The top flight of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues saw a surprise outcome this week which has resulted in 3 sides being locked together at the top once more.
Division 1
League leaders Whistlers A had a 2 point advantage heading into the 7th fixture of the season and had on the face of it what looked to be a routine clash with 5th placed side Lions C. The C side however had proved to be a thorn in the sides of the leaders, as they had been held to a 5-5 draw earlier this season in one of just 2 fixtures where they had dropped points this season. On that occasion Paul Hainsworth had been unbeaten in singles and doubles action and the Lions captain and President mirrored that impressive feat this week where his side manage to secure a mightily impressive 6-4 triumph. Hainsworth's opening clash of the fixture was in the opener of the night against Josh Stacey and the outcome mirrored their encounter earlier in the season. In the earlier encounter Hainsworth had saved 3 match points whilst 10-7 down in the 4th set of their encounter before winning in 5 sets and on this occasion 2 match points were saved from 10-8 down in the deciding 5th end when he battled hard to reel off 4 consecutive points to edge it 12-10. His other singles wins came over Ryan Gilson in straight sets before he held his nerve to earn a 4 set win over Dawn Morgan in the final match of the night. The doubles success was also a repeat of the earlier clash in the season as it saw Hainsworth and left-hander Andy Gill team up to successfully overcome the strong pairing of Stacey and Morgan. On this occasion they needed 4 sets to come through, after comfortably losing the opening set. Gill was the player to pick up the other important rubbers for the victors on the night and he started this off with a strong 4 set win over fellow southpaw Gilson. His other win was a key victory as it saw him power past Morgan in 4 sets in impressive fashion after having lost the opening end 11-3. Each of the Whistlers players picked up consolation singles wins over Charlotte Casey, whilst Stacey also earned a straight sets win over Gill. The win for the Lions C side makes them the form side of the Division following 2 wins and a draw in their last 3 matches and they are now up to level 4th with Whistlers B.
The defeat for the prior league leaders enabled Lions A and Lions B to move level on 10 points at the top of the table due to their comfortable victories.
Lions A are now officially top of the table on games ratio after they beat 4th placed side Whistlers B 7-3. Ben Foss, Ryan Bichard and Steve Ozanne all performed well during singles wins over Ben Sharp and Paula Le Ber. The closest of these was Ozanne's clash against youngster Sharp, but the Lions player held his nerve to clinch the decider 11-7 after Sharp had battled back from a 2-0 deficit. Foss and Bichard combined well in the doubles to defeat Lawrence Stacey and Sharp in 4 sets. Averages leader Lawrence had a strong evening which saw him pick up singles wins over all Lions players, dropping just single ends to Foss and Bichard in the process.
Lions B are locked on the exact same games ratio as Whistlers A after they emphatically defeated Whistlers C 9-1. Phil Ogier and Liam Robilliard were both comfortable during their singles wins over Matthew Casey, Joseph Bourgaize and Ellis Tomlin and they also combined to beat Casey and Tomlin in straight sets in the doubles match. Sam Clark added straight sets wins of his own against Casey and Tomlin, but was unable to complete the whitewash due to his 5 sets defeat to Bourgaize. He had clawed back from 2 sets down to force a deciding end, but Bourgaize played good table tennis to take the 5th 11-7 and prevent the brush in the process.
Next week will see a top of the table clash between Whistlers A and the only unbeaten side in the league, Lions B.
Whistlers D failed to take full advantage of the slip by the Panthers side as they were held to a 5-5 draw by 5th placed side Lions F. This result means they are now tied on the exact same points and game ratio as the Panthers side in second. Nye Matthew and Caden Brouard both played well for the Lions side as they each defeated Keith Opie and Erin Vaudin in singles action. Junior Jayden Tucknott continues to improve in his debut season in the 2nd Division and he battled hard to get past Vaudin in 5 sets and make sure of the win. He also came very close to securing a surprise win for his side but just fell short 11-9 in the deciding leg during his match with Opie. Kay Chivers was in good form for her side and managed to defeat all of the Lions players in singles action. She also teamed with Opie to win the important doubles match against Brouard and Tucknott in straight sets.
Ravenscroft Panthers B held onto their single point advantage at the top after they whitewashed St Pauls B 10-0. Steve Martin, Shaun Mosley and Richard Edwards all beat Rob Vile, John Wills and Brian Le Cras in singles action. Martin and Edwards beat Wills and Le Cras in straight sets in the doubles match.
