Lions fight for the points

IN PROBABLY the tightest and best game of the season so far, title-chasers Lions C overcame their B side, fighting back from 1-2 down to win the match in the deciding doubles. The first game of the evening set the tone: the clash between Scott Romeril and Martin Sarre could not have been any closer.

Sarre took the first game 12-10 on deuce; Romeril responded by taking the next 11-9; Sarre then won the next two on deuce and 11-8, to lead 3-1 and needed just one more leg.

The youngster was being asked a lot of serious questions by Sarre and needed to raise his game, which he did in the fifth, winning

11-4.

Romeril pinched the sixth 12-10 and inevitably the game went to a decider.

There was nothing in it, but someone had to lose and it was the unlucky Sarre, as Romeril held his nerve to win the seventh 12-10 and amazingly four of the seven legs were decided on deuce.

CI champion Peter Bretel took on his Green Team colleague, Jez Powell, and in a tight encounter Bretel had just a bit too much for a below-par opponent, winning 4-1.

The next match was vital for the B team, as Bretel took on Romeril, with the latter looking for another notable scalp.

Bretel took the first leg game-8, Romeril the second game-9, Bretel the next game-9 and they continued to exchange legs until the match was level at three games all.

At 10-4 to Romeril in the deciding leg, it looked all over for Bretel.

But the final point can be the hardest to win and very quickly Bretel reeled off six points to take the game to deuce before he eventually sealed it 14-12 to put the B team 2-1 ahead.

Powell then produced a much-improved display, accounting for Sarre four games to one.

The match would be decided by the doubles and predictably this one also went to a decider.

Powell and Romeril had more staying power to take the match 11-4, earning the two points to remain right on course for the Division One title.

Main rivals Lions A had a much easier evening, with Phil Ogier in a particularly ruthless mood, winning his two games in straight sets.

James Lesbirel beat his father, Graham, in the deciding game, 11-9, and the doubles was also won in straight games.

The evening had started well for their opponents, Lions D, when Steve Brouard beat Lesbirel in five, but it was all downhill from there and Lions A kept up their challenge.

Whistlers C's Dawn Morgan and Gary Willcocks won a game each, both against Neil Hastie, and combined to take the doubles to run out 3-2 winners over Whistlers A, Mark Pipet winning both his games for the A team.

In the other match, Whistlers B beat their D team 5-0, two wins apiece for Phil Hunkin and Martin Gaudion against Tim Le Page and Wasif Annees.