E team close in on title

WHISTLERS E have taken a major step towards securing the Division Two title with a hard-fought 7-3 win over main rivals Lions F. The two sides had been tied at the top of the table with exactly the same number of points. Whistlers went into an early lead with Kay Chivers beating the promising Gary Dodd in four games, although the young left- hander gave Chivers a lot to think about and made her hard for the win.

The second game between Kieran Guilbert and Paul Hainsworth was one of the key ones on which the match revolved.

Lions' Hainsworth had to win and the two youngsters served up a five-game thriller with Guilbert just coming out on top: 7-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9.

Lions got off the mark for the evening with Brian Ferbrache seeing off Keith Opie but, decisively, Whistlers hit back winning the next three games.

Chivers beat Hainsworth in four, Chivers and Opie won the doubles 11-6 in the decider and Opie won in straight games against Dodd.

With Whistlers needing only one more game to take the match Guilbert took on Ferbrache, who was in fine form and comfortably beat the youngster in straight games. But the glimmer of hope for Whistlers was snuffed out by Opie who beat Hainsworth 11-4 in the decider.