Hickling's men aim for first win

MOST of the Channel Islands' top tennis players will go head to head indoors on Sunday as Guernsey look to repeat their outdoor inter-insular success in the Bank of Bermuda-sponsored Morgan Trophy. Guernsey's men, still looking for their first win in the annual competition, will have home advantage at the Guernsey Tennis Centre, while the women travel to Les Ormes, in Jersey, bidding for a hat-trick of victories.

Reigning Channel Islands individual and doubles champion Chris Hickling will be in the Guernsey team along with the player he beat to win the singles crown, 16-year-old Pat Ogier.

Top junior Rob West, now at Millfield, will also be returning for the match, with Andy Ewing as the fourth member of the team.

Hickling and West will pair up for the doubles along with Ian Robinson and Richard Smeed.

The Jersey squad will be led by Island Games team gold medallist Pieter Theron and also comprises Mark Connolly, Ian Morgan and Matt Harris.

In the women's match, Guernsey field a very young side, with teenagers Charlotte Koller, Carly Tucknott Stephanie Connolly and Kiara Green.

Koller and Tucknott both have Island Games experience from the summer, but the others are stepping up to senior competition for the first time.

The home side have a mix of youth and experience at Les Ormes, with senior island players Anne Ledwidge, Jenny Carnegie and Danielle Alsop, teaming up with juniors Abigail Hazeley and Sarah Jones.

Bank of Bermuda is sponsoring the competition as part of a four-year £3,000 deal.

Both matches will be decided over four singles and two doubles rubbers, each over three sets. In the individuals, pairings are made according to ranking.