Phil Hunkin won a vital rubber against Garry Dodd to help Whistlers A earn a draw against Lions A. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0570868)

BOTH Lions A and Whistlers A were unbeaten going into their top-of-the-table clash and having drawn 5-5 earlier in the season, it was evident that this was going to be a crucial encounter.

For the second successive time, the match ended in stalemate. Lions should be more than content with the result as Tim Le Page was absent, automatically giving a 3-0 lead to Whistlers.

Garry Dodd opened strongly for Lions by overcoming Mark Pipet in five games and reducing the deficit to 3-1.

Phil Ogier continued the comeback by comfortably dispatching Phil Hunkin in straight games and this left things nicely poised ahead of the crunch match between the unbeaten Alice Loveridge and Dodd.

The top pair traded the opening four games, but Dodd was never behind and he found some excellent form to romp through the final one 11-2 and inflict Loveridge’s first defeat of the season. In doing so, he levelled the match at 3-3.

Lions were clearly feeling confident and they took the lead for the first time when Dodd teamed up with Ogier to defeat Loveridge and Pipet in a commanding straight games doubles victory.