Jason ‘Pipey’ Parris, the self-proclaimed number one chopper in Barbados, lived up to his lofty expectations by arresting soldier Terry Smith to lift the Kirk Humphrey St Michael South Christmas Road Tennis ‘A’ class tournament last night.
In front of an appreciative crowd and under floodlights, Parris defeated Smith 26-24, 21-15, to win $1200, when the competition climaxed in Chelston Avenue on Boxing Day.
In the ‘B’ class division, teenage schoolboy Dre ‘Rocketman’ Smith blasted past Richard ‘Princi Lite’ Williams, handing him in a sow in a 21-7, 21-13 whipping.
Terry Smith, an attacking player, actually held the upper hand for the majority of the first game against Parris.
He utilized some rasping forehand shots to jump out to an early 7-4 lead, before Parris settled down to claw back within one at 7-8.
A classy forehand cross-court winner from Smith once again extended the lead to three (11-8) but Parris clawed back to lock the scores at 11 following several unforced errors by Smith.
However, in a sudden turn of events, Parris, the clear crowd favourite, then committed five straight unforced errors to give Smith a 17-12 lead.
With Smith in total command and heading towards a comfortable opening game victory, Parris produced a spell of impenetrable play.
He returned two scorching forehand shots from Smith, who then found the net, as he tried to wrap up the game in quick time.
It helped Parris to get within one (17-18), before a stunning error by Smith gave Parris the initiative.
Jason ‘Pipey” Parris raising his hands after defeating Terry Smith to win the ‘A’ Class Competition
In total control of the rally and with his opponent at his mercy after being gifted a ‘penalty’ Smith unbelievably opted to play an injection instead of smashing the ball past his opponent as he had been doing all game.
A fleet-footed Parris quickly got to the ball and dragged it away from Smith’s reach, much to the delight of his supporters, to lock the scores at 18.
And even though Smith held the initiative at 20-19, he could not find a way to close out the match.
After several deuce games, Parris eventually took the first game when Smith’s forehand crashed into the net.
The second game was just as tense in the opening exchanges, with the scores tied at 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6.
Smith once again seized the initiative with some powerful forehand shots to win the next three points and hold a 9-6 lead.
MP Kirk Humphrey presenting Dre ‘Rocketman’ Smith with his prize for winning the ‘B’ Class Competition
But similarly to the first game, his aggressiveness saw him commit several unforced errors that allowed Parris back into the game.
Holding a slender 13-12 lead, Parris employed some clever counter attacking play to put the game to bed.
Smith added to his own demise by continuing to go for forehand winners despite trailing. His subsequent unforced errors allowed Parris to build an 18-12 lead.
Despite three scorching forehand winners by Smith, Parris eventually closed out the game in straight sets to receive a belated Christmas gift.
In the third-placed game, David ‘Ja Paul’ Phillips defeated Kirtman Harewood to walk away with $500, while Harewood took home $300.
The ‘B’ Class final was lopsided as Smith never gave Williams a fighting chance.
He unreeled shot after shot in the first game to rush out to a 7-1 lead, which he never relinquished.
In fact, that lead only grew as the game went on and the dreadlocked Williams was given a ‘pig’ in the opening game.
Williams did put up a better showing in the second game, locking the score at 7-7.
But a passing forehand shot by Smith sparked six consecutive points and a comfortable 13-7 lead.
Smith finished the contest in spectacular fashion by slapping a backhand winner down the line from Williams’ serve.
He received $700 for his feat, while Williams won $400. (RB)
