Classic finals put table tennis in the best light

A RECORD 90 under-18s took part in the first of this season's Deutsche Bank Junior Table Tennis Tournament at the table tennis centre at La Hougue du Pommier. The juniors have been placed in six different ability bands, the beginners in band six up to the elite who are in band one.

Players are eligible to play in their band and one above.

The band six winner was Chris Le Page, who beat his sister, Laura, in four sets 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10.

Band five saw the top two from each qualifying group contest the quarter-finals of a knockout tournament.

The quarters saw some interesting and close games, none more so than the battle of the Lihou brothers, James and Andrew.

The former fought back from two sets down to win an eventful decider 14-12, but then succumbed in the semis against the eventual winner, Jack Totty.

Totty is developing a good attacking game and in the final he had a stern test of his ability from Jonathon Hurford who took the first game 11-7.

But once Totty settled into his game, he just had the edge and won the next three games 11-5, 11-6, 11-5.

Band four saw eight-year-old Kate Stubbington do well to reach the semi-finals where she took on another young player in the shape of Lawrence Stacey, who had too much power for Stubbington, winning in three straight sets 11-4, 11-3, 11-3.

In the bottom half of the draw, Jake Gregory-Haines came up against Joshua Stacey, winning 11-9, 11-9 and 11-6.

Stacey's brother Lawrence evened things up for the Stacey family with a straight-sets 11-7, 11-4, 13-11 win in what was an entertaining final.

Band three saw a step up in standard, but strangely Gregory-Haines again reached the final and in another exciting game he made up for his band four reverse by beating Thomas Ruff in four exciting games 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7.

Ruff had beaten the band four winner, Lawrence Stacey, in the semi- final.

The standard in band two was very strong.

All the group qualifiers play in divisions two and three of the senior league and there were some excellent matches.

Glen Le Tissier was having a good run and had a fine 3-1 win over Chris Quevatre in the quarters and in the semis he came up against Kieran Guilbert in what was a great match.

A determined Le Tissier gave 100% effort but the older and more experienced Guilbert had just enough to see Le Tissier off 13-11, 4-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-2.

In the top half of the draw, Liam Robilliard was the player to beat. He progressed to the final with straight set wins over Robert Woodhard and Paula Le Ber. The final was of a very high quality and Robilliard had to fight back from 2-1 down to secure the win in five sets, 10-12, 12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7.

The island's top two juniors, Scott Romeril and Gary Dodd, are either in the senior island team or on the verge of being included, so to continue the development plan, they are only allowed to enter the open event, but the standard of play in the band one tournament was nevertheless sensational.

The semis line-up pitched together Guernsey's finest prospects, 11-year-old Alice Loveridge, 12-year-old Ollie Langlois and Matthew Stubbington and Ollie's older brother, Adam.

The standard would not be bettered anywhere in the CI, even by the best seniors.

All the juniors are trained to be positive and this was apparent and no inch was given.

In the first semi, Adam Langlois beat Stubbington 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, Stubbington being very unfortunate to miss out.

The other semi was an absolute classic.

Loveridge started off in dominating form, winning the first two sets 11-9, 11-3.

Ollie Langlois was on the brink of defeat but hung in to pinch the third 11-9 and then the fourth 11-8 to take the match to a deciding leg. There was nothing to choose between the two, but Loveridge was looking particularly impressive, her backhand a deadly weapon and in the tightest of fifth games she held her nerve to win 11-9.

The final gave Adam a chance to gain revenge for his brother's defeat and in another fine game of attacking rallies, he had just a bit more power and experience to win in four sets.

The open tournament saw the same four contest the semis and this time Loveridge beat Stubbington in four sets and Adam beat his brother, also in four.

This set up the chance for Loveridge to gain quick revenge over Adam and in a breathtaking match, she found herself 10-6 up in the fifth and deciding leg.

Adam managed to save three match points but she held her nerve for a fine win.