Romeril wins first of many senior titles

SCOTT ROMERIL won his first senior open tournament in the pre-Christmas Spot for Sport. There was a healthy entry of 35 who played off in groups of four to qualify for the main draw. Most of the top seniors entered, making this a competitive and entertaining tournament.

Mark Pipet was the number one seed by virtue of his league average. That did not help him much as in the quarter-final he came up against island player Peter Bretel.

In an entertaining game, Pipet had the greater control of his game, winning in four sets, 11-9, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8.

The CI champion was rewarded with a semi-final against island number one Phil Ogier. Pipet continued his fine form and again won in four - 13-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6 - to take his place in the final.

In the bottom half of the draw, Romeril was experiencing a gentler passage.

In the quarter-finals he came up against Kay Chivers, comfortably winning in three straight sets, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8.

He met the in form James Lesbirel in the semis and was made to work for his win, finally coming through in four sets after dropping the first 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6.

The final was a tense encounter and when Pipet pinched the first set 16-14, it looked as if the vastly experienced player would overcome the raw power and talent.

Romeril, a determined character and not easily fazed, held his nerve to edge out Pipet in the next two games 11-9, 11-9.

These reverses seemed to knock Pipet out of his stride and in the fourth Romeril put together some consistent and powerful attacking rallies which his opponent could not answer and he ran out an 11-3 winner and with that his first senior open tournament at the age of 16.