JERSEY are still in with a chance of improving on their World team table tennis ranking of two years ago following a 3-1 victory over Liechtenstein yesterday.

The win, Jersey’s first in Guanzhou, China, in the World championships, earns the squad a meeting against Brunei or Sierra Leone today for possible 97th placing.

Two more victories for Jersey’s table tennis development officer Craig Gascoyne (25) and a superb first for 14-year-old Josh Band, mean Jersey can do no worse than the 100th place achieved in Germany in 2006.

Gascoyne won matches two and four, with Band’s victory over Toth Daniel, a seasoned player, sandwiched in at three.

In the first match, Luke Walker had suffered at the hands of a very tricky opponent Peter Frommel, a master of countering spin and touch shots and lost the first game 11- 4.

Frommelt’s low throw was questioned by the Jersey team, but he also took the second 11-9, despite a spirited performance from Walker, who had to endure four let winner as well as his opponent’s suspect service.

The referee was called in over the latter point and he agreed with the Jersey representation; Walker being awarded two points for Frommelt’s foul serves in the third. Walker capitalised to win 11-9, but Frommelt’s experience told as he closed the fourth game out 11-5 to win 3-1.

Gascoyne levelled matters with a 3-0 win (11-8, 11-8, 11-8) over Martin Stricker, during which he produced some excellent serves and winners.

Band set up Jersey’s breakthrough victory by coming from behind to beat Daniel 3-1 with a excellent display.

The first game was very tight, but with Daniel 10-9 up, Band netted a smash which should have been a clear winner and so lost the first. Unfazed, he starting taking the game to his opponent and converted some sublime shots with great angles to close the game at 11-6. Buoyed by this success he raced to a five-point lead in the third. Daniel raced back forcing the Jersey team to call a time-out with Band 8-6 up. The tactic and coaching encouragement from Gascoyne worked and Band won 11-7 to edge ahead. The fourth game a nail-biter from beginning to end. Band saved three game points at 10-10 and then converted his second match point after some aggressive but beautifully controlled shots to win 15-13.

It was left to Gascoyne to seal the victory against Frommelt, which he did 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4. A highly deserved win for the young Jersey team.