The top flight of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues saw a change in leaders for the 4th consecutive week as the defending champions returned to the summit once more.
Facing a single point deficit, defending champions Lions A moved ahead of their title rivals and previous league leaders Whistlers A after defeating them 6-4 this week.
Ben Foss was instrumental in the victory as he contributed to 4 of the rubbers on the night. In singles action he was in top form due to his wins over Josh Stacey, Dawn Morgan and Ryan Gilson for the loss of just a single end to Morgan in the process. He also teamed well with Ryan Bichard where they came back from 2-1 down to win the important doubles rubber over Stacey and Gilson 11-9 in the deciding end. Bichard himself added a solid straight sets win over Gilson and it was reserve Jez Powell who earned the decisive 6th rubber when he also defeated Gilson in straight sets. Stacey defeated Bichard in 4 sets and Powell in straight sets, whilst Morgan beat Bichard in 4 sets and overturned a 2-0 deficit to edge past Powell in 5.
3rd placed side Lions B earned a narrow 6-4 win over 4th placed side Whistlers B in a match where Division 1 averages leader Phil Ogier extended his advantage at the top. He comfortably beat Ben Sharp and reserve Mark Pipet in singles action without loss but needed to be near his best to overturn a 2-1 deficit to get the better of Lawrence Stacey, who is currently second in the averages. Liam Robilliard defeated Sharp and Pipet and in 4 sets whilst Sam Clark secured a decisive 4 set win over Pipet in the final match of the night to secure the victory, 12-10 in the final end. For the defeated Whistlers side Stacey defeated Robilliard and Clark, whilst Sharp defeated Clark in 4 well contested sets. Stacey and Sharp defeated Robilliard and Clark 3-2 in the doubles despite being 2-1 down.
The final match of the week saw a heavy 8-2 win for 5th placed side Lions C over the side at the foot of the table, Whistlers C. Paul Hainsworth and Andy Gill were each unbeaten on the night with them each earning singles wins over Matt Casey, Joseph Bourgaize and Ellis Tomlin. They also combined to win the doubles match over Bourgaize and Tomlin in straight sets. Charlotte Casey added a 4 set win over brother Matt to extend the margin of victory and lost an agonisingly close 5 setter to Bourgaize 13-11 in the deciding end. Tomlin added the other Whistlers win due to his straight sets win over Casey.
Whistlers D hold a strong 4 point lead at the top however they lost for just the second time this season after being edged out 6-4 by 6th placed side Lions E. Jez Powell is yet to lose a singles match in Division 2 and he continued this feat due to singles wins over Kay Chivers, Keith Opie and Erin Vaudin, all in straight sets. Jonah Ingrouille had a strong evening which saw a straight sets win over Opie and and a crucial 5 set win over Vaudin despite being 2-0 behind. Powell and Ingrouille combined well in the doubles where they overcame Chivers and Vaudin in 4 sets.
The battle behind the leaders is intriguing as there are 3 sides all level on the same points tally. Ravenscroft Panthers A, St Pauls A and Lions D are the sides in question and it was the St Pauls side that got themselves back into the mix with a 6-4 win over the Panthers A side this week.
Chas Elliott and Trevor Bourgaize each defeated Ben Foote and reserve Marli Barker in singles action, whilst Maurice James added a 5 set win over Barker. The doubles was a pivotal fixture and it was won by James and Bourgaize against Barker and Craig Dunning in 4 sets. Dunning was unbeaten for his side in singles action and did not drop a single leg in the process.
Division 3
Ravenscroft Panthers B remain comfortably clear at the top by 5 points and ran out emphatic 9-1 winners over Whistlers G this week. Steve Martin and Shaun Mosely were unbeaten with singles wins over Shane Cotter, Ian Fitchet and Mick Solway, whilst Richard Edwards defeated Fitchet and Solway. Edwards and Mosley defeated Fitchet and Cotter in straight sets in the doubles clash. Cotter prevented the whitewash with a fine straight sets win over Edwards.
