Big lead is nearly lost in mixed

GUERNSEY came through a nailbiter of a match to win the 60th tennis inter-insular. In glorious weather at Kings Club yesterday, Ian Robinson's team seemed to be in control when they needed to win just two of eight mixed doubles matches to retain the trophy.

But Jersey had other ideas and fought back gallantly to force the majority of the matches to go to tie-breaks.

Guernsey has dominated the annual match for 26 years since winning for the first time in 1979. Jersey had held the trophy for the first 30 years and it was a sweet moment for Robinson when his team came through the tense final stages to emerge as champions.

'A good day's work,' he said. 'I'm very pleased with everyone as everyone performed today. It was a good all round team performance and it needed to be.

'The people who had their first inter-insular matches today, Michele and Catriona Rizzuto and Heather Watson all did splendidly.

'The Rizzutos won four out of their five rubbers and Heather won all of hers. It came down to a tight finish that was good for the crowd.'

All eyes were on Watson as she stepped onto the court with her experienced partner, Jo Robinson, as the home side's top women's pairing against the Jersey duo of Edwards and Dubras.

The 13-year-old did not disappoint as she crashed home a number of powerful baseline passes.

On the next court, Guernsey's number one pairing of South Africans Pieter Theron and Niel de Kock came up against Morgan and Gonzales. Theron and de Kock came through victors having to contend with Morgan's deadly backhand.

It was the 25th anniversary for the pairing of veterans Robinson and Richard Smeed and they did not play the most attractive of tennis to overcome Camp and Brocken and then Bain and Hand. But then again, inter-insulars are not the days for aesthetically pleasing sport.

The Guernsey wobble did not start until after the Guernsey pairing of brother and sister, Michele and Catriona Rizzuto, beat Camp and Huelin to get them within one point of victory.

When Smeed and Claire Randell lost to Broken and Dubras and all the other matches looked too close to call, the attention switched to Guernsey's top pairing of Theron and Jo Robinson as they faced Morgan and Edwards.

With the home pair a set up, a tie-break was required to settle the second and the atmosphere on the court got quite heated as a number of close line calls added fuel to the flames.

But the set and the match finally swung the Sarnians' way when Theron served to Edwards and her reply went wide.

There was certain symmetry that a former Jersey player had won the point that secured victory for Guernsey.

Theron could see the lighter side to this at the end.

'I did my traitor status proud in Jersey today,' he said.

'The spirit of the competition was good. It was hard work but fun.'

Jersey's captain Morgan was gracious in defeat.

'Guernsey was better than us on the day,' he said.

'Of the two teams they were stronger without a doubt. Hopefully next year we'll be ready for them in Jersey.

'Well done to Guernsey.'