English trio bow out in France

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England’s trio of Matt Leete, Josh Bennett and James Hobson were knocked out of the team competition at the French Youth Open, despite giving a good account of themselves.

Bennett in particular impressed in his match against Lucas Tan, overturning a 2-0 deficit and battling hard to win the next three protracted sets.

Leete also won as England took a 2-0 lead in that tie against a Singapore-Lithuania combination, only for their opponents to turn it around.

Japan A were then too strong in a 3-0 win, although Hobson led his match 2-1 and had his chances before succumbing in five.

And it was Hobson who notched England’s solitary victory in a 3-1 reverse to the USA, who were represented by three members of the Alguetti family, coming from two sets down.

Results

Junior Boys' Team, Group D

Singapore-Lithuania 3 England 2

• Matt Leete bt Shao Feng Ethan Poh 3-1 (11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8)

• Josh Bennett bt Lucas Tan 3-2 (10-12, 6-11, 12-10, 17-15, 11-9)

• Medardas Stankevicius bt James Hobson 3-1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6)

• Poh bt Bennett 3-1 (11-5, 5-11, 13-11, 11-8)

• Tan bt Leete 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-7)

Japan A 3 England 0

• Kakeru Sone bt Bennett 3-2 (12-14, 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6)

• Jo Yokotani bt Leete 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 12-10)

• Kazuki Hamada bt Hobson 3-2 (11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 15-13, 11-3)

USA 3 England 1

• Sharon Alguetti bt Bennett 3-2 (15-13, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4)

• Adar Alguetti bt Leete 3-1 (7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-3)

• Hobson bt Gal Alguetti 3-2 (4-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6)

• Sharon Alguetti bt Leete 3-2 (3-11, 11-6, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8)