscroft Panthers F are locked together at the top as each side has won all 5 matches contested so far this season.
