Whistlers B remain in pole position for the top flight crown in the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues and maintained their healthy 5 point lead at the top following victory over Lions D this week.
The Whistlers side did come up against some tough resistance from the side at the foot of the table though and only edged through 6-4. Averages leader Joshua Stacey proved decisive for his side as he earned a trio of straight set singles wins over Liam Robilliard, Corey Brouard and reserve Josh Butler. Ellis Tomlin also contributed with important wins over Robilliard and Brouard in 4 and straight sets respectively. Mark Pipet finished off the win courtesy of an excellent 5 set win over Butler in a clash where he battled back from 2-1 down. For the Lions side Robilliard defeated Pipet in straight sets, whilst Brouard battled back impressively from a 2-0 deficit to overcome Pipet. Butler comfortably beat Tomlin in straight sets, whilst Robilliard and Brouard earned themselves a solid 4 set doubles win over Stacey and Tomlin.
Whistlers A continue to chase the leaders and they earned themselves a 7-3 victory over 4th placed side Lions B this week. Lawrence Stacey, Matthew Casey and Ryan Gilson each picked up singles wins over Dan Collenette and Andre De Carteret to make sure of the win, whilst Stacey and Gilson overcame De Carteret and Phil Ogier in 4 sets in the doubles rubber. Ogier continued his strong from after retaining his Jack Carrington trophy 2 nights prior by completing an unbeaten evening of singles action. This included straight sets wins over Casey and Gilson and an excellent 5 set win over Stacey.
3rd placed side Lions A slipped a point behind 2nd spot after being held to a 5-5 stalemate by 5th placed side Lions C. Paul Hainsworth was in good form for the C side due to his unbeaten night of action. He earned a surprise 4 set win over Ben Foss on top of straight set wins over Ryan Bichard and Jamie Ferbrache. He also combined well with Charlotte Casey as the pair overcame Bichard and Ferbrache in 4 sets in the doubles rubber. Andy Gill played to a high level in the final match of the night where his straight set win over Bichard secured the unlikely point for the C side. Foss and Ferbrache both defeated Gill and Casey in singles action, whilst Bichard earned a win over Casey.
Division 2
The 2nd Division is the closest contested Division across the board and the highly anticipated clash between Lions F and Whistlers C took place this week. Both sides were level on points ahead of the clash and it was the Lions side that dealt a crucial blow by inflicting a 7-3 defeat on the Whistlers outfit. Jez Powell proved to be decisive for his side as he picked up a hat trick of singles wins. This saw him defeat Kay Chivers and Keith Opie in 4 sets and Junior player Ben Sharp in straight sets. Andy Ferbrache had a strong evening which included a straight sets win over Opie and an important 5 set win over Sharp in a match which he trailed 2-1. Caden Brouard also did well to come back from 2-1 down during a 5 set win over Opie and he was very unlucky to be edged out 13-11 in the deciding end by fellow junior Sharp, having led that match 2-1. Powell and Brouard combined strongly in the doubles match where they beat Chivers and Sharp in straight sets.
Division 3
Lions H's lead at the top reduced to 10 points after the weakened side were held to a 5-5 draw by Ravenscroft Panthers C. Brian Ferbrache led the way strongly for the league leaders due to his matching 4 set wins over Mark Windsor, Mick Ingrouille and Juliette Yeaman. Jonah Ingrouille added wins over Yeaman and Ingrouille in 5 sets, but lost out to Windsor in straight sets. Each of the Panthers players picked up singles wins over reserve Sophie Ferbrache, whilst Ingrouille and Yeaman played well during their 4 set doubles win over Ferbrache and Ingrouille.
Division 4
