Ogier’s battling qualities ensure successful defence
PHIL OGIER retained the Jack Carrington Trophy on Monday evening following a hard-fought 3-2 win over fellow Lions player and 2009 champion Paul Hainsworth.
The final between the top two seeds was a repeat of the previous season, which had seen Ogier win over four sets.
The Jack Carrington tournament is one of the more unique events in the GTTA calendar as the rules prevent any player who has competed in the Inter-Insular ‘Green Trophy’ event over the past two seasons competing.
This meant that island players such as Joshua Stacey, Lawrence Stacey and Ben Foss were unable to compete this season.
The tournament was well represented, with 24 players competing across six groups.
The final turned out to be the expected clash between the highest ranked players in the competition and the encounter did not fail to disappoint for the spectators in attendance.
The final was a replica of the previous season in that Hainsworth took the opening end and, also like last year, Ogier took the second and third games with strong play.
On this occasion Hainsworth was able to extend the match to a deciding end as he raised his level and benefited from some errors on the way to comfortably winning the fourth.
The quality of some of the rallies continued in the decider and Hainsworth started better, opening up a 4-2 lead.
However, Ogier is renowned for his battling qualities, determination and high levels of concentration and he played excellently to steer the ship back his way, in the end coming through comfortably to clinch the title courtesy of an 11-6 triumph.
More in Thursday's Guernsey Press.