Romeril troubled by 13-year-old

SCOTT ROMERIL laid claim to his third major tournament of the season with victory in the first event of 2007, the Capelles Open Singles. The Guernsey number one, who had previously won the Spot for Sport and Senior Group tournaments, swept to a comfortable 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 win over Jez Powell in the final at the Guernsey Table Tennis Centre.

Romeril did have some uncomfortable moments, however, on an evening which started out with 25 of the island's better players - only a few established stars were missing - battling it out in seven qualifying pools.

The new champion, still just 17, said afterwards that he thought he was heading out of the tournament in his semi-final with young Ollie Langlois, 13.

'He was playing well and I thought I'm going to get beaten, or it will go all the way,' said Romeril, who had won the first two sets before starting to struggle in the third.

The younger of the talented Langlois brothers, both contenders for an Island Games spot, nicked the third 11-8 and in the fourth hit back from 2-6 down to lead 8-7, 9-8 and hold set-point at 10-9.

But he could not quite press home his advantage and with three points in a row, the tournament favourite won it 12-10 as Langlois's forehand smash flew way too long.

The champion's only other wobbles came in the group stage where the much-improved Mark Fallaize took him to deuce in the third and in the quarter-final where veteran Charlie Elliott sneaked a set off him.

In the other half of the draw, defending champion Garry Dodd looked out of sorts all night and was well beaten by Powell in a repeat of the 2006 final.

Dodd was grumbling about his own game from virtually the first point of his semi-final and Powell swept through in straight sets.

It was something of a topsy-turvy evening for Powell who, at the last-eight stage, came close to losing to super-veteran Ian Fitchet who led by two sets and had him seven-all in the fifth.

Powell then comfortably despatched Alice Loveridge in four before cruising to victory against Dodd but failing to get to grips with Romeril.

Loveridge was involved in arguably the match of the night, slugging it out with fellow junior Matthew Stubbington in a tough five-setter which she clinched 14-12 in the decider.

Fitchet has seen many a great match down the years and had his eye drawn to this one.

'Alice was 2-1 down but clawed her way back and in the final set it was table tennis at its best.

'They were going for their shots, even at deuce. It was a case of who would crack first.

'It was enthralling, both of them going hammer and tongs. We just sat there in awe.'