Results across the 4 Divisions of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior leagues this week have seen league leaders move ever closer to securing the titles.
Defending champions Lions A made the perfect start to the final round of matches with a comfortable 7-3 win over bottom placed side Whistlers C and thus remain with a healthy 4 point advantage at the top. Ben Foss and Ryan Bichard made no mistakes on the night in their singles matches as each defeated Matt Casey, Joseph Bourgaize and Ellis Tomlin. Steve Ozanne extended the margin of victory when he beat Tomlin over 4 sets. Casey and Bourgaize earned consolation singles wins over Ozanne in 4 and straight sets respectively, whilst the duo earned a nice 4 set win over Foss and Ozanne in the doubles match.
Whistlers A just about kept themselves in touch with the leaders after earning a narrow 6-4 win over 4th place side Whistlers B. Josh Stacey proved to be one of the key factors in this result as he defeated twin Lawrence, Ben Sharp and reserve Matthew Board in singles action, all without dropping a set. Gilson and reserve Mark Pipet defeated Board to put them on the brink and it was left-hander Gilsons close 4 set win over Sharp which sealed the deal. For the defeated side Lawrence beat Gilson and Pipet in straight sets, whilst Sharp beat Pipet in straight sets. Lawrence and Sharp defeated Josh and Gilson in 4 sets in the doubles clash.
3rd placed side Lions B are 3 points behind the Whistlers side and they earned themselves a 7-3 win over 5th place side Lions C this week. Averages leader Phil Ogier continues to show why he has been one of the leading players this season due to his trio of singles wins. He beat Paul Hainsworth in 4 sets as well as Andy Gill and Charlotte Casey in straight sets. Liam Robilliard added wins over Gill and Casey in straight sets, whilst Sam Clark finished the win when he beat Casey in straight sets. The doubles encounter was won by Robilliard and Clark over Hainsworth and Casey in straight sets. For the defeated side Hainsworth beat Robilliard and Clark in straight sets, whilst Gill beat Clark in straight sets.
Ravenscroft Panthers B may be the first team to land a Divisional title as they hold a hefty 5 point lead as well as a considerable games ratio advantage over their nearest rivals Ravenscroft Panthers D. This week they won 7-3 over Lions I despite an unbeaten evening of singles action for Steve Potter. Potter is now 2nd in the averages and he beat Shaun Mosley in straight sets, Richard Edwards in 4 sets and Steve Martin in 5 sets. The Panthers players however managed to navigate their remaining matches against Graham Mallett and Derek Cave to secure the win.
