It is back all square the top of the leading Division of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues following a dropped point by the prior league leaders.
Whistlers A had edged into a single point lead at the top last week after title rivals Lions A had been held to a draw by Whistlers B. This week it was roles reversed as it was the Whistlers side who dropped points in their clash with 3rd placed side Lions B.
Phil Ogier was fresh from his triumph in the Capelles Open Singles just 2 nights prior and was instrumental in the success for his Lions side. He was in fine form during all of his singles encounters as he defeated Josh Stacey, Dawn Morgan and Ryan Gilson impressively without dropping a set. 2nd Division reserve Jez Powell proved to be a more than handy replacement for Liam Robilliard as he too was key to the result on the night. He opened with a straight sets win over Gilson before powering through the 5th and decisive end against Morgan to win 11-5. The Lions side came mightily close to taking the full 2 points but were edged out in 5 sets in 2 extremely well contested matches. The first was the doubles rubber which saw Stacey and Morgan battle past Ogier and Sam Clark 13-11 in the deciding end of a match which they trailled 2-1. Clark was involved in the other tight tussle in the very final match of the night against Gilson and he too led 2-1 in that one. Gilson though just about did enough and clinched the final end dramatically 14-12. Stacey and Morgan each added straight sets wins over Clark, whilst Stacey added a further 3-0 win over Powell.
The result sees it level on points once more at the top, but Lions A are ultimately back at the top mathematically due their superior games ratio over their rivals. They increased this advantage due to their 7-3 win over 5th placed side Lions C this week. Ben Foss was in control during his singles wins over Paul Hainsworth, Andy Gill and Charlotte Casey, dropping just the single end to Casey in the process. Ryan Bichard added a 4 set win over Casey before holding his nerve to battle through a lengthy 5 setter with Gill. He had been leading comfortably 2-0 before the left-hander battled back to force a decider. Gill had led the decider 8-6 but Bichard played some strong table tennis to come through 12-10. Steve Ozanne picked up the 6th rubber for the victors when he beat Casey in straight sets and he also teamed with Foss to beat Gill and Casey in straight sets in the doubles rubber. For the defeated Lions side Hainsworth defeated both Bichard and Ozanne however both of these were from the position of defeat. Ozanne led 8-5 in the deciding end of their encounter before Hainsworth pulled through 11-9 and Bichard led 2-1 before Hainsworth recovered again to win in 5 sets. The other win came from Gill over Ozanne in straight sets.
4th placed side Whistlers B earned their 4th win over the season when they overcame bottom placed side Whistlers C 7-3. Lawrence Stacey was unbeaten with singles wins over Matt Casey in 4 sets and Ellis Tomlin and Joseph Bourgaize in straight sets. Reserve Mark Pipet added wins over Tomlin in 5 sets and Bourgaize in 4 sets, whilst Sharp defeated Tomlin in 4 sets to seal the win. Stacey also teamed with Sharp to claim the doubles match over Tomlin and Bourgaize in straight sets. For the beaten side Casey earned wins over Pipet and Sharp in straight sets whilst Bourgaize defeated Sharp in straight sets.
Whistlers D now have a commanding 3 point lead at the top following their 7-3 win over Lions F. Kay Chivers was unbeaten with wins over Caden Brouard, Carly Tucknott and Jayden Tucknott, whilst Keith Opie added wins against Brouard and Carly. The duo combined to win the doubles rubber over Caden and Tucknott in straight sets. Ken Falla added a further win over Jayden in 4 sets, but was beaten by Carly and Brouard in straight sets in the other matches. Jayden earned himself a handy 4 set win over Opie in the opening match of the night.
Ravenscroft Panthers A are up to level 2nd position with Lions D after they defeated the weakened side absent of both Luke and Chloe Le Tissier 9-1. Craig Dunning and Ben Foote each went unbeaten with wins over Shelby Timms and reserves Terry Trustum and Ian Le Page, whilst Panthers own reserve Sam Kershaw added wins against Timms and Le Page. Dunning and Foote teamed to beat Timms and Trustum in 4 sets. Trustum prevented the whitewash when he beat Kershaw in 4 sets.
Ravenscroft Panthers B are still 5 points clear at the top following their 8-2 win over St Pauls B. Shaun Mosley and Marli Barker each defeated Rob Vile, John Wills and Brian Le Cras in singles action, whilst Steve Martin added wins over Wills and Le Cras. Vile prevented the whitewash due to his 5 set singles win over Martin and his 4 set doubles win alongside Wills over Mosley and Barker.
