Jersey loss softened by bronze play-off victory

A DAY of mixed emotions saw Guernsey repeat their efforts of 2001 by taking bronze in the team event. Having suffered the disappointment of losing to Jersey in the semi-final, Phil Hunkin and Mark Pipet's squad bounced back to beat Gotland 4-2 in a repeat of their Sunday group match.

As in the earlier meeting, Guernsey found themselves 2-0 down following the opening singles, with Lucas Waring unable to find his touch and Dawn Morgan undone by the precocious talent of 16-year-old Evelina Carlsson.

Not for the first time, Phil Ogier was tasked with opening Guernsey's account and his opening game against Michael Svensson was a thriller, the Guernseyman eventually winning 19-17 against the controlled left hander.

Ogier took the next two games with comparative ease and with his straight games victory over Christer Denneredal sandwiched by the doubles success of Morgan and Kay Chivers, Guernsey led 3-2.

With Svensson due to play Waring in the final singles match, the formbook suggested that any medal hopes rested on the mixed doubles combination of Waring and Chivers.

The opening two games were disastrous with Waring, in particular, completely out of sorts, suggesting that more heartache was to follow for the team.

But in an amazing transformation, something obviously clicked with Waring as he found his range with devastating success.

With Chivers invariably providing the set up, he repeatedly hit the winners to take the final three games, secure the bronze and send the Guernsey contingent wild.

A clearly relieved Pipet was quick to play down his captain's role, heaping much merited praise on his players after picking themselves up from the semi-final defeat, while at the same time ruing the missed opportunities in that match against Jersey.

In a distinctly tactical and tense affair, the Guernsey team appeared to be suffocated by the occasion. To their credit, Jersey played the big points better.

For once, Ogier was unable to provide the early win they craved, losing in straight games to an inspired Dave Cronin and later squandering a 2-1 lead to Eugene Ellis.

Worse was to follow as the Waring-Chivers partnership looked odds on to send the game into the final singles match when leading 2-0, only to see the match slip away and, with it, hopes of a silver medal.

Favourites Isle of Wight duly won gold by defeating Jersey 4-0.