Guernsey fights back after initial struggle

THE honours were shared when the Guernsey Tennis Club's juniors took on their Jersey counterparts from the Grainville club. More than 30 youngsters of all standards took part in what turned out to be a very exciting weekend of tennis at Longs Camps Tennis Centre.

The Jersey outfit won the first day of action while the home side got their revenge on the Sunday.

'It was a really good weekend,' said co-organiser Jo Robinson.

'The good thing of having two teams is that you can cram in a lot of tennis. The kids got a lot of matches in and it was hugely successful.'

The stars for Guernsey were Georgina Denton, who proved to be too powerful for Natasha de Freitas, and Jonathan Hurford, who beat Scott Weaver in the closest match of the competition.

The Sarnian clinched the final set 13-11 in the tiebreak.

Guernsey's youngest player, Zachary Clark, took on the chin a couple of losses from Saturday to come back and mount an impressive challenge on Simon Johnson, who is four years his senior.

Clark just lost the final set tiebreak 12-10 but in the process proved that he is an excellent prospect for the island.

Nico Robinson, Harry Martel, Charlie Denton, Kirsty Carre, Jack Oldfield, Elliot Clark and Jack Totty with Hurford in the doubles also won rubbers for the home team.

A return visit to Grainville is planned in the summer.

'We're looking forward to going to Jersey later in the year,' said Robinson.

The next major event on the local junior tennis calendar is the Ipes Island Mini Tennis Championships on Sunday 18 March.

Entry forms are available from the Guernsey Tennis Club or by email from cilta@cwgsy.net.