Whistlers C remain at the helm in the top flight of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues, but they dropped points for the second consecutive fixture leaving their lead at the top at just 2 points.
After being held by Lions A to a 5-5 draw last time out, the leading Whistlers C side tasted just their second defeat of the season, on this occasion a narrow 6-4 loss to an in-form Whistlers A side that are now in the mix with 2 other sides just 2 points adrift. The A side took just 1 win from their first 4 fixtures of the season, but are now on a run of 7 unbeaten, including 5 wins during this period. Their strong run of form has been in part due to the form of Lawrence Stacey and he was once more pivotal in earning a strong result for his side in this clash. He has moved up to second spot in the averages after winning all 3 of his singles matches in the fixture. This included a super 5 set win over Alice Edwards, a result which sees him move ahead in the individual averages. He looked on track to take it comfortably when leading 2-0, however Edwards battled back in characteristic fashion and after levelling at 2-2, looked set to complete the comeback win when leading the decider heavily 8-4. Stacey however showed superb composure to rally back and edge through 12-10. His other wins came against Mark Pipet and reserve Shelby Timms in straight sets. He was also on hand to win the crucial doubles rubber alongside Ryan Gilson against Edwards and Pipet in 5 sets. This was likely the turning point of the match as the A side trailed 3-1 in the match score at this point and Edwards and Pipet were playing well in the doubles. A tight 3rd end edged 13-11 for the A side was key and despite being pushed to a deciding end, Stacey and Gilson had the edge in the decider and took it comfortably 11-7. Gilson himself and Ben Sharp picked up the other 2 rubbers for the victors as each defeated Timms in straight sets. Edwards defeated Gilson in 4 sets and Sharp in straight sets, whilst Pipet fought back well from 2-0 down to beat Gilson in 5 sets, before coming through over Sharp in 4 sets in the final match of the night.
Lions C and Lions A both made no mistakes and closed the gap to 2 points themselves.
The C side are closest by virtue of games ratio and they earned a comfortable 8-2 win over bottom placed side Lions D this week. Matthew Stubbington was in good form for the winning side as he earned tough 5 set wins over Paul Hainsworth and Andy Gill, coming back from 2-1 down in the former and rounded his night off with a straight sets win over Charlotte Casey. Joshua Butler and Liam Robilliard each beat Gill and Casey in singles action, with Robilliard withstanding a fightback from Gill before closing it out in 5 sets. Stubbington and Robilliard combined well in the doubles to beat Hainsworth and Gill in 4 sets. Hainsworth prevented the whitewash due to his straight sets wins over Butler and Robilliard.
The A side had a much tougher test but squeezed past 7th placed side Lions E 6-4. Phil Ogier went unbeaten for his side with wins over Ryan Bichard, Steve Ozanne and Sam Clark, however his clash with Bichard was hard fought and he needed all 5 sets to eventually come through the decider 11-9. Jez Powell added wins over Ozanne in 4 sets and Clark in straight sets and he also teamed with Ogier to win the important doubles clash against Ozanne and Clark in straight sets. There was a welcome return to action from Peter Bretel and despite not winning any of his matches, he pushed Bichard to the limit with some strong table tennis. He fought back from 2-0 before losing out in the deciding end. He also had a close match with Clark, but lost a tight 4th end 12-10.
5th placed Whistlers B played out a 5-5 draw with Lions B in a re-arranged fixture played on Monday evening. Ben Foss was the player of the match as he was unbeaten for his Lions side. He beat Josh Stacey 11-9 in the 5th and deciding set in addition to straight sets wins over Matthew Casey and Joseph Bourgaize. Jamie Ferbrache added a straight sets win over Bourgaize and also combined with Foss to win the doubles over Casey and Bourgaize in 4 sets. For the Whistlers side Stacey beat Ferbrache in 5 sets and Chloe Le Tissier in straight stes, whilst Casey beat Ferbrache in 4 sets and Le Tissier in straight sets. Bourgaize edged Le Tissier in 5 sets in the final match of the night to salvage the draw.
Lions F continue to dominate proceedings in the Division and their 8 point lead remains intact following their 11 consecutive win of the season, this time Lions G the side to taste defeat, by the score of 8-2. Averages leader Nye Matthew continues to be the main man in the Division and he won all of his matches against Andy Ferbrache, Jonah Ingrouille and reserve Luke Le Tissier without dropping a set. Caden Brouard added a 5 set win over Le Tissier and a 4 set win over Ingrouille, but he lost out in 5 sets to Ferbrache. Reserve Terry Trustum defeated Le Tissier in 5 sets and Ingrouille in 4, but lost to Ferbrache in straight sets. The doubles was won by Matthew and Brouard against Ferbrache and Ingrouille in 4 sets.
Ravenscroft Panthers C have a 2 point lead at the top after they beat one of their title rivals in the form of previous leaders Ravenscroft Panthers D 7-3. Becks O'Keefe remains unbeaten in singles action as he overcame Mick Ingrouille, Mark Windsor and Pierre Jehan in singles action. Juliette Yeaman beat Jehan and Windsor, whilst Vikki Stacey added a nice 5 set win over Ingrouille 12-10 in the deciding end. The doubles was won by O'Keefe and Yeaman against Windsor and Jehan in 4 sets.
