Webster’s Wizards completed its Group Two round-robin phase of the 15-club East Zone Team Table-Tennis Invitational Tournament with a perfect 4-0 record after it swept past Edwards Paddle Masters 3-0 at Wasa Sports Club, St Joseph on Tuesday night.
Having secured a top two finish ahead of its final pool match with wins over Ali Alliance (3-0), Hunters (3-0) and Pile Drivers (2-1), the Dennis Webster-led Wizards showed no signs of easing up and won comfortably.
First, in form Yuvraaj Dookram, recently back from a training stint in Sweden and winner of last month’s A-1 men’s title at the Classified Championship defeated Kyle Bennett 9-11, 11-7, 11-2, 11-7 for a 1-0 lead in the best of three team match. Webster then sealed the match by beating Clinton Cardinal 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 while Ancil Russell outlasted Che-Pierre Fournellier 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6 to complete the sweep.
With the 4-0 record Wizards ended top of Group Two with maximum 12 points, four more than Pile Drivers which blanked Edwards Paddle Masters (five points) 3-0 to move into the runnerup spot on Wednesday night. Paddle Masters came up against Hunters (seven points) last night in their final pool match with the latter needing nothing less than a win to move into second and qualify for the last-eight as well.
In Group Three, Pugh All Rounders won two matches, 2-1 over Noel Destroyers and 3-0 against Humphrey Stingers to move to the top of the table with ten points and certain of a place in the quarterfinals.
In the win over Destroyers, the heroes for All Rounders were Davonne Joseph and Arun Roopnarine who both recorded 3-2 win overs Robert Joseph (11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 9-11, 12-10) and Kenneth Parmanand (10-12, 8-11, 12-10, 13-11,11-7). This after Arun’s father, Bob Roopnarine was beaten by Michael Noel 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 8-11.
However, in their clash with the Stingers, Courtney Pugh, Arun Roopnarine and Joseph were much more clinical. Pugh brushed aside D Humphrey 11-1, 11-3, 11-6; Roopnarine humbled Imtiaz Mohammed 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 and Joseph defeated C Fong 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9.
All Rounders were joined on ten points by Destroyers, 2-1 victors against Mohammed Racketeers (eight) in their final clash on Wednesday, with the losers now depending on other results to determine its quarterfinal place as one of two best third placed teams.
In Group One Seechan Spinners lead with a 3-0 record and maximum nine points and sure of advancing while Garfield Gladiators (seven points) is the only team that can surpass it for top spot going into their clash last night.
Alexander Solo Soldiers (eight) kept its slim chance alive thanks to a 2-1 defeat of Cleveland& The Boys (five points) ahead of their final round of matches at Arima West Primary School last night, at the end of which the top two teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third placed teams.
Quarterfinal matches begin Sunday followed by semifinals on Monday, and the third placed and final matches two days later.
Results
Alexander Solo Soldiers 2 bt Springer Slingers 1
A Brown bt A. Humphreys 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9
A Alexander bt J. Springer 11-3, 11-5, 11-6
N Rouse loss to R. Williams 8-11, 2-11, 9-11
Garfield Gladiators 2 bt Alexander Solo Soldiers 1
D Persad bt N. Rouse 11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 13-11
A Wellington loss to A. Brown 7-11, 9-11, 13-15
D. Williams bt A. Alexander 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Mohammed Racketeers 2 bt ML Spartans 1
I Mohammed loss to A Laquis 6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 7-11
T Corbin bt A. Lowkie 16-14, 14-12, 11-13, 3-11, 11-9
M Fong bt C. Spicer 12-14, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8
Pile Drivers 2 bt Ali Alliance 1
L Darceuil bt K. Mohammed 4-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7
L Partap-Boodhan bt N. Cabie 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9
A Pile loss to S. Ali 11-7, 11-13, 7-11, 9-11
Wednesday
Alexander Solo Soldiers 2 bt Cleveland & The Boys 1
A Brown bt H. Brooker 11-9, 11-4, 11-2
A Alexander bt C. Cleveland 6-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7
I Sampath loss to S. Pierre 6-11, 5-11, 5-11
Noel Destroyers 2 bt Mohammed Racketeers 1
M Noel lost to I. Mohamed 3-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 5-11
R Joseph bt M. Mc Comie 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9
K Parmanad bt T. Corbin 11-9, 11-8, 11-8
Pile Drivers 3 vs Edwards Paddle Masters 0
L Darceuil bt K. Bennett 11-7, 11-9, 11-8
L Partap-Boodhan bt L. O’Young 11-9, 11-7, 13-11
A Pile bt C. Cardinal 11-7, 6-11, 17-15, 11-9