Harry Southwell enjoyed impressive results in the Hampshire Open. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0374161)
TWO Guernsey boys showed that they are progressing well and maturing into serious adult players when they pitted their talents at the Under-17 Hampshire Open.
The two in question were Glenn Le Tissier and Harry Southwell. Both have grown physically several inches during the summer and this brings new aspects to overcome.
On the positive side, it brings extra strength, speed and power. But it also invariably can lead to movement, co-ordination and timing problems that need to be worked through.
The boys played in both singles and doubles events which start in a round-robin format of four groups with the winner of each going through to a semi-final, so you cannot afford any slip-ups.
Southwell found himself in the largest round-robin group of five players from Hampshire and Gwent, including the eventual winner, Milo Rapacioli from Hampshire.
Although pleased with his performance, Southwell felt that his footwork had let him down during this tournament.
Despite getting off to a slow start in his first singles match, Le Tissier quickly adjusted to the playing conditions of the UK venue and began to dominate, winning the third and deciding game 21-9.
His second match was the toughest of the round-robin stage.
He won the first game 21-12 but his opponent fought hard in the second to lead 19-16. Le Tissier, though, found strength to outplay his opponent and edge it 22-20.
He then dominated the last match in his group from the start, overcoming a less experienced player 21-13, 21-12.
After winning his group, Le Tissier played Adam Dochniak from Dorset in the semi-final, whom he has defeated before.
Unfortunately, on this occasion the result went against the Sarnian 10-21, 21-16, 18-21.
However, it was a tough ask as by the time the semi was played he had also completed three doubles group matches and a semi-final.
Changing from singles to doubles, then back again for singles, requires tremendous concentration, especially when fatigue starts kicking in.
Le Tissier was disappointed not to reach the final, but he lost only narrowly to the eventual overall winner from Hampshire.
In the doubles, the Guernsey pair were drawn in a group of four pairs.
Again they started slowly and tired themselves out further by having to play a couple of three-set matches, which really should have been straight-set wins.
They played really well to beat the strongest pair in the group stage, but only after having lost the first game. But this fantastic win secured a place in the semi-final.
Their opponents were from Wales and a pair who had defeated them at a UK training camp during the summer.
Le Tissier and Southwell showed just how much they have matured as a doubles pair over the last 12 months and focused on the task ahead to overturn their previous loss by reaching the final in impressive style 21-16, 21-13.
In that final they were up against a pair from Dorset, but never really got back into form.
Both boys had played four singles and four doubles matches in one day with very little rest in between.
Tiredness simply knocked the edge off their game and they could not reproduce the sparkling semi-final form, losing 21-17, 21-10.
GBA president John Stuart said that overall this was a fantastic performance by both lads, who now know that they can match and beat the very best players from the south of England and Wales.
‘They did incredibly well with such little UK tournament match practice,’ he said.
‘Without doubt their results will continue to grow throughout the season.’
He also thanked Jane Le Tissier for taking the lads to Hampshire for the event and Matt Le Tissier for hosting the Guernsey contingent.
Their next scheduled outing is in Guernsey at the Creasey’s Junior Open during the weekend of 7-9 November, when they will compete in both the U-17 and U-19 boys’ doubles against strong opposition from local boys as well as visiting UK and Jersey players.
Article posted on 23rd October, 2008 - 2.29pm
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