Perfect Romeril grateful to mate

GARRY DODD marked his British League debut in Guernsey colours by winning the deciding rubber in the victory over Hampshire side NWF. But it was fellow youngster Scott Romeril who returned to the island from the Division Three South double-header in the UK with most to shout about, the 16-year-old having won all four of his singles matches over the two ties.

Guernsey started the weekend lying fourth in the eight-team table but 5-3 victories over Club Cornwall and NWF lifted them up to third, three points behind leaders Guinness Polska and one behind second-placed Cornwall with one round remaining.

'We've got an outside chance of promotion,' said Phil Ogier, who along with Jez Powell completed the Guernsey team.

But with one of their remaining matches being against Polska, who have Tomaz Greschel, an exiled Pole now ranked 34 in the UK, among their ranks, the chances of grabbing one of the two promotion spots remains slim.

Romeril collected some decent scalps over the two matches.

In the win over Club Cornwall, he defeated former England junior Darren Reid, ranked 110 in the country, and also Adrian Noott, ranked 130th. Powell also won twice against Cornwall while the other win came from the bat of Ogier.

Dodd lost twice as he became accustomed to national league standards, but his performances encouraged Ogier.

'He played some good table tennis and was a little unlucky.'

The win over NWF later in the day was built upon Romeril's second double and two wins for Ogier.

But with the match in the balance at 4-3, it was Dodd, just 15, who held his nerve to claim the final rubber.

Both Romeril and Ogier overcame a player well known to Guernsey in Isle of Wight's Island Games regular Alex Rorke.