Top two seeds through

FORMER champions Mark Pipet and Phil Ogier will contest Saturday's island championships men's singles final. The top two seeds battled their way through four rounds from a 43-strong entry at the Guernsey Table Tennis Centre last evening to win their places in the blue riband showdown on finals night.

This year's event is the most open in years and it will get tougher in future years, said Pipet beforehand with one eye on the exciting young talent coming through.

The veteran seems to be playing better than ever and before embarking on his latest title bid said: 'There is an overall impression that you have now got to play really well to win.'

And he was right.

'Anyone of five players could win this title,' said number five seed Phil Hunkin, who will meet Pipet in the veteran open singles final at the end of the week.

Pipet had eased through three rounds without dropping a set until he encountered Pete Bretel, the number four seed and defending champion, in the quarters.

From being two sets up Pipet, who has had more trouble with Bretel than any other player this league campaign, lost three sets in a row and was in trouble.

He responded superbly, through, and won the sixth and seventh sets 11-4, 11-7 to reach the final.

In the other half of the draw Ogier looked untouchable and never looked like dropping a set.

He even won his semi against number-three seed Scott Romeril in straight sets.

Romeril's presence in the tournament had been in doubt until late in the day.

Along with other top juniors his return to the island from the Junior and Cadet Six Nations Championships in Belfast had been delayed by the fog at Guernsey airport.

He was one of eight Guernsey youngsters playing in Belfast and the best results came from under-15 Gary Dodd, who won four of his eight singles, and the under-15 girls duo of Alice Loveridge and Paula Le Ber, who beat Wales.