JERSEY’S rising table tennis talent delivered a strong showing at the Primary Schools International in Largs, Scotland over the weekend, with both the boys’ and girls’ teams securing fifth place, also finishing ahead of Guernsey.
The island boys, represented by Rory Quinn, James Cleverly, Mason De Sousa and Alfie O’Flaherty, signed off in dramatic fashion with a hard-fought 5-5 draw against their Channel Islands rivals Guernsey.
Quinn and Cleverly (right) both battled to five-set victories to establish an early advantage, before adding further wins to move Jersey into a commanding 5-3 lead. Guernsey, however, mounted a late response to level matters in a tense conclusion.
Jersey ultimately claimed bragging rights on countback, with Quinn’s impressive double victory over Scotland B proving decisive.
The girls’ side, led by Aimee Moreira and Pippa Cleverly alongside two Scottish guest players, produced a composed display to defeat Guernsey 7-3. Moreira set the platform with a determined five-set success, while consistent contributions throughout the line-up ensured a comfortable result.
There was further success in the Consolation competition, where James Cleverly recorded an excellent 3-2 win over Scotland B’s number 3 seed en route to the quarter-finals. Quinn (left) also reached the last eight after overcoming teammate De Sousa, while Moreira progressed to the girls’ quarter-finals with victory over Cleverly.
Team coach Martin Tupper praised his squad’s efforts, highlighting both performance and progress.
“Overall, it was a very positive tournament for Jersey,” he said. “Team newcomers Mason and Alfie really raised their level at this challenging international standard. There was terrific team spirit throughout, and all the players gained valuable experience against strong opposition from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – while finishing proudly ahead of Guernsey.”
