Sarnia cruises to victory over depleted Navy team

THE Sarnia Sword Club outfought a game Royal Navy team in their annual match at Elizabeth College. Facing a Navy side that was missing several strong fencers for operational reasons, Guernsey won all the weapon matches except epee.

The visitors did, however, seize the opportunity to introduce to their team several promising young fencers, who fought well over the weekend.

Representative matches were at A and B team levels at sabre, epee and foil.

The Royal Navy also sportingly fought against Guernsey youth teams to give the island's youngsters valuable experience of competitive fencing at an unusually intense level.

In the A team sabre match, the SSC built up a steady lead over the Navy and eventually gained a 45 hit to 30 victory.

On the other piste, the home B team made an immediate impact, gaining 15 hits for only three received over the first three bouts.

Guernsey's fencers never relinquished this advantage and won their match 45-25.

The afternoon's senior epee event saw the Royal Navy gain revenge.

Its A team gained an immediate, significant lead although the SSC fencers fought well to try to claw this back as the match progressed.

The Navy proved too strong, however, winning a close-fought match 45-42.

By contrast, in the B team encounter, fortunes were completely reversed, with the SSC overcoming a spirited Navy team 45-41.

In the A-team foil match, both sides traded hits for much of the contest until two-thirds through the event when the hosts gained 10 hits over two bouts for only four received.

This gave the Sarnia Sword Club a platform for a well-deserved 45-37 victory.

On the other piste, a more one-sided contest saw a relatively inexperienced Royal Navy foil team defeated 45-17.

In thanking the SSC for a very enjoyable weekend's competition, Lt-Cdr Adrian Olliver, the Navy team captain, promised that he and his colleagues would return with a full-strength team in 2007 to avenge this year's defeat.