Henley youngsters narrowly miss out in youth league final

HENLEY Tennis Club’s juniors were celebrating this week as the U8s reached the Oxfordshire County final while three players have been selected for county training and match play.

Henley U8s entered two teams in this year’s county youth league with only the top two from each group progressing to the semi-finals.

Henley 2nds, featuring debutants Juliet Tonks and Elliot Ayoola, impressed, winning the majority of their matches but with only two available players, they were unable to escape their group.

Henley 1sts overcame a late illness reshuffle and powered through their group, finishing second after a dominant 3-0 win against Peppard. In their semi-final against Wychwoods, the tie was level at 1-1 but Sammy Andrews held his nerve in a dramatic 10-6 deciding rubber, sealing Henley’s place in the county final.

In the final, Henley faced North Oxford, a side who had been champions for the past two years.

Finley Green pushed hard but fell 10-6 before Seth Drummond levelled the tie with a commanding 10-2 win. The decider fell to Andrews and leading 8-6, he was inches from a sensational upset before North Oxford staged a late comeback to win 10-8.

Adding to a standout weekend for the club’s rising stars, Tonks, Andrews and Drummond have been chosen for county training and match play.

Elsewhere, Henley Ladies battled to a hard-earned 3-1 Berkshire Dunlop Winter League Division 8 victory against Sonning.

First pair Jess Craig and Fiona Huggard shook off a slow start to win their opening rubber 4-6, 6-2, 1-0, while Maria Rosier and Pam Saker staged a superb turnaround from 5-0 down to claim a 7-5, 6-2 triumph.

Craig and Huggard then wrapped up proceedings in round two with a 6-3, 6-3 win. Rosier and Saker were less fortunate, playing their final match in driving rain and going down 6-1, 6-0.

In the men’s Oxfordshire A Dunlop Winter League Division 1 clash at Wychwood, the hosts used their artificial pitch familiarity to good effect, ultimately winning 7-1.

Max Miles-Thomas and Matt Hallam managed an impressive 6-1 set win but dropped their remaining sets 6-3. Peter Fennelly and Matt Langridge fought doggedly but were unable to turn the tide.

In the Men’s Berkshire Dunlop Winter League Division 6 East, Henley were awarded a walkover win against Wokingham.