Clinical Whistlers A issue early statement of intent
WHISTLERS A made the best start to the new season in their quest to regain the title.
The 2018-19 Division One champions, who finished runners-up to Whistlers B last season, were ruthless in their 9-1 victory over Lions D.
Lawrence Stacey and Matt Casey each started well with singles wins recorded over Liam Robilliard, Steve Ozanne and Charlotte Casey.
Ryan Gilson had a tougher evening and battled past Casey in four sets before overcoming Ozanne in a hard fought straight-sets win.
He was unable to remain undefeated like his teammates as he went down in four sets to Robilliard. Casey and Gilson teamed up to win the doubles rubber over Ozanne and Casey in five sets.
The defending champions, Whistlers B, have changed since last year as junior Ben Sharp has made the step-up to the First Division for his debut season, replacing Mark Pipet.
They came up against a strong looking Lions A side who had too much firepower in the end and won 7-3, but the result could have been different and hinged on a few lengthy five-set encounters.
Ben Foss starred for the victors due to singles wins over Josh Stacey, Ellis Tomlin and Sharp.
However, that does not tell the full story as he needed to battle back from 2-0 down to Stacey before cruising through the deciding fifth end 11-1.
Ryan Bichard added a further two singles wins over Tomlin and Sharp, but he also needed to come through a five-set encounter over Sharp in the final match of the evening.
Jamie Ferbrache picked up the sixth singles win for the Lions outfit over Sharp and that also went the distance, with Ferbrache mirroring Foss’ efforts of coming back from a 2-0 deficit.
Foss and Bichard won the doubles over Stacey and Tomlin in straight sets to extend the margin of victory.
Stacey beat Bichard in four sets and Ferbrache in straight sets, while Tomlin beat Ferbrache in straight sets.
Lions B were the final winners in the opening week of fixtures after they came through 7-3 over Lions C.
Phil Ogier, Dawn Morgan and Andre De Carteret all earned singles wins over Sam Clark and reserve Brian Ferbrache, with De Carteret fighting back from 2-1 down to beat Clark in the final match of the night.
Ogier and De Carteret won the doubles clash over Paul Hainsworth and Clark in straight sets.
Despite the defeat for his side, Hainsworth made a good start to the season and earned strong four-set wins over Ogier and Morgan as well as a straight sets win over De Carteret.
More table tennis in Wednesday's Guernsey Press.
