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

REPORT ON STOCKTON-ON-TEES JUNIOR 4*

TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT, 15 TH /16 TH NOVEMBER.

•  4 JUNIORS WENT, LUKE WALKER [16], JOSH BAND [15], TOM MARSAY [15] AND THOMAS MORGAN [14]. The tournament attracted a large and very high class entry of high ranking Juniors from all over the UK

CADET BOYS [UNDER 15] SINGLES.

Making his debut in a U.K. tournament, Morgan played a mature match against Matthew Jones from Ireland. Morgan came back from a game down to lead 2—1 only for the Irish player to square the match. Morgan then took the fifth with some excellent smashes, 9/11, 11/6, 11/6, 7/11, 11/4. His next match was against the Welsh no. 2 Under 13, Lee Morgan. He made a bright start winning the first game 11/9 but the top Welsh player changed gear taking the next three games 4/11, 7/11, 6/11 with some fine attacking play thus eliminating Morgan in the group stages.

JUNIOR BOYS TEAM.

Luke Walker and Josh Band teamed up for this their second year at the Stockton tournament with a tough draw against the Greenhouse Progress team of Jide Owalobi and Ryan Viegas ranked 40 and 43 respectively in the UK. Band was twice ahead in his match with Owalobi but the greater experience and fire power of his opponent finally told as he lost in the fifth, 11/9, 4/11, 12/10, 4/11, 5/11.

Walker was twice down against Viegas but won the match in the fifth with some scything loops, 6/11, 11/3, 10/12, 11/9, 11/9. The doubles was littered with unforced errors from the Jersey duo who battled hard before losing 9/11, 4/11, 12/ 14. Band could not cope with Viegas's style of play with the Greenhouse player taking the games 3—0 and thus winning the overall match for the English team.

JUNIOR BOYS [UNDER 18] SINGLES.

Tom Marsay entered the fray having been drawn in a very difficult group. He started brightly against Adam Smith from taking the first game 11/7. Smith nicked the second 12/10 with a few lucky points but then never looked back taking the match 3—1 with game wins of 11/6, 11/8. Marsay then had to tackle the highly talented and much in form Myles Collins from New Zealand. He put up a spirited performance but could not counter the barrage of superb winning shots from Collins who took the match 3—0, 11/7, 11/6, 11/6.

Thomas Morgan gamely came back from 2—0 down to square the match against Tom Harrington from Yorkshire. The fifth game could easily have gone the Jersey boy's way but a couple of unforced errors proved costly and Harrington was the eventual victor with game scores of 11/8, 11/9, 10/12, 2/11, 11/9. Morgan then had to face the Scottish No. 1 Cadet Liam O'Shaughnessy. He started very well taking a nail-biting first game 12/10 with a well angled smash. The young Scot took the second by the same score line but then played to his ranking forcing Morgan onto the defensive with highly spun loops and smashes. Morgan eventually succumbed losing the next two games 3/11, 9/11.

Luke Walker had an even tougher group starting against Shaun Slater from

The Jersey player twice came back from a game down with a really gritty performance to square the match two all [8/11, 12/10, 6/11, 12/10]. The final game swung both ways with the two players forcing errors from each other with some excellent rallies. It went to the wire and was finally won by Slater with an impeccable top spun forehand down the line. Walker then had a shot at Owalobi who he did not have a chance to play in the earlier team event. Once again it was a close affair with Walker playing his normal attacking style and taking the match to his opponent. Owalabi shaded the first two games 13/11, 12/10 but Walker fought back with some powerful loops to take the third 11/9. The highly ranked Greenhouse Progress player then forced a few errors from Walker and took the fourth and decisive game 11/6.

Josh Band had a comfortable win against Damola Fenuyi form Essex 11/5, 11/3, 11/4 and progressed to the knock out round. He was drawn against Scott Crawford ranked No. 38 in the UK. The English junior from Cumbria proved to be too experienced for Band who was eliminated 3—0, 6/11, 8/11, 7/11.

GRADE 1 BOYS SINGLES.

Tom Marsay had a torrid time against the UK No.26 Daniel Basterfield. He played some good winners and never gave up but was mostly outclassed by his illustrious opponent who won in three games. Thomas Morgan endured another five set thriller after being in the lead and then coming back from 2—1 down against John Bousfield from the strong National League's Ormesby club. He played some classy shots and with game scores of 11/9, 7/11, 7/11, 11/7 seemed to be in a good position. Bousfield then unleashed a barrage of attacking shots in the fifth which Morgan could not quite cope with and he lost the match by a narrow margin.

Josh Band won 3—0 against Jarred Knowles from Berkshire and then had an opportunity to avenge his earlier defeat by Scott Crawford the U.K.'s No. 38.

The writing looked to be on the wall as Crawford took the first two games, 11/7, 11/8. Band then seemed set to make another of his well known comebacks taking the next two games 11/4, 11/9 putting Crawford under huge pressure and forcing errors. A few unforced errors from Band in the deciding game proved costly however and Crawford took the match 3—2 with an 11/6 victory in the fifth.

Luke Walker had a difficult start against Paul Smith from Coventry. Although going for his shots the points did not come and he was unlucky to lose 5/11, 7/11, 9/11 after some long rallies. His last group match proved to be more fruitful with spun loops and smashed service returns getting their just rewards. He finally overcame Matt Weatherby from Cheshire 11/9, 11/7, 11/4. Weatherby then went on to surprisingly beat Smith and an anxious wait followed to see who would qualify. On countback and points scored Walker had just done enough in his two matches to get through to the knockout round by a solitary point. He was rewarded with a passage through to the last sixteen and was involved in a compelling battle with Liam Tildsley. After losing the first two games 8/11, 8/11, Walker came back and took the third 11/7. Tildsley used all his tournament experience though and closed the match out 11/4 in the fourth.

In all a good tournament for all four players especially for the two playing in their first one, Thomas Morgan and Tom Marsay.