Langlois retains title, but seniors bow to the hosts

GUERNSEY juniors dominated the DIS Electrical Channel Islands Top-12 tournament, but it was a different story in the seniors. Held at the Geoff Reed Centre in Jersey on Saturday and in front of more than 100 spectators, the competition saw the top six players from Guernsey and Jersey battle it out after having gone through qualifying matches in their respective islands.

In the juniors, 14-year-old Sarnian Ollie Langlois produced the goods to retain his title.

'Oliver was very, very good,' said the Guernsey table tennis development officer, Becks O'Keefe.

'He stayed up to the table and played a strong, attacking game.'

Another Guernsey player who had a very successful tournament was Matthew Stubbington, who went into the event in fourth place.

Stubbington remained unbeaten all day but because he had lost to Langlois and Liam Robilliard in the qualifiers, he took the runner-up spot.

'Matt played very maturely,' said O'Keefe. 'His confidence was up and he wanted it.'

Jersey's Josh Band and Luke Walker came third and fourth respectively as Robilliard came home in fifth.

Overall O'Keefe was pleased with her young charges' efforts.

'I'm very, very pleased as Jersey now have a development officer and they are raising their game,' she said.

Unfortunately for Guernsey, it was not so rosy in the seniors.

After ruling the roost in last year's event that saw Garry Dodd win gold, the greens had to play second fiddle as Jersey-based Polish player Gregor Frankowski took the honours.

However, the 28-year-old was defeated in one match and that was to Guernsey's Scott Romeril.

'As far I was concerned Scott was the player of the day,' said O'Keefe.

'He beat Greg but still finished fourth.

'He played very, very well.'

Jersey's new development officer, Craig Gascoyne, came a close second as Dodd finished third.

Guernsey's 14-year-old sensation Alice Loveridge took fifth place ahead of Pole Marcin Jurkiewicz of Jersey in sixth.

But the day belonged to Frankowski.

'I feel great and I am really happy to win this tournament,' he said.

'The matches were of a very high standard and the Guernsey players were very good. And for Jersey, Craig Gascoyne played exceptionally well.'