PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL LOVEDER

Fusion started their Senior British Club League’s doubleheader weekend by landing their first win as they battled past Drumchapel Glasgow 6-1.

It’s a huge weekend for the London-based club as they participate in two matches in one weekend, but they head to Scotland to take on North Ayrshire in high spirits after defeating their Scottish counterparts on home soil.

It was a great win for Fusion, and one they have earned too, after being more than competitive in narrow defeats to BATTS and Brighton before this. Their winless start wasn’t a true reflection of their performances and this was the reward they had been waiting for.

It wasn’t without issues along the way, but by and large, Fusion came through pretty convincingly against a Drumchapel side who it has to be said are finding the going tough this season, having managed to pick up just three sets in four matches.

They’re not a million miles off, as was demonstrated here, but fine margins mean everything in table tennis. They found themselves 6-0 down before getting their consolation, and unfortunately for them, there had been eight ends decided by two points in those six sets, they only won one of them.

Victor Guang Shi had taken an early lead on Larry Trumpauskas to give the visitors hope before the youngster managed to get on the front foot more often than not, and he was able to take those chances against an opponent who is one of the most aggressive serve returners you’re ever likely to see.

Larry’s dad, Lorestas, had a more routine victory as he beat Joseph Langham-Ferreira in straight ends and the family pair then showed some good synergy to defeat the two players they had beaten in the singles as a collective in the doubles. That made it 3-0.

That gave Shaquille Webb Dixon the chance to seal victory but he had to beat Paralympian Aaron McKibbin. The commentary team on YouTube expressed their excitement for this game but if truth be told, it did take a while for the game to get going, both players struggling to be effective on serve return. They exchanged the opening two ends before both finding a bit more rhythm, though even then, they were struggling to contain the other if they couldn’t get in first. The long exchanges that had been hoped for didn’t really materialise. Webb Dixon eventually prevailed, with his passive game just slightly better than McKibbin’s, allowing him to take some crucial points and secure the overall match.

Larry, heading to China for training shortly, secured a personal maximum for the afternoon as he beat Langham-Ferreira in four and Webb Dixon joined him with a 3-0 win over Guang Shi, whose blistering backhand just wasn’t quite firing on all cylinders here.

McKibbin did grab a consolation for Drumchapel though, winning the set of the day as he battled past Lorestas deuce in the fifth having trailed after three ends. It did at least give the Scots something to build upon ahead of their derby clash against North Ayrshire next time out.