Jersey Table Tennis facebook site Click here * pics added 19 Dec 08

BRISTOL GRAND PRIX SENIOR TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT 1 ST -2 ND NOVEMBER.

Fifteen year old De La Salle student Josh Band competed in this major tournament with a high class field of some 200 players over the weekend producing some excellent results.

MEN'S BAND 5 SINGLES:

Installed as number 7 seed Band had a tough draw with the late scratch entry of the accomplished Patrick McFarlane from Avon joining his group. The left handed Jersey youngster had to meet McFarlane in his first match and put in a well controlled performance with some exquisite backhand winners. He took the match 3—1, {11/8, 14/ 12, 10/12, 11/8}. His next opponent was Kevin O' Keefe ranked in the top 40 seniors in Ireland. Band found him to be a trickier opponent and forced and unforced errors resulted in a 3—1 loss {4/11, 6/11, 12/10, 5/11}. Band then had to win his last group match to proceed to the knockout stage which he did with a flourish despatching Niall Mordecai from Avon 3—0, {11/7, 11/3, 11/7}. Band missed out on a place in the last sixteen at the hands of Rick Jemmott an Avon County player despite a promising starting game which he won 13/11. Jemmott's greater experience and spin told in the end as he won the next three games to eliminate Band.

MEN'S BAND 4 SINGLES:

Band was drawn in the top group against three much higher ranked players and started off with his encounter against the number one seed Harry Cutler from Devon. The match swayed back and forth with the Jersey youngster twice coming back to square the match, {5/11, 14/12, 4/11, 11/6}. The momentum seemed to be with Band but a string of winning lets and edges for his opponent in the fifth finally saw off what would have been a real upset. Band went on to suffer another five set thriller against Ashley Shaw from Buckinghamshire. Band lost the first game but stormed back taking the next two only for Shaw to claim parity. The decider was a sensational affair enjoyed by an appreciative set of onlookers with the Jersey youngster playing remarkable winners from all angles only to be pegged back by his opponent. Once again the luck was with the English senior player who edged the win 16/18 in the fifth. Undeterred by the great disappointment of the two narrow defeats and no progress to the knockout rounds Band went on to play the Scot Andy McFadyen from the powerful DRUMCHAPEL club. Band took control against the strong McFadyen despite his opponent being some 800 ranking points higher! Delicate touch shots and booming smashes saw the Jersey youngster take the first two games 11/9, 11/8 only to falter in the third losing 4/11. Band regained the initiative in the fourth game only for the Scot to fight back with some heavy winning loops. But it was Band who finally prevailed with some determined play. A final rasping backhand took the game 15/13 and the match 3—1 for an excellent victory.

MEN'S OPEN SINGLES:

Band's first opponent in the main event was Wales's No.3 Cadet Sammy Sharif. The first game was another cliff hanger with Band keeping his discipline and concentration to take the game 16/14 finally forcing an error from his opponent's backhand. Band then went on to take complete control of the match with 11/2 and 11/3 game wins to win the encounter. Band then faced another Welsh player, this time it was the Welsh No. 5 senior Nick Brown. The young Jerseyman started brilliantly with some sublime winners taking the first two games 11/3, 11/9. Brown fought back using all of his experience and guile helped with more than a few edges and lets to square the match. The deciding game could have gone either way but the luck was with Wales this time as some more edge winners for Brown finally took their toll as Band was finally beaten 11/9 to lose the match 3--2. However, Band went through to the knockout round as group runner up. Brett Gerbaldi from Middlesex, a top varsity player stood between him and the last 32. Things started badly for Band as Gerbaldi's retrieves from seemingly lost situations won vital points to take the first two games 8/11, 8/11. Band changed tactics to superb effect in the third game spinning the ball more to win 11/8. He then changed down a gear and took complete control of the match winning the last two games 11/5, 11/5. His prize in the last 32 was a draw against Matt Ware from Hampshire ranked just outside the top ten seniors in the U.K. Band put in another excellent performance forcing errors from his illustrious opponent and causing him no end of problems. The final result 0—3 with game scores of 8/11, 2/11, 8/11 in favour of Ware was no disgrace at all!!

UNDER 21 MEN'S SINGLES:

Band's first match ended up being his fifth five set match of the tournament!! It was against another top Welsh player, Ceri James. Once again the Jersey youngster displayed great technique going two games to one up {11/8, 9/11, 11/8} and looked to be in control. James stormed back to take the fourth and level the score 2—2. The last game and the match were taken by the Welshman assisted by some unforced errors and unlucky long misses by Band. Once again the Jersey youngster showed his mental toughness by bouncing back with a 3—0 win {11/8, 11/5, 11/8} against Darren Silva from Buckinghamshire. The number three seed, Ireland ranked No. 12 Gavin Maguire was a far different affair. Band played very well but the greater experience and power of Maguire sealed the victory for the Irishman {5/11, 8/11, 6/11}.

In all, another excellent set of results for the Jersey youngster which with just a little bit of luck could have been exceptional if a couple more of the five setters had been converted.