BATTS and Brighton came out on top of two tense Senior British League Premier Division fixtures this weekend. Brighton stunned last season’s champions Ormesby with a brilliant comeback, as BATTS beat Ormeau to pick up their first win of the year.

On the south coast Ormesby took an early 2-0 lead thanks to Thomas Rayner and Sam Mabey, although in a sign of things to come Callum Evans fought valiantly against Rayner taking it to five sets.

Rayner and Mabey then combined to make it 3-0 to the north-east side after the doubles, and seemingly put Ormesby on course for a comfortable opening win. The Brighton trio, however, had other ideas as Joseph Langham-Ferreira (pictured) beat Iosif Elia in four. Evans showed real grit to beat Mabey in a game that could have gone either way throughout. He eventually won 15-13, 12-14, 13-11, 11-9, the unthinkable comeback becoming a serious possibility with the score at 3-2 with two to play. 

Langham-Ferreira and Jordan Wykes completed the remarkable turnaround, as Brighton, playing their first-ever home fixture in the Premier Division, won 4-3.

There was another close affair in the only other Premier Division fixture to take place on Saturday as BATTS beat Ormeau 4-3.

The Northern Irish side may rue missed opportunities to pick up their second win of the season. The away team described it as a “very tough loss”, with two matches in particular proving crucial.

Oriol Monzo beat Joshua Bennett in five to open the tie before Shayan Siraj levelled by beating Matt Ware. Bennett and Siraj then combined to beat Ware and Monzo in the doubles. The game, as with many in the tie, was too close to call throughout before the home-side duo eventually won 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9.

With the score at 2-1 Bennett beat Ware in a thrilling five-set back and forth game that went all the way to 14-12 in the final set. James Skelton beat Jack Bennett, another game that needed five sets to provide a winner. Oriol Monzo won his second game of the day as he comfortably overcame Jack Bennett, leaving the tie poised at 3-3. 

Shayan Siraj completed the victory for BATTS as he beat Skelton 3-1, picking up the player of the match award in the process. The home trio, who were beaten by Fusion three weeks ago, will be pleased they were able to clinch the vital moments of the tie.

The next round of fixtures takes place on 17th December, with Ormesby looking to bounce back against Urban, North Ayrshire hosting BATTS and Fusion travelling to Ormeau.

BATTS 4 Ormeau 3

Oriol Monzo bt Joshua Bennett 3-2 (9-11, 11-9, 12-14, 11-6, 11-5)

Shayan Siraj bt Matthew Ware 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-7)

James Skelton bt Jack Bennett 3-2 (9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7)

Joshua Bennett/Shayan Siraj bt Oriol Monzo/Matthew Ware 3-2 (8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9)

Oriol Monzo bt Joshua Bennet 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 11-9)

Shayan Siraj bt James Skelton 3-1 (14-12, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8)

Brighton 4 Ormesby 3

Thomas Rayner bt Callum Evans 3-2 (8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5)

Sam Mabey bt Jordan Wykes 3+1 (11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7)

Jordan Langham-Ferreira bt Iosif Elia 3-1 (11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8)

Callum Evans/Jordan Wykes bt Thomas Rayner/Sam Mabey 3-1 (12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9)