New Zealand Takes Lead after Day 1 of Trans-Tasman Junior Test Series
18 Apr 2017The Executive Travel Trans-Tasman Junior Test Series team has taken the lead 13-5 against Australia after Day 1 of the Trans-Tasman Junior test series.
The Under 13 Girls saw Natalie Sayes get New Zealand off to a comfortable lead taking her win in 3 against Maggie Goodman of Australia. Sophie Hodges of New Zealand and Erin Classen of Australia had a mammoth battle in their matchup with Hodges managing to sneak across the line in 5 and take the lead for New Zealand 2-0.
The Under 13 Boys saw Mason Smales of New Zealand have to fight hard against Dylan Classen of Australia but Smales kept his calm and took the win in 4. Oscar Curtis was the first to get Australia on the board taking his win from Apa Fatialofa in 3 making the series score 3-1 to New Zealand.
The Under 15 Girls saw Australia manage to level the score as Hayley Hankinson took out Georgia Fyfe in 4 and Katie Davies served a similar fate to Rene Dudson in 4. This saw Australia level the series score at 3-3.
The Under 15 Boys saw Leo Fatialofa looking calm and collected in his match with the Oceania title under his belt he took to the court and made sure to get New Zealand back in the lead winning his match in 3. New Zealand’s Elijah Thomas had a battle against Remi Young of Australia and whilst both players threw all they could on the line it was Young that managed to claim the win in 4 and keep the scores of the series level at 4-4.
The Under 17 Girls saw Rhiarne Taiapa of New Zealand continue her winning streak after winning the Under 17 title on the weekend and she took her win from Jade Woods in 3. Alex Haydon came out and showed why she is one of the top juniors in Australia and kept the scores level beating Winona-Jo Joyce of New Zealand in 3 and levelling the series at 5-5.
It was full throttle forward for New Zealand in the Under 17 Boys with Matthew Lucente and Gabe Yam taking their wins over Maaz Khatri and Jacob Ford in 3 to take the score for the series to 7-5.
The Under 19 Girls saw the 4 Australian and New Zealand players battle it out to try and claim the title for their country. New Zealand’s Kaitlyn Watts looked comfortable in her match against Australian Shehana Vithana and riding the high of her Under 19 title win over the weekend taking her match 3-0. Anika Jackson of New Zealand and Courtney Mather of Australia both threw everything on the line but it was Jackson who took the match from Mather’s hands 3-0. New Zealand’s Nadia Hubbard was able to add another 3-0 win to the scoreboard against Australia’s Taylor Jones. The final Under 19 Girls match was between Courtney Trail of New Zealand and Grace Pattison of Australia. Trail showed good strength and determination and whilst Pattison looked set to make a comeback it was not meant to be and Trail claimed the win 3-1 and the series score went to 11-5.
With the day tied up the players were all fighting for pride of their country in the Under 19 Boys. Finn Trimbles Under 19 Boys title was sure to put him in good stead against Australia’s Lachlan Coxsedge. Both players put everything on the line but Trimble’s reach and great shot selection managed to put him over the line and give him the win 3-0. New Zealand’s Mitchell Kempton was the final match of the night against Nicholas Calvert of Australia. Kempton took a 2-0 lead and looked set to take the match in 3 with 5 match balls but Calvert dug deep and managed to claim the third game sending the match to the fourth. Kempton wasn’t going to let the same thing happen again and he fought hard claiming the match in 4 and making the final total 13-5.
The last day of the Trans-Tasman test series kicks off at 2pm tomorrow and the full story on matchups can be found here and matches will be livestreamed here and here. The livestream schedule can be found below and links to all pictures from the weekend will posted here tomorrow as well.
If you wish to commentate or watch some alternative commentary from the weekend jump over to SPALK here and here.
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