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REPORT ON THE VISIT OF THE BAT AND BALL TABLE TENNIS CLUB 2009.

Over the weekend the JTTA once again hosted the annual visit of the Bat and Ball Club made up of experienced senior players from the south of England predominantly around the Guildford area. In the absence of the Island’s number 1 men and women’s player who were out of the Island the local team were at a distinct disadvantage. However, the Jersey juniors led the way with some blistering play against the strong visitors on the first day.

In the Ladies match on Saturday juniors Kelsey and Jodie Le Maistre teamed up with Helen Liron and senior Kay Lefebvre to score an excellent 7---3 victory against County players. Similarly in the Men’s D match senior Trevor Motto teamed up with10 year old Jordan Wykes and 12 year old Ollie Griggs to achieve a fine win   6—4 against the tough opposition. The evergreen Eugene Ellis anchored the Men’s B team with two other juniors Josh Band and Luke Walker to an emphatic 8—2 win. The other two matches were nip and tuck with Bat and Ball nicking 6—4 results firstly against the all junior team of Hugo Tupper, Tom Marsay and Jack Messervy and also verses the Men’s A team of Paul Marshall, Trev Lefebvre and Max Tupper. The aggregate score after the first day was a brilliant 29—21 in favour of the Jersey side.

On Sunday Jersey blooded new youngsters against the mainland team. The six juniors in the C and D teams, Jordan Wykes, Harry and Jack Messervy, Adam Denney, Jack Mills and Matthieu Fisher gave everything for the cause but the experience of the Bat and Ball players was too much resulting in 10—0 and 9—1 defeats with the only Jersey victory being Wykes's 3---2 win against veteran Keith Hartridge

The Jersey Ladies team comprised of Kay senior player Lefebvre, and juniors Helen Liron, Kelsey le Maistre and Emily Robins had another fine result with Le Maistre and Robins taking two visiting scalps apiece. With two 3—0 doubles wins and Lefebvre’s accurate chopping weighing in with two more wins the ladies celebrated a well earned 8—2 match victory. In the top two matches the result could have gone either way. Senior Trevor Motto teamed up with juniors Hugo Tupper and Tom Marsay with the younger players achieving the wins that gave them an honourable 5—5 draw. In the A match Josh Band, Max Tupper and Luke Walker had their hands full with ex British League and County players John Taylor, Andy Meads and Karl Bushell. All three Jersey juniors beat Meads but all found the ultra chopped defence of Taylor far too frustrating. Tupper did however get the other notable victory beating the tricky Bushell 3—1 with some well placed aggressive winners. The all important doubles was taken by the Bat and Ball duo with Taylor’s chop being the decisive factor resulting in a 6—4 win for the English side.

“It was a superb performance by the Jersey team,” said JTTA President Chris Band afterwards. “It was one all over the weekend with Bat and Ball just nicking the final aggregate which hinged on the C and D match results on the Sunday. We did however in true sportsmanship allow one of their players to participate in two groups on both days due to another having an injury. As in truth his points should not have counted we were happy to claim the moral victory!!”