Greens regain the Green and take overall inter-insular honours

As the inter-insulars returned to the GTTA Centre after a long pandemic-enforced break, the hosts proved too strong for Jersey as they triumphed with an aggregate score of 61-49.

What tipped it past the point of no return was a blinding comeback victory over Jersey champion Mariusz Cieminski by U21 Foss, who showed his hunger after missing the Island Championships due to Covid.

They met early into the concluding Green Trophy match and the Jersey star edged the first set 11-8, which Foss negated with a defined 11-4 victory in the second.

Cieminski had apparently regained control, leading the third set 8-4, until Foss came from behind to steal it 12-10.

It gets better.

Cieminski seemed to have the fourth set in the bag after storming to an 8-2 lead over a faltering Foss, but the youngster hit a rampant run to draw level at 10-all and – to rapturous applause – played some very composed table tennis to take the end 13-11.

That critical 56th victory of 110 rubbers also helped Guernsey’s team of Foss and both Stacey twins win the blue-riband Green Trophy 8-2.

‘It’s mine, Josh and Lawrence’s second Green, lost the first one, so it’s good to get a win this time,’ said a player who turns 21 today.

‘I try not to think about the score as much as possible and it’s hard, because you hear people and the scoreboard’s right there, but in my head I was just one point at a time.

‘I knew I could do it and I’d not beaten Mariusz in a proper match before – this is the first time he’s been playing well and I’ve beaten him.

‘It got a bit tight at 10-all and I could feel the adrenaline rush, and I just went to the basics at that point because it’s all you can do.’

Many of the other Green Trophy matches were relatively tight, even the Stacey twins’ 3-0 victory over Frankowski and Cieminski in the doubles.

The almost telepathic bond of the Staceys helped them pinch three super tight sets, winning 12-10, 11-9, 14-12.

Guernsey excelled across the board and won seven and drew two of the 11 categories played, only losing the U18 women’s Rosemary and U15 open Continental Trophies.

Their most dominant showing came in the form of a Past Masters Trophy whitewash for over 60s players.

The Guernsey team of Kay Chivers, Chas Elliott and Mark Pipet beat their Jersey counterparts 10-0 for the loss of just four sets overall.

The senior women’s Margaret Trophy encounter went down to the wire, but the Guernsey trio of Chivers, Chloe Le Tissier and Paula Le Ber edged it 6-4 as part of a fantastic conclusion to the season. Full results to follow