Watson draws short straw

THE luck of the draw was not with Heather Watson as she was pulled out of the hat to play the number one seed in her latest ITF ranking tournament. Competing in the 2006 Eddie Herr International on her home courts at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, USA, Guernsey's British champion is next up to play the top-ranked Katerena Paliivets in the second round of the under-14s competition.

In her last competitive outing, 14-year-old Paliivets, who has openly boasted she plans to reach the world's top five, won an under-18 international ranking tournament in her native Canada.

'It's bad luck or good luck whatever way you look at it,' said Watson's mother, Michelle.

'Out of 128 people she comes up against the number one seed. It's very unlucky that they've had to meet in the second round.

'Heather has never played her but playing on home turf might help her.'

The Sarnian went into the prestigious tournament that features the best young tennis players from more than 35 countries, unseeded.

For logistical reasons she has not taken part in enough ranking competitions.

In the first round she took care of Texan Brianda Navarro in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.

If Watson had been on the island she would have been certain to have been part of the successful Channel Islands women's team in last weekend's Winter County Cup.

It was the first time since 1986 that the CI team have gained promotion.

Hosting the three-day event at Les Ormes in Jersey, they beat Bedfordshire 6-3, East of Scotland 7-2, and Isle of Man 7-2.

The CI now move up to Division 5b in place of the Isle of Man who are relegated.

'That was a bit of a turn-up wasn't it?' said team stalwart, Jo Robinson.

'I'm very pleased.

'It's good we're finally reaping the rewards for having some depth in the team.

'We didn't have that depth for donkey's years.'

The team was made up of Sarnians Robinson, Jacqui Hunt and Clare Randall along with coach Rebecca Edwards, Francesca Dubras, Katie Gouyette, Sarah Jones and Kirsten McArthur, all from Jersey.

The Channel Islands' county development officer, Hugh Raym-ond, was delighted with the result.

'It's been a fantastic win for the ladies' which shows that home advantage does count,' he said.

'The ladies played superbly all weekend and with the four Jersey youngsters playing an important part, there is definitely a great future for CI tennis.'

In the men's Division 5b matches, also at Les Ormes, it was Gloucestershire who came out on top, with the CI team finishing behind Cumbria in third place and ahead of the South of Scotland, who are now relegated.

The team featured Guernsey's Jimmy Woods, Chris Hickling and Patrick Ogier together with Jersey's Ian Morgan, Gareth Roberts, Matt Harris, Grant Collins, Michael Steigenberger, Jordan Roberts, Richard Brecken and Simon di Meo.

They remain in the same division after losing to Gloucestershire 6-3, beating the South of Scotland 8-1 and losing to Cumbria 5-4.

'We did alright, we didn't do too badly,' said Hickling.