Anthonette Riley shrugged off the weight of the controversy that has invaded her promising table tennis career to set up a meeting with veteran Ann Reid in the final of the women’s Islandwide Open with an amazing semi-final victory on Saturday night.
Riley came from behind to defeat Nicole Alleyne 16-18, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 at the Table Tennis Centre, John Beckles Drive, St Michael.
Mark Dowell held on to his dream of defending his Islandwide title, but the courage of 12-year-old Riley against a player on the opposite side of an ongoing dispute related to the “B” class tournament was admirable.
Riley waited for over three hours to compete in the Islandwide semi-final, having arrived at the centre just before 6 p.m.
After watching some of her fellow participants compete in more than one event, Riley took to the table just after 9 p.m to square off against the more experienced Alleyne.
It was worth the wait, though, that did not seem apparent in the initial stages.
Alleyne was sharp and made few errors as she raced to a five-point lead early in the first game. The mini crisis seemed to jolt Riley into action and she fought back to take the game to deuce. Â
So tense was the atmosphere that Alleyne served off the table to leave Riley with match point at 16-15.
Remarkably Riley also served off, tying the contest for the “umpteenth” time. Alleyne capitalised and took the next two points to win 18-16 and move to a 1-0 lead.
When Alleyne looped and smashed her way to an 11-3 win in the second game it appeared the contest was virtually over.
If Alleyne really believed that she paid a high price for her misjudgement, as Riley fought her way back, winning the third game 11-9. Â
Renewed in confidence Riley also took the next two 11-8, 11-7 but seemed to run out of steam in the sixth game, as the determined Alleyne unleashed a series of impressive attacking strokes to move ahead 10-5.
Riley responded, launching the fightback with a bold forehand loop drive. Five unanswered points helped her catch Alleyne at 10.
The two then engaged in one of the most breathtaking exchanges of the match, trading forehand and backhand rallies at speed before Riley won the point to move ahead 11-10. Â
Riley won the next point to take the set 4-2, but the pair must both be credited for showing that women’s table tennis in Barbados can be as exciting as that produced by their male counterparts.
Dowell and Trevor Farley put on a similarly dazzling display in a seven-game Islandwide drama won by Dowell 13-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 3-11, 7-11, 13-11.
The result spoilt the prospect of the Farley brothers contesting both the “A” Class and Islandwide finals this weekend.
Trevor had earlier beaten Dowell 4-2 in the semi-final of the “A” Class. Kevin Farley won a gruelling battle against Aaron Barker in the other semi, 12-10, 20-18, 4-11, 8-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6.
In the second Islandwide semi, Kevin Farley beat Abbie Clarke 3-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10, 12-10 and will face Dowell in the final.
Other results
Women’s Islandwide semiAnn Reid beat Julia Morris 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 12-10, 11-4.
B Class
Xavier Duncan won by default from Ramario McClean.
Nicholas De Garnes beat Shamari Bullen 11-8, 11-13, 13-11, 11-9, 18-16.
Men’s doubles
Clarke and Dowell beat Clifton Mark and Barker 3-2.
Trevor and Kevin Farley beat Steve Skinner and Paco Moss 3-0.
Mixed doubles
Clarke and Reid beat Barker and Morris 3-0.
Trevor Farley and Sabrina Worrell beat Mark and Alleyne 3-1.
Under-18 boys
Rashad King beat DeGarnes 4-0.
Duncan won by default over McClean.
Under-21 males
Duncan beat Ricardo John 4-3.
Tryvonn Powlett won by default over McClean.
