Loveridge's biggest scalp

ALICE LOVERIDGE has scored arguably her most notable win yet. The 12-year-old double national age-group champion beat Scott Romeril, Guernsey's number one, in the final of the annual GTTA Junior Group Tournament.

Romeril is arguably the best player in the Channel Islands but everything he threw at Loveridge, the 2012 Olympic hope returned with spades.

A tight affair was expected with Romeril trying to out-muscle Loveridge with his spin and power.

Unfortunately for him, Loveridge just deals with power by returning everything.

Her strength is in her consistency of shot and, despite Romeril's best efforts, Loveridge pinched the first game 11-9.

Romeril tried much of the same in the second and the game followed an almost identical pattern with Loveridge again winning 11-9.

Loveridge was now looking the more confident and in control but Romeril started the third well and opened a comfortable lead.

At 9-6 up it looked as if he was going to extend the match, but Loveridge raised her game again and it was Romeril who made the crucial mistakes losing the third 13-11.

Nobody was more impressed than GTTA vice-president Phil Hunkin.

'It was another remarkable win for someone who seems to improve every time she plays and it will be interesting to see how Scott, a fine player in his own right, responds.'

The tournament showcased the emerging junior talent under the guise of the Deutsche Bank junior development programme and the product of the work undertaken by development officer Rebecca O'Keefe and her willing band of helpers.

The standard was high and the eventual semi-final line-up would not have disgraced any senior tournament.

Top seed and hot favourite Romeril had progressed to the semis after a tricky encounter against Liam Robilliard, who put in a fine performance in taking a leg and losing only 17-15 in the fourth.

In the absence of injured Garry Dodd, Romeril would have felt confident, especially having won both senior tournaments held so far this season.

In the semis he came up against the in-form Oliver Langlois and won reasonably comfortably in three straight sets, 5, 9 and 8.

In the bottom half of the draw Loveridge came up against Matthew Stubbington, who is also having a fine season.

Surprisingly, Stubbington was no match for Loveridge who was in a clinical mood winning again in three straight games, 3, 7 and 8.