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

CARDIFF OPEN SENIOR GRAND PRIX TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

6 TH —7 TH SEPTEMBER.

15 year old Josh Band recently competed in this tournament being his first Senior Grand Prix of the new season.

•  Saturday 6 th was when the Banded Singles Groups were played.

•  Josh started the tournament with his debut in the Band 4 Singles and played some sublime shots to win the group against high ranking and experienced opponents.

•  In the Band 4 Groups stage he beat Chris Edwards from Avon 3—1

[ 11/6, 5/11, 11/5, 11/3] and Simon Mitchieson from Devon 3—1

[ 12/10, 11/2, 7/11, 11/8.]

•  In his last match in his Band 4 Group he had a superb win against the highly talented and much higher ranked Alistair Smith from Cornwall who had soundly beaten him three love in a previous tournament at the end of last season. Band played perhaps his best match to date fizzing exquisite backhands and heavily spun forehands past his bewildered opponent to win 3—0 [ 12/10, 11/5, 11/8 ]. In the last sixteen he faced Tris Gretton from Worcester and started well winning the first game 11/9. A few unforced errors from Band and some good winners from Gretton saw Band lose the next two games 5/11, 8/11. He fought back to take the fourth game 12/10 and looked set to win the match but Gretton's experience came to the fore and he took the deciding game to eliminate the Jersey teenager.

•  Band 5 Singles where Josh was installed as second seed. He had an unexpected 3—1 loss against Patrick MacFarlane from Avon but won his next two matches to finish group runner up . In the last of these group matches he played Joe Stotesbury from Kent. Joe was coached by his friend Gavin Rumgay, [Scotland number 1]. After the match Rumgay said that Josh was “ a very talented kid. His backhand is as good as Ryan Jenkins....... very wristy [Wales No. 2 and eventual Men's Singles Tournament Open winner] ........ I would swap my serves for some of Josh's backhands!!” In the Band 5 knockout stage Band put in a polished display despatching Daniel Fielding from Cambridge three games to love [13/11, 11/8, 11/4]. In the last sixteen he had a nightmare start losing the first two games against Edwards, who he had beaten earlier on that day, by the same score of 6/11. He battled back with game wins of 11/7, 11/6 to square the match but a slightly pulled hamstring took its toll and he finally lost the last game 7/11 and the match 2—3.

•  Treatment to the injury worked well and Band was 100% for the Sunday matches. The Men's Singles were first in the morning with Band's first match in his group being against the number 2 seed Ryan Jenkins. Band played well and made some good winners but Jenkins was never troubled in a straightforward win 5/11, 2/11, 4/11. Band once again battled back with an excellent three love win [11/9, 11/7, 11/4] against the vastly experienced veteran Jack O' Meara from Ireland. He needed to win his last match to proceed to the knockout round and looked on course after taking the first game 11/8 against Yoni Caspi from Yorkshire. Some fortunate let winners and clever tactical play of his seasoned opponent resulted in a disappointing loss as the next three games went to the senior player.

•  The Under 21 Men's Singles had resulted in another tough draw for Band being in the sane group as the number 4 seed Richard Andrews from Berkshire. Andrews lived up to his billing with a comprehensive 6/11, 4/11, 6/11 victory over the local teenager. Once again as in many times in the past Band had to win his next two matches to reach the latter stages. A comprensive win over Ryan Denby from Gwent 3—0 set up a nail biter against the seasoned chopping style of Dean Cundy from Glamorgan. Band's mental toughness and immaculate touch play saw him recover from one love and then two one down to win the last two games 11/8, 11/ 8 for a superb and well deserved win. In the first knockout round he also came back against Daniel O' Connell from Gwent after being two love down to square the match with a gritty 15/13 game win in the fourth. A couple of unforced errors and two excellent winners from O' Connell unfortunately cost Band the match 2—3.

•  In all an excellent tournament for Josh Band particularly as it was the first one for him of the new season. He needs to work on his consistency throughout the two day tournaments but with all the other boxes in his playing repertoire ticked ie tactics, mental toughness and ability this final piece of the puzzle will reult in his making a major climb up the Senior rankings.