Gascoyne’s success in both Division IV Group O matches meant that Jersey twice had a 1-0 overall lead, only to go down 3-1 both times.
Against Congo, who had earlier dismissed Guernsey
3-0, Gascoyne took on Abodium Lawal and had a great first game, playing with composure to win 11-9.
Lawal came back to level the match, his speed in rallies aiding him to an 11-7 win. But Gascoyne pushed forward, with a number of telling shots to his opponent’s body, to win the next two games
11-8, 11-9 and secure the first point for Jersey.
Chris Corfield was up next against a remarkable player, Suraja Saxa, whose footwork was almost non-existent but whose reach and angles of shots were excellent.
Corfield, with his chopped shots, caused the opposition some early problems but Saxa soon ran away with the first two games, 11-3, 11-4. The
Jersey player went on the
offensive in the last game to win six points in a row, but it wasn’t enough to stop Saxa from closing out the game
11-8 and taking the win.
Luke Walker (15) came up against Junior Tamba and although he had a similar attacking style, Walker lost the match 11-5, 11-6, 11-1 as Tamba’s retrieves and winning attacks proved too strong.
Gascoyne then took on Saxa and with unforced errors creeping in he lost 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 to end the match at
3-1, although Jersey did take some comfort in having a better result against this team than Guernsey.
Today’s match, against Benin, went in a similar fashion, with Gascoyne getting the team off to a winning start, dominating with a controlled display to beat Nassif Ligali 11-3, 11-4, 11-6. Josh Band then had a tough match against Monday Olabiyi and lost 11-6, 11-2, 11-8.
Luke Walker should take some consolation from his defeat by Geoffroy Badokonon in winning the opening game 11-8 before going down 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 – his closest match yet.
Gascoyne returned to play Olabiyi and after being 9-9 in the opening game he went down 11-9, 11-2. He then saved match point in the third and won it 13-11 but Olabiyi replied in the fourth with an 11-6 win to secure the match victory.
Jersey next play Iceland in a match that will decide who finishes bottom of the group.
