Guernsey happy to ride luck

'LADY LUCK smiled on us today' admitted Guernsey number one Pieter Theron within moments of sealing a 5-1 victory over Park Langley which seems likely to preserve the Sarnians' position in Division One South for another season. An unfortunate and untimely injury to Park Langley's top player, Farhad Tadayon, handed Guernsey two of the six rubbers before a ball was struck on the outdoor artificial grass courts at the Guernsey Tennis Centre.

But there was still a match to be won which the local boys did, convincingly as it happens.

In the four rubbers that did take place, Theron won both his singles and doubles, while Patrick Ogier defied flu to register a fine victory.

The only loss came for young Dom McLuskey, who went down in three sets.

Whether the outcome would have been the same had Tadayon, whose 3.1 rating suggested he was the best player on either side, played, no one will ever know.

He injured his back practising on Friday evening and there was not sufficient time to find a replacement with a flight to Guernsey only hours away.

It all meant the three remaining Park Langley players moved up a slot and left Andy Privett, Guernsey's only change from the win over East Dorset, without anyone to play.

Theron put Guernsey 3-0 ahead with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Mike Hayden.

'For once I started properly and had a good start to the match,' said Theron later.

The South African exile was referring to the moment in the second set when, with the score at 3-3, he trailed love-40 on his own serve.

But he not only saved game points he won the game and the following two to see off the 4.2 rated player.

Next door, the quickly improving Ogier overcame a shaky start and the loss of the first set to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.

'Patrick did superbly well,' said his captain.

'He's got the flu and we had a debate whether he should play.'

McLuskey went down 4-6, 6-3, 1-6 to N. Isa to leave the match score 4-1 in Guernsey's favour with just one doubles remaining, in which Theron teamed up with the vastly-experienced Niel de Kock to take Guernsey further clear.

The two South Africans won 6-4, 6-4 and Theron was full of praise for his partner, whose two young children greeted them with garlands of freshly picked daisies as they walked off the number six court.

'Niel played really well. He served well and moved in well behind his service. It was a really solid performance.'

At one stage the match was held up for a minute or so while Nick Jaques argued over a call.

Theron, though, played it down.

'When a guy serves at 120mph it's always going to be hard to see it.

'It was all settled in good spirits at the end of the day.'

The result puts Guernsey in fine fettle ahead of their next match in Jersey next weekend.

'If we play to our potential we should win,' said the player-coach, who can now breathe a little easier with his team's position in the top flight seemingly safe.