Following their defeat by Rye juniors a few weeks ago, a team from the Green Tennis Club in Hastings were determined to exact revenge in a return match at Rye LTC last Sunday. This time a third team, from Bethersden, joined the competition which is part of the Team Challenge series promoted by the LTA to encourage youngsters into the game.
Once again, the weather was less than kind, with freezing temperatures and occasional wintry showers. However, even if parents and spectators were left shivering on the edge of the courts, the children, as usual, showed little evidence of feeling the cold as they focused their attention on their opponents.
The age group on this occasion was a little younger than before, comprising six-to-eight-year-olds and this time the Rye team did not have it all their own way.
The standard of tennis in players so young was, once again, in many cases remarkable with many successfully attempting an overhead serve and some good rallies being played. As before, the scoring system was one point for the winner of a rally and with games limited to 10 minutes each.
At the end of the day, the scores were close with newcomers Bethersden claiming first place with The Green second and this time Rye had to be content with third. However none of this seemed to matter too much to the children who returned to the Clubhouse cheerful and ready to demolish, in a very short space of time, the tea that had been laid out for them, and to receive their prizes and medals presented by the principal organisers, Frances Candy of Rye and Claire Larkin of The Green.
A successful afternoon with more competitions to come during the year.
Photos: John Minter
Well done to the team and Rye coach! A special congratulations to Milo Brown.