Going into the event, where the top half-dozen from both Jersey and Guernsey were in action, Dodd, like Jerseyman Josh Band, had a 100 per cent winning record from the ‘home’ round a fortnight earlier.
2015: Garry Dodd (Gsy)
2014: Garry Dodd (Gsy)
2013: Garry Dodd (Gsy)
2012: Garry Dodd (Gsy)
2011: Garry Dodd (Gsy)
2010: Craig Gascoyne (Jsy)
2009: Criag Gascoyne (Jsy)
2008: Gregor Frankowski (Jsy)
2007: Garry Dodd (Gsy)
2006: Eugene Ellis (Jsy)
And chasing a record-breaking sixth title – including another milestone of five in a row – the left hander kept that run going with six more wins in the space of three hours.
Despite Band leading the Caesarean fight alongside the likes of Chris Moorshead and Jordan Wykes, the visitors struggled somewhat to put together a good run of results.
Jersey’s representatives won just 14 of the 36 rubbers on offer and Guernsey’s sole-female qualifier Alice Loveridge – who trailed unbeaten Dodd and Band by just the one point – served up a real treat against Moorshead as she strode towards a third place finish.
Eventually she would edge a thriller 9-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10 to keep her one win behind the leading duo, and more drama was to follow on the same table minutes later.
This time, it was Dodd who found himself frustrated by Moorshead, despite the Guernseyman starting well by comfortably winning the first.
Two 11-9 wins for the Caesarean in the second and third had Dodd against the wall, but an 11-5 fourth game success and 11-8 fifth swung it back in the champions’ favour.
With Band losing to Phil Ogier in another five-setter the door was open for Loveridge to make it an all-Guernsey final, but Jersey’s Commonwealth Games competitor eased through when the two met, prevailing 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.
Ultimately it all hinged on a few points in the third, when, with the match tied at 1-1 and with Band 10-8 up, he lost four-straight points and fell 2-1 behind.
A 7-0 deficit in the fourth effectively ended Band’s hopes, but after his 11-6, 9-11, 13-11, 11-2 defeat his overall reaction was one of positivity.
‘Losing those four points in a row to lose the set was the real killer,’ Band said. ‘There is a massive difference between being 2-1 up or going 2-1 down, particularly in a best-of-five match and particularly against Garry. He is such a fantastic player that you need to be on your game throughout because he doesn’t make many mistakes.
‘But as for the day as a whole, I am delighted to finish as runner-up overall because Guernsey table tennis is so strong right now … you know you are in for a really tough game against any of the six opponents you come up against.’
(Jersey players), Josh Band: Beat Josh Butler 11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5; bt Alex Robinson 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6; bt Josh Stacey 11-8, 11-8, 11-8; lst Ogier 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 6-11, 4-11; bt Loveridge 11-9, 11-7, 11-8; lst Dodd 6-11, 11-9, 11-13, 2-11.
Paul Marshall: Lost Loveridge 5-11, 5-11, 10-12; lst Dodd 11-13, 4-11, 1-11; bt Robinson 7-11, 1311, 11-4, 11-9; lst Stacey 11-8, 11-8, 12-14, 3-11, 5-11; lst Ogier 4-11, 2-11, 12-10, 6-11.
Kevin Allen: Lost to Dodd 5-11, 5-11, 4-11; lst Butler 4-11, 8-11, 11-13; lst Robinson 4-11, 8-11, 7-11; lst Stacey 8-11, 8-11, 7-11; lst Ogier 5-11, 10-12, 3-11; lst Loveridge 2-11, 5-11, 11-5, 5-11.
Jordan Wykes: Beat Ogier 11-8, 11-7, 11-7; lst Loveridge 5-11, 11-6, 11-13, 10-12; lst Dodd 3-11, 7-11, 12-14; bt Butler 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6; lst Robinson 12-10, 10-12, 9-11, 12-10, 6-11; bt Stacey 11-7, 11-4, 8-11, 11-13, 11-4.
Chris Moorshead: Beat Stacey 11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5; bt Ogier 14-12, 12-10, 11-1; lst Loveridge 11-9, 11-5, 5-11, 6-11, 10-12; lst Dodd 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 8-11; bt Butler 11-7, 11-7, 12-10; bt Robinson 6-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8.
Tyler Gosselin: Lost Robinson 6-11, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11; lst Ogier 1-11, 5-11, 7-11; bt Stacey 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5; lst Loveridge 8-11, 3-11, 7-11; lst Dodd 6-11, 10-12, 8-11; bt Butler 14-12, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4.
