Girls' Tennis v Haileybury

Tuesday 14th May 2013
U13 6 pairs and U12 6 pairs Tennis V Haileybury

Yesterday 24 tennis players played at Haileybury School. For many, it was their first such experience. I was proud to see them knocking up, selecting service, calling the score and shaking hands; all evidence of lesson material! A variety of serves, volleys and ground strokes were also seen in the matches. The servers were also confident in calling the score and all players understood their responsibility for calling 'out' WOW.

The U12s won by 28 games to 23 with Helena S and Hannah S adding to the total really well with a 7-1 victory. Lucy B, Olivia S, Issy B and Amber A also achieved good results.

The U13s were led very well by Georgie B and Rebecca E. Scarlet C and Layah M also gave a good account of themselves.

A thoroughly good day's play and a worthwhile experience particularly for those new to tennis matches.

Tennis Report – Week 1

So far this term, the Green League team have played 2 matches, winning one and drawing one. This already puts them in a great place in the Halstead and District League. Well done to Samuel Winter who has yet to lose, Lewis Isaacs who has demonstrated some excellent and consistent tennis, Daniel Moule who won all of his opening matches and Harry Prideaux who stepped up to the mark and acquitted himself brilliantly in the first match against Thaxted.

The U13 Girls' Team played their first match in Halstead and District Division 1 last Saturday. In this League the girls and indeed the boys, can play against players up to 18 years old, so on occasion it can be tough going. However, the girls won their first match against Wickham Bishops. Well done to Georgina Back (Capt) and Rebecca Earl.

The boys have yet to begin their Halstead matches, the first being this Saturday. However, on Wednesday they played a school fixture against St Faith's in Cambridge. The team of Max McIlvenna, William Butler, Elliot Howell (Capt), Joe Head, Harry Dane, Max Cochrane, Jasper Sullivan and Hamish Upton won a fairly one sided match, with the first four players playing some dominating tennis but very well supported by a consistent performance by their team mates. Overall, the score was 10-2 to Felsted.

U11 and U13 Young Felstedian Tennis Championships

Well done to all the players of the U11 and U13 Finals. Great weather and some vocal crowd support by the Thomas' made it a great afternoon.

In the U11 Boys’ final the boys entered a Championship tie break at one set all. Despite Harvey Sullivan and Oliver Butler having 6 match points, leading 9-4, some persistent play from Owen Thomas and Harry Nichols eventually saw then triumph 13-11. The overall score being 2-4, 4-1, 13-11.

In the U11 Girls’ event, some excellent rallies and great competitive play saw a great game that was not entirely reflected in the score with Lucy Bailes and Amber Aitken beating Molly Bones and Izzy Broom 4-0, 5-3.

In the U13 competition, excellent tennis was played by both the girls and the boys. In the Girl’s tournament, Izzy Minks and Georgina Stevens taking the first set with a comfortable 4-1 score. However, the second set saw a great comeback from Laura Winter and Emily Butler, taking it 4-2. In the deciding Championship tie break, the dominance of Izzy with some great forehands and Georgina's consistency, saw them take a 9-4 lead. Laura and Emily dug in and saved 3 match points before eventually losing 10-7. Minks and Stevens winning 4-1, 2-4, 10-7.

The Boys’ event saw James Benbrook and Max Bailes play Matthew Morley-Jacob and Matthew Gilham. With two of the elite boys playing on opposite sides, it was always going to be a close game. The first set went to a tie-break with the Matthew's winning and taking the set 5-4. The second set saw James and Max take a 2-0 lead but they could not see the set out, allowing the two Matthews to eventually come back and win it 4-2, so winning 5-4, 4-2.

Well done to everyone who played, once again, the tournament is only as good as the players who enter and play. Thanks to you all and hopefully you will get the tennis bug and join clubs and enjoy what is a great sport for the rest of your lives!

U13 Girls vs. Haverhill

U13 Girls vs. Haverhill, Saturday 19th May 2012

The girls A team played away at Haverhill. Laura Winter and Lara Peck both represented the school at A team level for the first time. Again, they played opponents who were considerably older than themselves, 15 and 17, and so faced some serious opposition in this Division 1 match. In a superb game where both Felsted girls played superbly, both girls won all of their matches and the doubles to secure an excellent win.

The Girls B team saw a debut for Rebecca Earl, with the seasoned veteran, Georgina Back making up the pair. Both girls played strong, competitive tennis against Forrester’s girls in this Third Division match. Well done to both girls who demonstrated a determination to do their best, winning all but one of their matches and so gaining a convincing victory.

Well done to those who have played and please continue to support this opportunity for our elite tennis players to play. These matches have to be mainly outside of school and so understandably take extra commitment. It is getting very difficult to put out our strongest players out and so fixtures are needing to be cancelled which is clearly not what any of us want.

U13 Boys vs. Bishop’s Stortford College

U13 Boys vs. Bishop’s Stortford College, Thursday 17th May 2012
On Thursday, the Year 7 and 8 boys played Bishop’s Stortford. James Benbrook, Ethan Monks, Matt Morley-Jacob, Ollie Walker, Seb Lawrence, Sean McNamara, Joe Head, Harry Raffan, Jamie Metson, Mathew Gilham, Archie Lucas, Max Bailes enjoyed a comfortable 11-1 match win. There was some superb tennis played with the top 3 pairs really showing some impressive skill. Well done to the boys.

This weekend several teams will be playing in the latest matches within the Halsted League Division 1 and 2. Good luck to the many players participating in these competitions and thanks to their parents for supporting this effort to get the elite players playing more tennis.

U13 Girls vs Haileybury

U13 Girls vs. Haileybury, Wednesday 16th May 2012
The girls played Haileybury in what has become a traditional annual fixture. In the Year 8 team, Georgina Stevens, Lara Peck, Laura Winter (Capt), Emily Butler, Izzy Minks, Jade Kaya, Francesca Moore, Cosima Chisenhale-Marsh, Charlie Moore, Elicia Carrington, Megan Mankelow and Amy Tydeman were simply too strong winning all of their matches for a 12-0 win.

The Year 7 team played well and showed some promise for next year. Georgina Back, Rebecca Earl, Felicity Coulson, Jessica Mitchell, Chiara Rocker-Cook, Bella Westlake, Layah Mohindru, Isobel Scott-Bowden, Millie McFadzean, Bella Prior Kathryn Percy and Megan Abbas narrowly losing in a 5-6 and 1 drawn match competition. The sight of 12 courts full of enthusiastic and competitive tennis was superb!

Girls League Division 1 vs. Wickham Bishop’s

Girls League Division 1 vs. Wickham Bishop’s

This was the first match for the girls and again gave them the opportunity to play against a 15 and 17 year old, the only time in school that they play sport against older players. After a tiring hockey tournament, both girls played some excellent tennis with Izzy Minks losing her second match on a tie break after having match points and Georgina Stevens winning her second round match. Well done to both girls who showed why they are excellent all round sports girls and more than competent tennis players.