Only two players emerged unscathed after the preliminary exchanges when the National Senior Games continued at the Table Tennis Centre, Nursery Drive, on Wednesday.
Courtney Springer and Wilmont “Funk” Goddard seem to be on a collision course for the championship, but before a possible meeting in the final they will both have their work cut out for them.
Springer topped group 1 with an undefeated performance in similar manner to Goddard who maintained a perfect record in group 2.
The two veteran players will be joined in the quarter-finals by Rawle Husbands, Wayne Branch, Chris Banfield, Charles Lovell, Jeffrey Bostic and Philip Tull when the tournament continues next Wednesday.
Springer, who will face Husbands in a quarter- final match-up, has not disappointed with expectations high even before a ball was served.
Husbands, who will be hard pressed to get past the gutsy all-round player, moved into the quarter-finals ahead of fifth-place finisher Philip Hackett whose three wins out of his final four matches failed to earn him a spot in the top four in the group.
Marguerita Felix played brilliantly on the final night of preliminary action to take a game off Hackett before going under 2-1 having earlier beaten Maureen Pollard in straight games.
Goddard ensured he would top the group 2 standings by beating Hackett in straight games and then taking out the highly touted Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic 2-0. Husbands proved to be a tougher opponent but Goddard nevertheless prevailed 2-1 after dropping the first game.
Wayne Branch beat the rapidly improving Henderson Smith 8-11, 11-8, 11-6 and despite losing to Lovell in three close games, booked a quarter-final meeting with Banfield who finished second in group 2 after beating Bostic 11-6, 11-5.
In the other preliminary match, Hackett beat the aggressive Theodore Gill 11-3, 5-11, 11-3. (PH)
