Surprised by his victory

THE last remaining 100% record in table tennis' first division has gone, Gary Willcocks defeating Mark Pipet in four sets. Willcocks, who is now 51 and has returned to playing after a couple of years off, played exceptionally well and is a long-time rival of Pipet.

'I quite surprised myself really, but I did not give it a lot of thought,' he said.

'I have only recently come back after a couple of years out. I originally stopped because I had problems with my shoulder, but so far the shoulder's been okay.

'I do not expect anything, I just go out and try to enjoy it. When you just play in the C team, which is only a spoiling team really, there is no pressure on any of us.

'I had no plans going into the match; it just seemed to happen and it was only afterwards that the rest of the team told me Pip had had a 100% record,' added Willcocks.

However, his win was not enough to give Whistlers C their first points of the season as Whistlers A ran out 6-4 winners.

Whistlers A were made to work hard for the points: Martyn Gaudion, Derek Webb and Willcocks all enjoyed a win against Wayne Rihoy.

But Phil Hunkin, with three wins, and Pipet, two, and then the two combining to win the doubles ensured that the joint table-toppers remained that way.

In the other game of the week, joint leaders Lions A had a potentially difficult encounter against their B-side.

On the night, they had no problems, led by Phil Ogier with three wins and superbly supported by the improving James Lesbirel.

Lesbirel had two very good wins against Martin Sarre and under-21 rival Scott Romeril, before losing only narrowly to island player Peter Bretel 11-8 in the fifth.

Lesbirel will be stepping up a level in December, as he has been selected to represent Guernsey in the British league for the first time.

Jeremy Powell chipped in with two wins also and combined with Ogier in the doubles to give Lions A a relatively easy 8-2 win.