Fusion and Urban TTC both won on Saturday to narrow the gap between all seven teams in the SBL Premier Division to just two points.

Brighton travelled to Fusion hoping to secure back to back wins after their victory three weeks ago, however an inspired performance from Larry Trumpauskas secured three crucial points for the home side.

The afternoon started badly for the Fusion as Joseph Langham-Ferreira and Jordan Wykes raced out of the blocks to give Brighton a 2-0 lead heading into the doubles. Lorestas Trumpauskas and Josh Bruce, both beaten in their opening singles matches, made it 2-1 as they beat Langham-Ferreira and Wykes. They showed real fight to keep their side in the tie, winning the fourth 13-11 then the fifth 11-9. 

Larry Trumpauskas stepped up for his first piece of action of the day, he overcame Krish Chotai in three to level the tie. Wykes quickly restored the lead for Brighton beating Lorestas Trumpauskas in five. 

As with most SBL Premier Division fixtures this game was played over two tables. Larry Trumpauskas took on Langham-Ferreira on one with Josh Bruce facing Krish Chotai on the other. Trumpauskas and Bruce held their nerve to both win in four and give Fusion their first win since October.

In the only other match to take place this weekend Urban TTC picked up their second win of the season beating BATTS 4-3. Connor Green was named player of the match as he helped the London side to victory with two singles wins. 

BATTS’ Josh Bennett and Green each won their opening tie in three. Bennett then teamed up with Shayan Siraj to beat Joseph Hunter and Green in the doubles. The match swung back and forth, with the home duo eventually winning in five. Green beat Josh Bennett in four to level the tie at 2-2, it quickly became 3-2 to Urban thanks to Alim Hirji. He beat Ralph Pattison in four to put Urban on the brink of three points. 

The final two sets were both hard fought, needing five sets to separate each. Played across two tables Joseph Hunter beat Pattison give the travelling side the win. Shayan Siraj eventually overcame Hirji to leave the final scoreline at 4-3. With the league so tightly balanced each set win could prove crucial. Whilst both teams still sit at the bottom of the league with 9 points, if remaining fixtures go their way they could end with a top four finish. 

BATTS have now played all six of their fixtures and thanks to the fixtures that remain their ten point haul will not be enough to get them a place in the top four as the league splits into two.

Ormeau and Ormesby have both played just four games, with the winner of their rearranged fixture certain to top the league. It will all go down to the final round of fixtures to see which teams end up in the top four. 

Urban and Fusion will face each other on Saturday 11th March as Brighton take on Ormeau and Ormesby host North Ayrshire. 

Photo credit: Michael Loveder

Results:

Fusion 4 Brighton TTC 3

Joseph Langham-Ferreira (BRI) bt Lorestas Trumpauskas (FUS) 3-2 (7-11, 9-1, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10)

Jordan Whykes (BRI) bt Josh Bruce (FUS) 3-0 (13-11, 12-10, 11-9)

Lorestas Trumpauskas/Josh Bruce (FUS) bt Jordan Wykes/Joseph Langham-Ferreira (BRI) 3-2 (7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9)

Larry Trumpauskas (FUS) bt Krish Chotai (BRI) 3-0 (14-12, 11-6, 11-9)

Jordan Wykes (BRI) bt Lorestas Trumpauskas (FUS) 3-2 (11-7, 4-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-1)

Larry Trumpauskas (FUS) bt Joseph Langham-Ferreira (BRI) 3-1 (11-8, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5)

Josh Bruce (FUS) bt Krish Chotai (BRI) 3-1 (13-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-6)

BATTS 3 Urban TTC 4

Josh Bennett (BAT) bt Joseph Hunter (URB) 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-2)

Connor Green (URB) bt Shayan Siraj (BAT) 3-0 (11-7, 8-11, 11-6)

Josh Bennett/Shayan Siraj (BAT) bt Joseph Hunter/Connor Green (URB) 3-2 (11-8, 10-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6)

Alim Hirji (URB) bt Ralph Pattison (BAT) 3-1 (8-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-8)

Connor Green (URB) bt Josh Bennett 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7)

Joseph Hunter (URB) bt Ralph Pattison (BAT) 3-2 (9-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7)

Shayan Siraj (BAT) bt Alim Hirji (URB) 3-2 (11-5, 3-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-6)