GREEN WAVE SWEEPS ACROSS THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
AS HISCOX GUERNSEY TENNIS TEAMS ARE VICTORIOUS
There was a green wave spreading across the Channel Islands this weekend as both the Hiscox Guernsey Junior Tennis Teams were victorious in the first inter-insular to be held for many years.
The 18 and Under team travelled to Jersey where they competed in an extremely tight tie. The matches were close right from the start, especially at the top of the order. After the eight singles matches the scores were level at 4-4, with everything resting on the doubles.
Either side required 3 out of the 4 doubles matches to clinch the trophy. Guernsey collected the first point with a quick victory by Liam and Ellis to go ahead 5-4. Shortly afterwards, Sarnians Florence and Chloe lost in a tight match where they battled hard in the second set to almost force a Champions Tie-Break. With the scores level at 5-5, it came down to the number one doubles pairs to decide who would lift the trophy. After fighting back from a set down, Chloe and Lara took the 11th point for Guernsey in a match tie-breaker.
In the final rubber Guernsey’s Alex and Zac were down 1-5 in the opening set but battled back to take it 7-6 on a tiebreak. With time running out and a flight to catch, the second set was shortened to a Fast 4 format, with Jersey racing ahead to take it 4-0. With the score level at one set all, a Champions Tie Break (first to 10) would decide the match, and the tie. Alex and Zac raced to a 7-0 lead but Jersey rallied hard to get back to 6-8, before Guernsey finally managed to close it out 10-7 to raucous applause and celebrations.
Overall the Hiscox U18 Boys won 5-1 and the Hiscox U18 Girls lost 2-4, giving Guernsey the overall win 7-5.
Coach Rob West reflected, “There were some really long and impressive singles matches in both the boys and the girls fixtures. Two of our Guernsey players lost out in close Champions Tie Breaks, and so we could easily have been ahead after the singles. It was truly a great day for tennis with a high standard of play from all competitors. Personally, I’m obviously very happy for Guernsey, but all players were a credit to themselves, their coaches and their Clubs. This has been a great warm up for this year’s County Cup matches when Guernsey and Jersey will join forces to play in the UK.”
Meanwhile, Guernsey, it was the turn of the Hiscox 14 and Under boys. Jack, Rupert and Josh all collected points in the singles to lead 3-1 at lunch. With a clean sweep in the doubles, the Hiscox Guernsey Team won convincingly 5-1. Coach Jo Robinson said “I am hugely proud of the way the boys played today, with focus and commitment. It was wonderful to see them all supporting each other and creating a great team spirit. With Luca, our youngest player, only 11 years old, the future is exciting for tennis in Guernsey and I hope this will spur them on to keep training hard and working to improve.”
Jack, Captain of the U14s, said “It was an amazing experience to play for Guernsey. I think the team played the best we could, as the results show. It was nice to be able to get to know the Jersey players a bit more which will help for when we play together in County Cup later this year. Our kit made us feel like a real team so thank you to Hiscox for supporting us and making this weekend possible.”
Rupert added “It was an incredible experience today. Nerve racking at the start, but then we all relaxed. I loved playing with Jack in the doubles. It was fun to play in a competition as a team with the other players from Guernsey.”
18 and Under Results
Boys
Jesper (JER) def Alex (GSY) 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
Liam (GSY) def Sonny (JSY) 6-0, 6-2
Zac (GSY) def Sam (JSY) 6-1, 6-3
Ellis (GSY) def Max (JSY) 6-0, 6-4
Liam/Ellis (GSY) def Sonny/Max 6-2, 6-2
Alex/Zac (GSY) def Sam/Jesper (JER) 7-6, 0-4, 10-7
Girls
Triona (JER) def Lara (GSY) 6-7 (7), 6-4, 10-8
Chloe (GSY) def Jasmine (JER) 6-4, 6-3
Issy (JER) def Chloe (GSY) 6-3, 6-1
Kitty (JER) def Florence (GSY) 7-5, 6-2
Jasmine/Triona (JER) def Florence/Chloe (GSY) 6-2, 7-6(5)
Chloe/Lara (GSY) def Issy/Kitty (JER) 2-6, 6-3, 10-7
14 and Under Results
Jack Bachmann (GSY) def Nile Hannah (JER) 4-0, 4-0
Rupert Dorey (GSY) def Myles Hancock (JER) 4-2, 4-0
Stanilaw Śpiewak (JER) def Luca Robertson (GSY) 4-1, 4-1
Josh Neville (GSY) def Zachary Stead (JER) 4-2, 4-2
Bachmann/Dorey (GSY) def Hannah/Spiewak (JER) 4-0, 4-0
Neville/Robertson (GSY) def Hancock/Stead (JER) 4-0, 4-1