College sport: Tennis hopefuls consider US prospects

Chester Espie and Danielle Feneridis are contemplating the best moves for their developing careers. Photo / Richard Robinson

The search is always on to find the next player to give New Zealand tennis a much-needed presence on the ATP or WTA tours. But, as many of our rising stars have found, there is no easy ticket to success in one of the world's most competitive sports.

While no one would dare suggest winning the Auckland Champion of Champions title is the first step to stardom, it is at least a start.

In completing trifectas of junior, intermediate and now senior singles titles at the always keenly-contested annual tournament, Chester Espie (WBHS) and Danielle Feneridis (WGHS) give fresh hope but even they are realistic enough to know they still have a huge mountain to climb.

Espie's coach Jeff Simpson put the magnitude of the task in perspective.

"There are 20,000 players out there trying to get one [ATP] point on the circuit," said Simpson.

"In the past we have had guys like Brett Steven and Kelly Evernden up in the rankings but it is not easy to even get a foot on the bottom rung these days.

"If you want to be a tennis player now you need to relocate overseas at a very young age - at least by the time they are 16.

"I don't think we have a system set-up in New Zealand to do what is needed. The kids have to do it themselves with much depending on their parents and having the financial backing needed."

Espie and Feneridis are already eyeing the college system in the US but realise even reaching that point demands plenty of hard work - and results.

"I definitely want to go overseas. We are going to look at a US College but that is further down the track," said Feneridis. "Through my sponsorship with Head I am able to train and play as much as I want but it is time-consuming. I am lucky my parents have been so supportive."

After winning the junior title in year 10 and the intermediate crown two years later, second seed Feneridis broke through with a first win over long-time rival, defending champion and top seed Mikaela Davies (TGS) to claim the senior title 6-1, 6-2.

Coached by Wesley Whitehouse, Feneridis, who first hit a ball as an 8-year-old at the Browns Bay Tennis Club, is hopeful of selection in next month's Junior Fed Cup team after being a reserve last year.

Espie devotes most of his time to playing or training after he too started as an 8-year-old, at the Whangaparaoa Club.

Now in seventh form at WBHS, Espie won the junior title in his third form year, the intermediate crown two years later and now the senior after losing in last year's final.

"There was some added pressure this year as the top seed and knowing it was my last chance," said Espie, who beat Ryan Henderson (St Kentigern) 6-3 6-1 in the final.

Coached by Simpson, Espie has his sights on the US but is not rushing.

"Probably around this time next year we will start making decisions," said Espie, 17. "We have been talking to a couple of schools. Trying to make it professionally is very tough but at least by going to college you give yourself some time to develop.

"I want to go as far as I can in the game," said Espie who lives at Stanmore Bay and plays Chelsea Cup tennis at Becroft.

Despite their victories, Espie and Feneridis were not able to lead their schools to a win in the sought-after Aitkenhead Shield.

With victories in five of six finals, St Kentigern comfortably claimed the girl's title while AGS edged WBHS for the boy's crown.

CRICKET

AUCKLAND

Kings continued their strong start to the season with a crushing win over old rivals AGS in a round of matches cut to one-day after the washout a week earlier.

Electing to bat first, Ganesh RatNasabaty soon had Kings in trouble at 28/3. Fa'asiu Fuata'i and Simon Hickey then steadied the ship before the loss of two more wickets had Kings innings in turmoil at 104/5.

Luke Williamson joined Simon Hickey and the pair played contrasting but crucial innings, reaching 78 with Williamson unbeaten as they steered Kings to 224/8.

The outcome then depended on the ability of the AGS batsmen to master the Kings' spinners but when Harrison Nash struck with the second ball of the innings and made the AGS batsmen work hard for early runs, AGS were in trouble. Kings again turned the screws in the middle overs with only Shawn Hicks, who batted patiently for 38. When he nicked behind off Ben Horne the innings fell away and ended 104 runs short.

St Kentigern's Nick Kelly waged a one-man war on MAGS but it was not enough to get his team over the line. Batting first, St Kentigern reached a handy 211/9 with Kelly blasting a fine century. He was supported by opener George Morrison (33) but there was little else as MAGS' opening bowlers Brett Randell and Abijeet Parikh picked up three wickets each.

MAGS paced their batting innings excellently with contributions throughout the order. The Dhadwal twins both reached 40-plus before Haamiora Clarke got them over the line with 48 not out. The St Kentigern bowlers did not help, bowling too many wides.

Westlake batted first against Sacred Heart but stumbled to 19/3 before Jordan Ranson (74) and Max O'Dowd (43) added 94 to steady the ship. Mitchell Atkins (29) and Jarred Baker (23) smacked 50 from only five overs to steer WBHS to 225/9.

In reply Sacred Heart were in early trouble losing a wicket off the second ball and after reaching 23/3 the spin bowlers came on and Wesley Jarman, with 3-19 and ably supported by O'Dowd, ran through the lower order to skittle Sacred Heart for 78.

Rangitoto were comfortable victors over Rosmini in a low-scoring affair.

Wicketkeeper Guy Harley scored what proved a match-winning 35 in the face of fantastic bowling from Dominic Reidy who bagged 6-22 and Ryan Thompson, 3-14.

Rosmini were confident of chasing down the paltry total given their fine batting efforts in the one-day competition but Rangitoto's attack blew them away for only 46.

KBHS began their plate challenge with a comfortable win over Macleans on the back of an impressive all-round performance. Kelston batted first, with Jarrod Hill and Dylan Taylor both reaching 60 in their score of 221.

Apart from wicketkeeper Andrew Morrison who again batted well for 39, Macleans never looked likely of chasing down the KBHS total and were dismissed for 145 with Robert Evans Moore returning 4-26.

Avondale College eased into the competition with a comfortable win over St Peters.

Batting first, Avondale's Matthew Fraser continued his good form with 66 and all-rounder Mitchell Murray played a cameo role for 49 as Avondale recorded a competitive score of 174.

Hamish Kumar and Jordan Trainor both picked up four wickets for St Peters but with bat in hand they succumbed for just 78 as Vishi Kumar bagged 3-14.

ROWING

The all-round strength of rowing across many schools was again underlined at the North Island SS championships at Lake Karapiro but not all the honours were with the so-called traditional school.

Takapuna Grammar won gold in the girls under-17 coxed quadruple sculls with their crew of Alahna Walker, Charlotte Gibson, Courtney Sheehan, Jaime Shearer (stroke) and Joshua Nicol-Molitor (coxswain), coached by TGS Director of Rowing Martin Simoncelli.

They performed consistently throughout the three-day regatta, eventually winning the final in 7:26.66s.

The have shown exceptional form this season, winning every race they have entered apart from one at KR11 due to gear failure.

They now look forward to the challenge ahead at the Maadi Cup national SS regatta again at Lake Karapiro.

MAGS, on the comeback, took some satisfaction in reaching two A finals with Sane-Va Ginnen and Sam Perry in the under-15 double sculls and Grayson Daupin and Henry Locket in the under-16 double.

RUGBY

Many of New Zealand's top players first caught the eye of Gordon Tietjens at the Condor Sevens.

Now, with sponsorship from the Bank of New Zealand, the nationwide Secondary Schools tournament is set to go bigger, brighter and better.

The BNZ Condor Sevens will feature a series of 14 regional qualifiers with more than 100 teams playing for a place in the national final to be held on December 4 at Auckland's College Rifles RFC.

The first of the qualifiers has already been played. With their 22-5 win over Kamo HS in Moerewa, Whangarei BHS booked their place in the final.

"With the BNZ Condor Sevens, we're getting behind more than just rugby," said BNZ chief operating officer Stephen Mockett. "We're backing local communities right across the country."

First held in 1986, the Condor Sevens has grown to become a national championship producing some of the country's finest rugby talent, including Jonah Lomu (Wesley College) and more recently Declan O'Donnell (Hamilton Boys' High School).

"Declan O'Donnell is the latest example of a young player's career being launched through Rugby Sevens as he made the New Zealand team two years after he starred at the Condor Sevens for Hamilton Boys' High School in 2008," said New Zealand Sevens coach Tietjens.

"The BNZ Condor Sevens will accelerate young players, men and women, into the Olympic Games now that Rugby Sevens has been added to the programme. Many of those Olympians are in our schools today."

Hamilton BHS, featuring O'Donnell and his brother Kylem, won the 2008 tournament 10-5 over MAGS who claimed the title a year later with a 12-5 win over Wesley College 12-5. KBHS are the defending champions after beating MAGS 26-17 in last year's final.

ON THE WEB

www.asbcollegesport.co.nz

COMING UP

TODAY: Cricket, Auckland girls (4pm, home team first), premier, Avondale v MAGS, St Kentigern v Diocesan, St Cuthbert's v Baradene, Melville Park, EGGS bye. Senior B, section one, Botany Downs v Pakuranga, King's v McAuley, Glendowie v St Kentigern, Rosehill v Macleans. Section two, Massey HS v Marist, MRGS 2 v Rutherford, EGGS v St Dominic's, Waitakere v Onehunga, MRGS 1 v St Cuthbert's. North Harbour senior A, Kristin v WGHS, Northcote v TGS 1, TGS 2 v Long Bay, Rangitoto bye.

Softball, premier girls (4pm, home team first), One Tree Hill v EGGS, Green Bay v AGGS.

TOMORROW: Wrestling, Auckland SS championships, Dilworth 9am.

TOMORROW-SUNDAY: Water polo, North Island SS championships, tomorrow, West Wave from 9.15am, Sacred Heart from 8.40am, Diocesan from 5.10pm. Friday, Sacred Heart from 8.30am, West wave from 8.40pm, EGGS from 3.30pm, Diocesan from 5.10pm. Saturday, Diocesan from 8.15am, Sacred Heart from 9.15am, West wave from 8.20am, EGGS from noon. Sunday, Diocesan from 9am, Sacred Heart from 9am, West Wave from 8.20am (finals, 3.30pm girls, 4.30pm boys).

FRIDAY: Petanque, All Schools Tournament, Herne Bay PC, 9.30am.

SATURDAY: Cricket, premier (11am), two-day champs, AGS v MAGS, St Kentigern v WBHS, King's v Sacred Heart. Plate, St Peter's v Macleans, KBHS v Rosmini, Rangitoto v Avondale. Premier colts two-day championship (12.30pm), St Kentigern v WBHS 1, King's v AGS, WBHS 2 v KBHS, Stanley Bay.

SUNDAY: Dragon boating, Auckland SS/North island Regional championships, Killarney Park, Lake Pupuke 8am.

MONDAY: Athletics, greater Auckland championships, Mt Smart Stadium 9am. Golf, premier (4pm), Auckland, St Kentigern v King's, Remuera GC, AGS v Pakuranga, Maungakiekie GC, Rosehill v Botany Downs, Aviation CC. North Harbour, WBHS v Kristin, Waitemata GC, Massey v Rutherford, Redwood Park GC, Wentworth bye.

TUESDAY: Touch, North Harbour boys (4.30pm, all Hato Petera), WBHS 1 v WBHS 2, Albany SH v Long Bay, TGS v Orewa, Hato Petera bye.