PHOTO CREDIT: CHRIS RAYNER

All roads lead to a title showdown on May 17th after Ormesby got the win they needed over BATTS, but how they were given a fright. The Cleveland-based outfit will take on Brighton next month with the league title on the line after Ormesby secured a nail-biting 4-3 win to take the title race to the last day.

With an inferior sets ratio, Ormesby knew they had to win this to give themselves a realistic chance of winning the title, with a win over Brighton now enough to ensure they will get back their crown. Brighton can afford to lose to Drumchapel Glasgow next weekend and still retain the trophy if they beat Ormesby on the road during the last round of the season.

In essence, Ormesby’s win ensures we will get the title decider we deserve. Winner takes all, at Ormesby, in just under a month’s time.

They just about got the job done here, with BATTS pushing them all the way in a valiant effort after their slight hopes of winning the league were put to bed by Brighton last time out.

The two teams exchanged the first two sets, with David McBeath recovering well after dropping the first end to Shayan Siraj to win 3-1. But the returning Alexis Douin, arguably the best player in this competition, responded by defeating Swiss representative Yoan Rebetez in a classic bout, coming from behind twice to win in five. A pulsating contest went back and forth, the winner not assured until the last point.

The doubles was relatively straightforward, with McBeath and Rebetez teaming up to defeat Siraj and Douin in straight ends. A tricky first game was secured and it was comfortable after that.

When Ben Piggott took his chances to claim a 3-0 win over Joe Ferguson, Ormesby were closing in on the victory. But BATTS had other ideas. On the other table, Douin was locked in a battle with McBeath but one he would eventually prevail in despite dropping the first end.

It meant the last two games would be crucial and when Ormesby dropped the first end in both matches, Piggott behind to Siraj and Rebetez down to Ferguson, you could understand concern among the home crowd. However, Rebetez stormed back, taking a tight second end before firing to victory in four. That meant the closing stages of Siraj and Piggott wasn’t all or nothing, but it was Siraj who prevailed, holding off a fightback from his Ormesby counterpart to win 11-9 in the fourth, having been 10-4 ahead.