Juniors impress coaches

A large contingent of Northland junior tennis players made their mark in both singles and doubles competition at the Albany-based Northern  Junior Open.
Twenty-four players attended this year's tournament, and impressed Northland coaches Wendy Sykes and Peter Stenberg with their standard of play. It was the first time many  had participated in a tournament outside Northland.
While Abbey Sykes was the only Northlander to win a singles title, dominating the girls 14 years age-group without losing a set, Northland players excelled in the doubles event.
The three Baker brothers were title winners in their respective age groups. Matiu Baker teamed with Liam Mortimer to win the boys' 10s doubles while Hakopa Baker and partner Tommy Wang (North Harbour) won the 12s doubles. Older brother Te Hira and Alan Bucknell secured the 18s doubles title.
James Hill and Alex Beddoes (Auckland) won the 14s doubles title, and Noah Gulick and Matt Bennett (North Harbour) won the 16s consolation doubles final.
In the girls' 10s and 12s combined doubles division, Olivia Lobb and Gabrielle Sykes made the semifinals, while in the girls' combined 16s and 18s doubles Nikki Torrie teamed with Mia Middleton (North Harbour) to claim that title. Kelsey Power and Mika Deane (North Harbour) were runners-up and Abbey Sykes and Trixie Croad (North Harbour) placed third.