Senior League Week 04
Division 1
Lions B maintained their single point lead at the top of the first division, but were required to complete the great escape on their way to a narrow 6-4 win over Whistlers C. The Whistlers side were in the driving seat at 4-1 following completion of the doubles fixture, however the league leaders mopped up the final 5 games of the match to earn the win. Joshua Butler was the sole winner in the opening 5 games and this was achieved via a comfortable straight game win over reserve Charlotte Casey. Joshua and Lawrence Stacey both defeated Ryan Bichard and Stacey also overcame Lions' reserve Matt Stubbington in 4. The twins combined to win the doubles encounter with Butler and Bichard in 4 games. It was Butler who set the tone for the fightback, commencing with a commanding straight game win over Lawrence before overcoming Joshua in 4 games in the 8th match of the night. Sandwiched between those 2 wins was a 4 game win for Stubbington over Casey. It looked like it was going to be a nightmare evening for Bichard when he trailed Casey 2-1, but he handled the pressure very well in the tight 4th, edging it 12-10. He cruised through the 5th end. The result was left down to the clash between Stubbington and Lawrence and the Lions player led throughout the encounter, claiming the 5th and final end 11-7.
Lions A remain hot on the heels of their B side ahead of their crunch clash next week. They overcame their C side 7-3 this week in a match where Phil Ogier remained unbeaten. He defeated Liam Robilliard in 4 games having already overcome Paul Hainsworth and Andre De Carteret in straight games. He paired with Ben Foss to win the doubles match against Robilliard and Hainsworth in 4 games. Foss himself added 2 important wins over Hainsworth and De Carteret, both in 4 games, to make sure of the win for the A side. Jez Powell also chipped in with a 4 game win over De Carteret, but he was defeated by Robilliard in straight games and Hainsworth in 5. Robilliard earned the other win for the defeated C side courtesy of a 4 game win over Foss.
Whistlers A's 2nd win of the season has elevated them to 3rd spot in the table. The 7-3 win over Whistlers B saw undefeated Garry Dodd continuing his impressive start to the campaign and he won all of his matches, including the battle against the only other player yet to lose a singles match in the Division, Alice Loveridge. Their encounter was a high quality competitive affair and Dodd made no mistakes in duly converting the win in straight games. His other wins came over Dawn Morgan and reserve Matthew Casey in straight games. Mark Pipet beat Morgan in 4 games and Casey in straight games in addition to combining with Dodd to post a straight game doubles win over Loveridge and Morgan. The final win by the A side came in the final match of the evening between reserves Ryan Gilson and Casey. Casey came storming out of the blocks and led 2-0, however Gilson showed true battling qualities and he powered through in 5 games.
Division 2
Lions F and Lions D both maintained their 100% winning record this week and lead the way at the top by a single point.
The F side still have the superior games difference ratio and this was strengthened further courtesy of their dominant 9-1 win over Ravenscroft Panthers B. Jamie Ferbrache and Dan Collenette both impressed with wins over Peter Vivian, Steve Martin and reserve Nick Windsor. They also paired to win the doubles match over Vivian and Martin in 4 games. Luke Bichard was the sole remaining player in the division yet to lose at the start of the night, however his 100% was surprisingly lost in the opening match of the evening, as Vivian came through in 4 games. He showed good maturity to put that loss out of his mind and he comfortably dispatched Martin and Windsor in straight games in his other matches.
Lions D had a much tougher challenge and they edged out Whistlers D 6-4. Martin Sarre and reserve Terry Trustum both deputised with wins over Keith Opie and Stuart Sarre and Ian Le Page added an important 4 game win over Sarre. Even more vital was the excellent 5 game doubles triumph obtained by Sarre and Le Page over the experienced quality combination of Chivers and Opie. Chivers earned singles wins over Sarre, Trustum and Le Page, however the only other Whistlers win on the night came via Opie's 4 game win over Le Page.
Division 4
Lions I maintained their 2 point lead at the top, however they were pushed hard during their close 6-4 win over Ravenscroft Panthers C. Andy Ferbrache was the best performer due to his wins over Billy Ogier, Mark Windsor and Mick Ingrouille. He also teamed up with niece Sophie Ferbrache during their 4 game doubles win over Windsor and Ingrouille. It was however left to Lions' reserve Rose Powell to see the victors over the line. Her 5 game win over Windsor and 4 game win over Ingrouille were vital towards the result.
Division 5
Lions L held onto their single point gap at the top of the 4th after a comfortable 8-2 win over their M side. Derek Cave has made a terrific start to the season and he continued with his good run via wins over Jan Priest, Jonah Ingrouille and reserve Rose Powell. Graham Mallett and daughter Janine added wins over Powell and Ingrouille and it was the team of Cave and Janine that won the doubles clash over Priest and Ingrouille in straight games. Priest beat Graham and Janine and the M side will rue the absence of Jenny Powell, who has only lost 2 singles matches thus far this season
Author: Martin Sarre via Guernsey Table Tennis Association
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