Ormeau and Ormesby started this season’s SBL Premier Division in fine form as they both ran out 6-1 victors in their opening fixtures.

Ormesby faced a tough tie against North Ayrshire (NATTC) whilst Ormeau travelled to Urban TTC. Fusion were also in action, bouncing back from their opening round defeat to secure a 5-2 win against BATTS.

An all-Northern Irish contingent of Ashley Robinson, Paul McCreery and Zak Wilson put on a brilliant display for Ormeau, only dropping one game against Urban TTC.

Omid Khoshbakt got Urban on the board, but it would turn out to be the home side’s only win of the day. James Hamblett could have made it 2-0 but lost out to Robinson in five. In a show of early season strength Ormeau closed out the match, dropping just two sets in the remaining five games.

From left to right Ormeau’s Zak Wilson, Paul McCreery and Ashley Robinson. Photo credit: Michael Loveder

North Ayrshire travelled to Middlesbrough after an opening victory against Fusion two weeks ago. Ormesby are usually incredibly competitive in the Premier Division and, based on this weekend’s performance, look as though they will be a tough team to beat once again.

Their trio of Helshan Weerasinghe, Same Mabey and Ryan Jenkins lost just one game as they got their season off to a winning start. Christopher Main was the only NATTC player to register a win, beating Weerasinghe in the opening game of the match. Martin Johnson was perhaps unlucky not to pick up a victory as he took Sam Mabey to a deciding fifth set in the final game of the day. Mabey and Jenkins starred for the North-East side as they won both their singles games and also combined in the doubles.

Fusion bounced back from their opening round defeat as they beat BATTS 5-2. The first two games were shared with Lorestas Trumpauskas beating Ethan Walsh before Josh Bennett beat Robert Pelc in three to level things at 1-1.  Trumpauskas would prove to be the real difference between the teams winning both his singles games and featuring in the doubles pair that beat BATSS’ Walsh and Shayan Siraj.

BATTS pushed Fusion hard throughout, a reminder that the Premier Division will be closely contested this year.

Shayan Siraj could have had the better of Joshua Bruce in the fourth set as he lost out 12-14, 9-11, 11-9, 10-12.  Walsh managed to beat Bruce in a tight final match but by that point Fusion had done enough to secure victory.

North Ayrshire host Ormeau on 16th October for a rearranged round one fixture. Round three will then be played on the 30th and 31st October.

Results

Fusion 5 BATTS 2
Lorestas Trumpauskas bt Ethan Walsh 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-8)
Joshua Bennett bt Robert Pelc 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-9)
Lorestas Trumpauskas/Joshua Bruce bt Ethan Walsh/Shayan Siraj 3-0 (12-10, 11-4, 12-10)
Joshua Bruce bt Shayan Siraj 3-1 (14-12, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10)
Lorestas Trumpauskas bt Joshua Bennett 3-1 (11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6)
Ethan Walsh bt Joshua Bruce 3-2 (4-11, 11-5, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3)
Robert Pelc bt Shayan Siraj 3-0 (11-5, 11-9, 12-10)

Ormesby 6 North Ayrshire 1
Christoher Main bt Helshan Weerasinghe 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9)
Sam Mabey bt Colin Dalgleish 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-4)
Sam Mabey/Ryan Jenkins bt Colin Dalgleish/Martin Johnson 3-1 (11-5, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8)
Ryan Jenkins bt Martin Johnson 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-2)
Helshan Weerasinghe bt Colin Dalgleish 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 13-11)
Ryan Jenkins bt Christopher Main 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-5)
Sam Mabey 3-2 Martin Johnson 3-2 (5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8)

Urban TTC 1 Ormeau 6
Omid Khoshbakht bt Paul McCreery 3-0 (12-10, 11-6, 11-9)
Ashley Robinson bt James Hamblett 3-2 (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6)
Paul McCreery/Ashley Robinson bt Omid Khoshbakht/Eva Toth 3-1 (10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8)
Zak Wilson bt Eva Toth 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-7)
Ashley Robinson bt Omid Khoshbakht 3-1 (3-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7)
Paul McCreery bt Eva Toth 3-0 (16-14, 11-4, 11-4)
Zak Wilson bt James Hamblett 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-5)