Lions B shock league leaders

LIONS B did their A-team a huge favour by holding Division One leaders Whistlers A to a surprising draw. Whistlers led 4-1, but prompted by a convincing defeat of Wayne Rihoy by Scott Romeril, Lions staged a fine comeback.

They had led after the first game. Rihoy took the first two legs against Peter Bretel, before the latter steadied down and took the next three.

In the second match a determined Martin Sarre gave the island's top player - on current form - all sorts of problems, winning the first two sets in stunning fashion against Mark Pipet.

In the third, Sarre continued his fine start and at 10-8 up looked like causing an upset. Pipet, however, continued to play positively and with a lucky net cord at 10-9, took the game to deuce.

Four more hotly-contested rallies later and Pipet had rescued the game, winning the third 13-11. Sarre had missed his chance and in the next two games, Pipet took control and ran out the winner.

The third game saw young Romeril take on Phil Hunkin. After Romeril's recent win over island champion Phil Ogier, he was on the prowl for more notable scalps.

Romeril started brightly and was playing well and it was only Hunkin's blocking and luck that kept him in the early stages.

Hunkin hung in and in the end won in straight sets, but not without having to put in some hard work.

Bretel then took on Pipet in the game of the evening involved several excellent rallies.

In the end, Pipet had just enough answers to Bretel's power and won 11-8 in the fifth game, with Bretel ruing chances that slipped away.

Hunkin and Pipet then teamed up to take the doubles in reasonable comfort.

So, at this stage Whistlers held a comfortable 4-1 lead.

Romeril started the comeback with a convincing win over Rihoy, 11-7, 11-2, 11-4.

Sarre then took on Hunkin and took out a few frustrations in a consistent attacking display win in three straight sets.

However, Pipet gave Whistlers a boost with a win over Romeril.

The next game would determine whether Whistlers took both points when Hunkin came up against Bretel; on this occasion, Bretel took the honours, in a tight contest, in four sets.

In the last game of the evening, Sarre beat Rihoy and Lions B had done their A team a favour and taken a point off the leaders.

n?Lions A took full advantage of the slip-up with a 9-1 win over bottom-of-the-table Whistlers B.

Both Jez Powell and Phil Ogier were in good form with three wins each.