Immaculate secure double

Leroy Brown, Gleaner Writer

There were thrills but no spills at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre last Saturday, as the curtain came down on the Mayberry Investments High Schools' Tennis Tournament for 2011.

After three days of intense competition, Immaculate Conception High School scored the double in the girls Under-19 and Under-14 competitions. Wolmer's Boys' Under-19 and Campion College's Under-14 shared honours for the boys.

Tournament director David Sanguinetti's use of the World Team Tennis format proved significant, as it made the competition intense throughout and winners were decided on several occasions in the last few games. Under these rules, games were decided on the basis of the first individual or doubles team to six points was declared the winner. In the case of a tie, there was a seven-point tie-breaker.

In the Under-19 competition, there were four singles matches and three doubles. In the Under-14, three singles and two doubles.

While Immaculate took both sections, it was no walkover. Wolmer's, their opponents in the Under-19, got off to a great start by winning the first two singles matches. Phadria Kepple, the most outstanding Under-19 girl, defeated Sara Khemlani 6-1, and Kalisse Kelly beat Serena Harjani 6-2.

However, Immaculate made a dogged fightback and won the next two singles and two doubles to end up winners 4-2.

The Under-19 victory gave Immaculate their fifth consecutive hold on the trophy. They then beat Mount Alvernia 3-0 in the Under-14 competition.

The boys Under-19 provided some of the most thrilling and competitive games and was decided in a tense doubles match between Andrew Mason and Jonathan Goldson for Wolmer's and William Berry and Kareem Marshall for Campion.

In a match of fluctuating fortunes, a seven-point tie-breaker proved the decider with Mason and Goldson eking out a 7-5 victory.

Roger Lyn, who, at 11 years old, anchored the Under-19 team for Campion, won his singles and doubles assignments easily. However, it was not enough to take his team home. He was named the outstanding player in the Under-19 age group.

The two Under-14 outstanding players were Rhea Thompson from Immaculate and Didier Trail of Campion.

At the prize-giving ceremony, tournament chairman Richard Russell praised Tennis Jamaica for its support and new sponsors Mayberry Investments, Access Financial Services and Honey Bun Bakery for financing what he called "the most important tournament on the Tennis Jamaica calendar because of the number of young people who are involved each year".