Division 1
The top of the table clash between Lions B and Lions A ended as a 5-5 stalemate in a result that leaves the former with a 5 point lead intact ahead of the 4th and final round of matches of the season. Garry Dodd made the perfect preparations for the defense of his eventual CI Open Top 12 title with singles wins over Phil Ogier, Paul Hainsworth and reserve Martin Sarre, dropping just the 2 ends during his 5 game win over Hainsworth. He also teamed with Liam Robilliard to defeat Ogier and Hainsworth in a straight game doubles win. Robilliard defeated Sarre in the final match of the evening to salvage a point for the A side, who had trailed 5-3. Ogier and Hainsworth were each on hand to add wins over Robilliard and reserve Ryan Bichard and it was Sarre that crucially won the battle between the reserves, courtesy of his 4 game win over the youngster.
3rd placed side Lions C followed up on their win against their A side last week with a 6-4 win over Whistlers A. Alex Robinson was the best performer in the encounter with wins over Joshua Stacey, Lawrence Stacey and Dawn Morgan, losing just a single leg to Joshua. Joshua Butler overcame Morgan in straight games and Lawrence in 4 games, but he was unable to get the better of his namesake in the closest game of the match. The 5 set game went all the way in the decider and both players saw match points come and go, with each player also sharing good fortune on some of the big points. Ultimately it was Stacey that came through on this occasion, 15-13 the outcome. Robinson and Butler paired to win the important doubles over Joshua and Morgan in 5 games, overturning a 2-1 deficit in the process. Andre De Carteret was beaten by each of his Whistlers opposition, but he fought hard in his match with Lawrence. He came back from 2-0 down to force a decider, however it was the 19 year old that came through 11-9 in the tight end.
Division 2
Last week the Division 2 league leaders result mirrored the 1st Division leaders and there was another repeat performance this week, with Whistlers D being held to a 5-5 draw with Whistlers C. Averages leader Jez Powell has lost just once this season to Kay Chivers but he was in no mood to make the same mistake again and defeated her in straight games, a win to add to his other singles wins over Keith Opie and reserve Dan Collenette in 4 and 3 games respectively. Ryan Bichard beat Collenette in 4, which was the same amount of games that he and Powell required to get past the experienced pairing of Chivers and Opie in the pivotal doubles match. As with the top of the table clash in Division 1, the outcome of the game between the 2 reserve players proved decisive in the outcome. Collenette was involved in the humdinger with Ryan Gilson and managed to come back from 2-0 down to win 11-7 in the 5th.
St Pauls A just about managed to capitalise on the dropped point due to their narrow 6-4 win over Whistlers E. Ian Fitchet spearheaded the challenge with singles wins over Chas Elliott, Maurice James and Trevor Bourgaize. Sam Kershaw beat James in 5 games having needed to come back from 2-0 down to do so. The difference between a draw and 6-4 was tiny as Fitchet and Kershaw lost the doubles encounter against James and Bourgaize 13-11 in the 5th and Kershaw then lost the proceeding singles match against Bourgaize 11-9 in the 5th. Each St Pauls player defeated Len Bretel to make sure of the points.
Division 3
Lions G returned to winning ways after 2 consecutive draws, but they needed to work hard to get past Whistlers H 6-4. Averages leader Jamie Ferbrache had only lost 1 singles match prior to the fixture, but he was beaten in 4 games by Matthew Casey in the opener, the inspired junior who then went on to beat Andrew Ferbrache in 5 and Sophie Ferbrache in straight games. Alex Dekker overcame Sophie in 4 games, but they could not salvage any further wins from the encounter.
Division 4
Lions J kept their commanding 6 point lead at the top of the 4th and ran out convincing 9-1 winners over Whistlers L this week. Sam Totty and Diane Le Page defeated Chris Mcquaigue, Imogen Bishop-White and Ellis Tomlin in singles action. Val Guilbert defeated Bishop-White and Tomlin, but she was beaten by Mcquaigue 3-2 in the final fixture of the evening. Totty and Guilbert won the doubles match against Mcquaigue and Tomlin in 4 games.
