Whistlers made to battle in their title challenge

WHISTLERS A were made to work hard for their win over Lions B as they attempted to stay with Lions A in the Division One title chase. They got off to a good start, though.

Phil Hunkin beat Peter Bretel 3-0 in the first game of the night and then Mark Pipet took care of Scott Romeril, also in three straight games.

But Martin Sarre, who is playing very well this season, pegged one back for Lions with a win over Wayne Rihoy.

Bretel then played superbly and fought back from two legs to nil down to overcome Pipet in five tight games and levelled the scores at 2-2.

In the key doubles matches, Bretel and Sarre led Pipet and Hunkin two nil, but this time is was the Whistlers pairing that fought back and narrowly clinched the decider 14-12.

The match swung again when Bretel and Romeril both saw off Wayne Rihoy and the pressure fell on Sarre against Hunkin and Pipet to try and grab something for Lions.

Despite Sarre playing some fine attacking table tennis, the luck was not with him and he narrowly lost to both in the fifth set.

With the match score at 5-4 in Whistlers' favour, Hunkin came up against young Romeril knowing a win would secure the points for his side.

Romeril started well and won the first game, 11-8.

He also established a good lead in the second and Lions briefly contemplated an upset.

However, Hunkin pinched the second, 14-12, and from there he was not really troubled as he won the next two games to secure the points for Whistlers.

Lions A had a relatively simple task in seeing off Whistlers B, who were missing the unwell Richard Veale and Helen Fooks.

In their places, veteran reserves Ian Fitchet and Len Bretel both acquitted themselves well, along with Dawn Morgan.

All three beat young James Lesbirel.

But Phil Ogier and Jez Powell had relatively easy nights on their way to three wins apiece and each dropped only one leg.

Powell avenged his defeat to Morgan in the final of the recent Jack Carrington tournament by disposing of the island women's champion by three sets to one.