A re-arranged clash between the leading Whistlers sides in the top flight of the Doric Insurance sponsored senior table tennis leagues ended in a 5-5 stalemate, leaving just a single point between the title hunting duo.
Division 1
Whistlers B’s 100% winning start to the season came to an end during a gritty 5-5 draw with their main title rivals, defending champions Whistlers A, in a re-arranged fixture brought forward from the end of the month.
Joshua Stacey was the catalyst for the defending champions as he was unbeaten in the fixture. The closest match unsurprisingly came against twin Lawrence, with the clash going to a deciding 5th set, which was edged 11-8. His other wins over Dawn Morgan and Oskar Cleal were in straight sets. Alongside Joseph Bourgaize, the doubles was won over Lawrence and Cleal in straight sets, whilst it was Matthew Casey who held his nerve well in the final game of the match to oust Cleal in 5 sets to salvage a point. For the league leaders, Lawrence, Morgan and Cleal all defeated Bourgaize in singles actions. Lawrence defeated Casey in 4 sets, whilst Morgan fought back well from a 2-1 deficit to edge out Casey 11-9 in the deciding end.
With it being a ghost week for the league leaders, Whistlers A took full advantage of their fixture this week to close the gap, albeit this was unexpectedly tight and required them to navigate their way back from a 3-2 deficit to edge out the bottom placed Ravenscroft Panthers A side 6-4. Despite their position at the foot of the table without a point, the form of Nye Matthew has been impressive for the Panthers outfit. Having removed the 100% singles record of Lawrence Stacey just 2 weeks prior, he followed up with another evening of strong performances. The highlight of this was a high quality 5 set upset of Joshua Stacey, 11-8 the score in the final end. He followed up with strong wins over Casey and Bourgaize in 4 and straight sets respectively. The youthful duo of Barney Groves and Luke Evans did very well to battle past Casey and Bourgaize in 5 sets in the doubles rubber, however the battling Panthers side couldn’t quite secure the pivotal 5th rubber to get themselves running for the season. Evans came the closest when leading Bourgaize 2-1, however the Whistlers man held firm, pinching the crucial 4th set 15-13, before closing it out 11-6 in the decider. Stacey and Casey each beat Groves and Evans in singles action, whilst Bourgaize saved his best for the final fixture of the match, where he overcame Groves in 4 sets.
Lions D find themselves in an impressive 3rd spot, despite having fielded reserves each week thus far. They steered their way to another clutch 6-4 win over an 8th placed Lions C side. The form of Phil Ogier has been key to their success, with the averages leader once more unbeaten. This included strong straight sets wins over Paul Hainsworth and Caden Brouard, however he was tested firmly by Connor Powell in the final match of the night. Despite Ogier holding commanding leads in both of the opening 2 sets, Powell was playing some exceptional explosive table tennis, particularly off the forehand wing and third balls. This enabled him to open up an unexpected 2-set lead, edging them 13-11, 12-10. The third was also tight, however Ogier managed to secure it 11-8 and from here he comfortably closed out the remaining 2 sets. His final win came in the doubles alongside Cameron Powell, where they defeated Brouard and Connor in straight sets. Cameron was the player to determine the outcome of the fixture as he was responsible for victory in 2 very tight matches. First he earned a super 5 set win over elder brother Connor, in a decider that went back and forth before he finally concluded proceedings 15-13. His other win was even better as it saw him fight back from 2-0 down to get the better of Brouard 11-8 in the deciding end. For the beaten Lions side, all players picked up consolation singles wins over 2nd Division reserve Ian Le Page, whilst Hainsworth added a further straight sets win over Cameron.
Lions A remain in 4th spot, however they were defeated 7-3 by 6th placed side Lions B this week. Like Ogier, Alex Robinson for the victors has only been defeated once in singles action so far this season. He showed his quality again here with singles wins over Liam Robilliard, Matthew Stubbington and Sam Clark, dropping just 1 set to Robilliard in the process. Jamie Ferbrache played well during straight sets wins over Stubbington and Clark and also teamed with Robinson to beat Robilliard and Stubbington in straight sets in the doubles rubber. The final win for the victors was a superb 5 set triumph for Division 2 reserve Ollie Sparkes over Stubbington, in a match which he had trailed 2-0. Robilliard and Clark each defeated Sparkes, whilst Robilliard battled back from 2-1 down to edge out Ferbrache in an epic 5th set, 17-15 the score.
Lions E returned to winning ways having lost their last 3 fixtures and moved into 5th position after recording a narrow 6-4 win over a 7th placed Ravenscroft Panthers B side. Jez Powell was the player of the match as he defeated Micah Cohen, Andy Gill and Marli Barker in singles action. He looked to be heading to a trio of straight sets wins, however Barker fought back to parity at 2-2, before Powell closed the decider out 11-6. Steve Ozanne and Mark Fenwick defeated Barker in straight and 4 sets respectively, whilst it was Ozanne that crucially edged past Andy Gill 15-13 in the deciding end to earn the final rubber. For the beaten Panthers side, Cohen impressed with wins over Ozanne and Fenwick in straight sets and 4 sets respectively, whilst Gill dispatched Fenwick in straight sets. Cohen and Barker played very well to win the doubles over Powell and Ozanne in 4 sets.
Division 2
Whistlers D remain a single point clear at the top following a comfortable 9-1 win over Lions G. Kay Chivers and Craig Dunning did drop a set during singles wins over Ian Le Page and reserves Ella Le Ber and Lee Luscombe. They also combined to defeat Le Page and Le Ber in straight sets in the doubles match. Whistlers reserve Keira Eldridge added straight sets wins over Le Ber and Luscombe, however she was defeated in straight sets by Le Page which prevented the whitewash.
Division 3
Whistlers F moved to the top of the Division for the first time this season, although they have played a match more than the unbeaten Ravenscroft Panthers G side, who are just a single point behind. The victory for the Whistlers side came 6-4 over 7th placed side, Whistlers G. Sekao Nwako continues to impress and he had another unbeaten evening. This included singles wins over Ken Falla in 4 sets, Shane Cotter in 4 sets and reserve Derek Cave in straight sets. In the important doubles match, he teamed up with Maija Hansen where they came back from 2-0 down to overcome Falla and Cotter 11-9 in the deciding set. Hansen was the player to secure the other 2 matches and she did this via a 4 set win over Cotter and a straight sets win over Cave. For the defeated Whistlers side, all players defeated Rolands Tracums in singles action, whilst Falla added a further straight sets win over Hansen.
Division 4
Lions K are still top with a single point advantage, however they dropped points for the first time this season, following a surprise 6-4 defeat to 4th placed side Whistlers K. Despite the defeat, Val Guilbert was unbeaten for the league leaders. She defeated Mike Corbin in 5 sets and Ruth Vaudin and Sandra Sebire in 4 sets. In the doubles she combined with Diane Le Page to dispatch Vaudin and Sebire in straight sets. All of the Whistlers players picked up wins over Le Page and reserve Katy Collenette to secure the victory. The closest of these matches saw Sebire outlast Le Page 11-9 in the deciding set of their encounter.