Stubbington prevents whitewash and pushes island star Dodd

LIONS A extended their lead at the top of the Doric Insurance First Division with a comprehensive 9-1 victory over Whistlers C. Current Channel Island senior top 12 holder Garry Dodd was on good form during his decisive straight sets victory over the experienced 14-time women's singles island champion Dawn Morgan. However, Dodd was tested by both of Morgan's team-mates.

Junior Matthew Stubbington had Dodd on the rails during their encounter which went all the way.

Stubbington fired himself into a 2-1 lead following three tight deuce games through relentless attacking table tennis. Dodd was continually forced away from the table, which produced some exceptional rallies for all in attendance.

Dodd upped his game in the following two games as he so often does to complete the five-set victory.

Andy Gill was the other player to test Dodd on the evening, as he emulated Stubbington's feat of gaining a 2-1 lead.

Unfortunately for Gill, the game followed the same pattern with Dodd maintaining composure to close out the remaining two games and earn victory.

Six-times island men's singles champion Phil Ogier was also on winning form as he too won all three of his singles matches.

Ogier dispatched Gill in straight games and Stubbington in four. However, he found himself in a real battle with Morgan, the latter making the better start to storm into a 2-0 lead.

Ogier's experience was evident for all to see as he reeled off the following three games to complete the five-sets win.

The Lions side were without team member Pete Bretel through illness, which gave reserve Steve Brouard the opportunity to stand in. Brouard accounted for himself well, beating Gill in straight sets and Morgan in five, but he was unable to defeat Stubbington, who edged the match in a final set, preventing the whitewash.

The win sees the Lions side extend their lead at the top to three points ahead of Whistlers B.

Whistlers A battled back from their defeat at the hands of their A side with a 7-3 victory over Lions B.

The Whistlers side were missing the influential Alice Loveridge, but reserve Martyn Gaudion proved to be a reliable option.

Gaudion, Mark Pipet and Phil Hunkin all won two of their singles with victories over both Martin Sarre and Tim Le Page. Hunkin and Gaudion also teamed up to defeat the Lions pairing of Le Page and Paul Hainsworth in the doubles in straight games.

Hainsworth won all three of his singles matches for the Lions side for the first time in a top-flight match. However it was not enough to salvage any points for the winless Lions B side.

Hainsworth beat Pipet in straight games: Gaudion in four and Hunkin in five tight ones.

Division Two leaders Lions C dropped a vital point at the hands of Whistlers H.

The Lions side did well to salvage a point though, as they started the match at a 3-0 deficit by virtue of only having Carl Le Tissier and Liam Robilliard available for play.

Robilliard and Le Tissier both did well to win two singles matches, beating Miles Bishop-White and upcoming junior Lawrence Stacey and they also teamed up to defeat the Whistlers pairing of Bishop-White and GTTA president Derek Webb in the crucial doubles encounter.

Webb himself was influential in gaining his side a point following his two five-set victories over both Le Tissier and Robilliard.

Lions C's draw opened the door for Whistlers G to close in on the leaders through their 9-1 demolition of Panthers A.

Ian Fitchet and Sam Kershaw were on excellent form each winning their three singles matches and were well backed up by Len Bretel who added two.

Andy Langlois prevented the whitewash though his impressive five-set victory over Bretel, coming back from two games down.

Whistlers G now sit level on points with the league leaders, with only games difference separating them.