Guernsey ready for semi-final clash with the old enemy

Two handsome wins completed a fine qualifying performance by the Guernsey table tennis team to sit proudly on top of Group B and set up a mouth-watering semi-final against Jersey. Having laid the foundations on Sunday, the team followed up with 7-0 and 5-2 wins over Aland and Faroe Islands respectively.

With Aland unable to field a woman player, Pete Bretel and Richard Veale won the four remaining matches without dropping a game, making the match against the Faroe Islands academic.

The men's singles drew the best competition of the night as both Phil Ogier and Pete Bretel looked to get the better of former silver medallist Kjartan Eli Hentze

Neither succeeded, although Ogier came closest in the opener, forcing Hentze into numerous errors to take a 2-0 lead.

But as the game settled, so Hentze found his range, regularly forcing Ogier onto the defensive to earn the first win of the evening session.

The only other match to go the full distance saw Bretel dig deep to overcome the stubborn resistance and quality backhand of Peter Niclasen.

Bretel always seemed to have that little extra and eventually took the fifth game 12-10.

With the players clearly enjoying the Beau Sejour conditions, Phil Hunkin's team look well placed to go at least one better than 2001 with just the old adversary in the way.