Club Finals Day saw two of the Junior events reaching their conclusion, 14&Under Girls and 14&Under Boys. Other events had played round robin matches through the summer and they are also reported below.
The Girls 14&Under playoff was a three player affair, featuring Amber Anderson, Sophie Golland and Evie Jones Best. It was decided to hold a round robin for this event as there were too few players to run a regular elimination draw. Amber played Sophie in the first match and although Sophie is making good progress with her tennis through that tried and tested formula of practise and coaching, Amber was still just that bit stronger, taking the match 6-1, 6-2. Sophie returned to court after a short break to play her second match, this time against Evie. Evie played very well in the match, showing a good awareness of technique and tactics to take the match, 6-1, 6-2.
With one win each the title would be decided by the last match, Amber against Evie. Yet to lose to Evie, Amber looked to be the strong favourite, though Evie has been edging a bit closer every time they have played. The match was evenly balanced throughout, Amber took the first set, 6-4 before Evie came back to level the match, taking the second set 6-2. The girls played a ‘third set’ Championship tie-break (first to 10, but at least 2 points clear) to decide the outcome. Amber went briefly ahead before Evie fought back to close out the match 10-4. Evie was clearly delighted with her win, her first over Amber, and for her part Amber, although surely a little disappointed, was gracious in defeat, congratulating Evie on how well she had played. It took a while for it to sink it with Evie that by beating Amber she was now Girls 14&Under Club Champion.
The Boys 14&Under Final was between Leon Kewney and William Cutforth, both boys having qualified by finishing top and undefeated in their round robin groups. Both players have been competing hard throughout the summer and it was a good opportunity to see how they were progressing, head to head. Leon and William were both striking the ball beautifully but Leon looked to have the sharper tactics and better accuracy during the long rallies. Leon’s serve has also improved as a weapon over the summer, continually putting William on the back foot. Leon got off to a great start, taking the first set 6-1. Always a gritty and determined fighter, William battled hard to find a way in but was unable to find a way to turn the match around. Leon took the second set 6-2 and with it the Championship title.
The 12&Under Championship was held over the summer with the four competitors playing a match against everyone else who entered. Despite working hard, Jonathan Watkinson was unable to win any of his matches though perhaps if his 7-6 first set tie break had gone ‘for’ instead of ‘against’ him, the match against Annabel Dallas might have had a different end result, Annabel instead running away with the second set, 6-1. Annabel’s win against Jonathan proved to be her only triumph although the match against William Wells was closely contested in the first set, William taking it 6-4 before closing out the second set to love. William Wells proved too strong for both Annabel and Jonathan, beating both in straight sets before falling at the final hurdle, losing to William Stanier, 6-3, 6-2. William Stanier proved too strong for all the opposition in the group, winning every match in straight sets. Undefeated, William Stanier is the 2015 12&Under Club Champion.
The 10&Under Championship was also held over the summer, four players taking part in a round robin. There were a lot of very close matches in this event, four of the six matches getting to one set all and going to a deciding championship tie-break to 10. Jamie Anderson proved to be king of the tie-breaks, playing and winning two of them to ensure he finished top of the group and undefeated. Flynn Kewney finished second, just behind Jamie, their title deciding match going the distance, Flynn just losing out 4-5, 5-3, 6-10. Possibly the unluckiest player in the event, all three of Gabriel Rudman’s matches went to the deciding tie-break, Gabriel losing to Jamie 10-8 and to Flynn 10-6, but beating Harry Anderson 10-8. Harry came into the event having played little tennis in the early part of the summer, losing in straight sets to both Jamie and Flynn but will take some comfort from being so close to beating Gabriel.
10&Under Club Champion Jamie Anderson then went on to add the Lincolnshire County 9&Under title to his successful summer record. Surely a player to watch out for…..