Romeril keeps his nerve to go clear in averages

LIONS A continue to set a hot pace at the top of the Doric Insurance Brokers League Division One. Led by the new hot properties of Guernsey table tennis, Scott Romeril and Garry Dodd, they saw off the challenge of Phil Ogier and his Lions B teammates 6-4 in a tense and tight encounter.

The A team raced into a 3-0 lead with Dodd seeing off Paul Hainesworth in four sets, but was made to work for the win by his training partner, Jez Powell, who is also having a solid season, before quashing the in-form James Lesbirel again in four games.

However, the key clash in the opening encounters was the game between Romeril and Ogier. There was a lot hanging on it, not only for league points but also for the battle to win the averages.

Romeril came out in the first with all guns blazing and won at a canter 11-2. The game was a lot tighter in the second but the 16-year-old won it 11-8.

At 2-0 down, Ogier was staring down the barrel. However, he was not finished and clawed his way back by winning the next two legs 11-8 and 11-7 to set up the decider.

Romeril took the early advantage, opening a comfortable lead at ends, but Ogier again got himself back in the game and levelled at 7-7.

The teenager then reeled off four great points and secured the game and the match for another win over Ogier and is now a serious challenge to be the island number one.

He has only lost one game all season. Ogier has lost three, the same as Mark Pipet, and these three occupy the top places in the averages.

The B team hit back when Lesbirel had a fine win over Dodd in an entertaining game that went all the way before the former held his nerve to win 11-8 in the deciding leg.

Ogier and Lesbirel took the doubles to make the score 3-2.

Romeril restored a two-game cushion by beating Hainesworth in straight games, but Ogier pegged this back to one with a 3-1 win over Powell.

Youngster Romeril was then involved in another key game against Lesbirel, who played extremely well and was unlucky to lose 12-10 in the deciding leg of a five-set thriller. The victor again showed his mettle at the key moments of another stern test.

Ogier beat Dodd in straight sets to ensure the match went to the deciding leg and Powell duly beat Hainesworth in straight sets to win the match 6-4.

In a rearranged fixture, young Ollie Langlois had the best match of his fledgling top division career, winning his three games for the first time, beating the strong and experienced Lions C trio of Steve Brouard, Martin Sarre and Peter Bretel.

Webb and Neil Hastie won one apiece to give Whistlers D a draw and their first point of the season.

In their scheduled match, Lions C drew against Whistlers B. This match was notable for the win of Alice Loveridge over Bretel, who was the Channel Islands champion18 months ago, further illustration of just how good Loveridge is for an 11-year-old.

Bretel comfortably saw off Dawn Morgan and beat Garry Willcocks to win two games, Martin Sarre did likewise, losing only to Morgan.

In the other game this week, Whistlers A beat a two-man Whistlers C, Joe Clancy pulling out injured just prior to the start.

There was a good win for Adam Langlois over Phil Hunkin, who bounced back by beating Pipet in three straight sets.

There wasn't much joy for young Matt Stubbington who lost his three games but was considered very unlucky to lose to Graham Lesbirel 13-11 in the deciding fifth set.

He did, however, combine with Hunkin to win the doubles, but the A team ran out comfortable 7-3 winners.

Lions A hold a comfortable five-point lead at the top of the table but the competition for runners-up spot is between four or five teams.