SENIOR LEAGUE WEEK 01
The 2015/16 season kicked off this week, the main change being the introduction of plastic balls which are to be used in all forms of local table tennis. Previously celluloid balls have been used in the sport and the changes with the plastic balls are subtle.
Division 1

Lions B are the early leaders of the top flight after their crushing 9-1 victory over a Whistlers B side missing star player Alice Loveridge. Olly Langlois' return to local league table tennis was a successful one as he eased past Dawn Morgan and reserve Derek Webb without loss. Chloe Le Tissier made him work harder during their encounter, but ultimately he ran out a comfortable 4 game winner, 11-3 the score in the final leg. Current Island Men's Singles champion Josh Butler never looked in danger of conceding during his singles matches and won all 3 in straight games. Langlois and Butler combined well to defeat the pairing of Morgan and Le Tissier in straight games. Junior Division 1 debutant Ryan Bichard made a good start to his campaign with 2 victories. His 1st ever Division 1 match came against fellow junior Chloe Le Tissier and his impressive display saw him run out as a straight game winner. He struggled against Webb in the next encounter, but managed to come through a see-saw encounter in 5 games. The key to victory for Bichard was the fact that he won 2 of the 3 games that went beyond the regulation 11 point duration. Whilst he competed well against Morgan, he was unable to complete the perfect start and the straight game win for Morgan prevented an opening match whitewash for her side.

Lions A came through a tightly contested fixture against Whistlers C 6-4, despite 3 singles wins for Josh Stacey. The 2015 Island Games squad member started his season in style with a convincing straight game win over Ben Foss. Next up was a 4 game win over Jez Powell and he saved his best for last. In a hard fought match, he manage to see off the challenge of Phil Ogier in 4 games, the final end clinched by the ever so narrow margin of 12-10. Twin Lawrence made the ideal start to the evening for the team by defeating Jez Powell in straight games in the opener, however he was unable to build upon the early success. He battled hard against Ogier and managed to force a deciding leg having trailed 2-1. Ogier had too much in that end though and came through 11-6. His final match against Foss came during the final match of the evening and it was Foss that held his nerve and kept composed to run out a comfortable straight game winner. Reserve Matthew Casey acquitted himself well, but was unable to muster a victory on the night. 4 set defeats against Powell and Foss are encouraging signs for the youngster and his progression up the ranks.

Whistlers A also started their season off with a narrow 6-4 victory, Lions C side to taste defeat. CI Open Top 12 Champion Garry Dodd looked in excellent form and he cruised to straight game wins over Paul Hainsworth, Liam Robilliard and Andre De Carteret. He also combined with Mark Pipet to see off Hainsworth and Robilliard in a straight game doubles win. It was Pipet that secured the other 2 important wins for the Whistlers outfit. He opened with a straight game win over De Carteret and came into the final match of the night against Hainsworth with everything at stake. Hainsworth started well by taking the opener, however Pipet came through tight 2nd and 3rd legs before comfortably claiming the 4th end to secure victory for his team. Pipet was unable to maintain an unbeaten start as he went down in straight games to Robilliard, who put on an excellent display of attacking table tennis. Like brother Matthew, Charlotte Casey also gave a good account of herself during her reserve role. She lost in straight games to Hainsworth, however she managed to extend both Robilliard and De Carteret to 4 games despite losing.

Division 2
Potential dark horses Lions F started off the season in perfect fashion with a 10-0 whitewash over Whistlers E. Jamie Ferbrache, Luke Bichard and Dan Collenette were all on point during their straight game wins over Ian Fitchet, Ryan Gilson and Charlotte Casey. The junior pairing of Bichard and Collenette cruised through the doubles fixture against fellow junior pairing Casey and Gilson in straight games.

Joining them at the top of the table on games difference is Whistlers D, who overcame Lions G 10-0. Kay Chivers, Keith Opie and reserve Ken Falla all claimed their 3 singles victories over Brian Ferbrache, Theo Lepp and Sam Totty. Chivers was tested to the limit during her encounter with Ferbrache in the final match of the evening and needed 5 games to secure the win. Chivers and Opie won the doubles match against the youthful pairing of Totty and Lepp in straight games.

Division 3

The 2nd Division will be split into half following the completion of the 1st round of matches. The top 6 teams will remain as 'Division 2', whilst the lower 6 teams will form Division 3 for the remainder of the season.

Division 4

Lions I are the early leaders after their comprehensive 9-1 win over Whistlers J. Sue Ferbrache made the perfect start to the season upon her return to local table tennis. She defeated Matthew Board, Alex Dekker and Corey Brouard in singles action. Andy Ferbrache was also on hand to claim victory in his 3 singles matches. Sophie Ferbrache was defeated in 4 games by Brouard in her opener, but bounced back well with wins over Board and Dekker. She also combined with Andy to win the doubles over Dekker and Board in straight games.

Division 5
This season is the first time since the turn of the century that a 5th Division has been in operation and the action kicked off a week earlier than all other divisions.
The early winners are Lions L and Lions M who have both recorded 2 wins each. For Lions L, Derek Cave has made a good start with 5 singles wins out of 6, Graham Mallet 4 wins out of 6 and Janine Mallett with 2 wins out of 3. Val Le Messurier also stood in as reserve during the opening week and won her 3 singles matches.
For Lions M, Jenny Powell and Jan Priest have both win 5 of their 6 singles matches. Junior senior league debutant Jonah Ingrouille has made an assured start and won 2 of his opening 6 singles matches.
Author: via Guernsey Table Tennis Association
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