Tennis Sport
O
ur first fixture saw the Trinity First VIII line up against a highly rated Christchurch side. The number of tight sets going against us, was an early wake-up call that there was work to be done after the long holiday break. A definite lift in the commitment of all the players was evident in the following week of training and was reflected in a solid 14-10 win over Wesley. A two-week break followed and the team took this opportunity to work on their overall agility and endurance with additional fitness training in Kings Park and at the school courts. A great challenge lay ahead with our next fixture to be played at Hale, the eventual winners of the competition. The young Trinity team matched up against the highest quality opponents and put up a valiant effort on the whole with many sets going to tie-breakers. However, the final result showed we had a way to go before we could consistently convert all opportunities into wins. Another away fixture against rivals Aquinas gave us an opportunity to finish well placed on the ladder. However the opportunities to win sets were again not always taken and we met a 9-15 loss. Disappointed at our failure to convert aggressive and competitive tennis into the results we would have liked, we set the record straight with a hard-fought win over Guildford at home in very difficult windy conditions. The final fixture for the season pitted us against a solid Scotch team. The players found it difficult to adjust to the grass surface which was also a bit slippery due to a little rain. A lack of experience showed, with our young team facing stronger, older and bigger opponents and we suffered our worst lose for the season.
Tennis at Trinity is currently going through a developmental stage. We have a very young group of players in the First VIII, with six of the eight players able play in the next season. Also there are some other players who show excellent promise and will challenge for places in the top side. The future of Trinity tennis looks very positive. Mr Ian Walker was again employed as the tennis professional coach. His range of training drills provided a variety of activities to keep training challenging and interesting. I would like to thank the team for a rewarding year and for the effort they put into their matches. Next season the emphasis will need to be on gaining a more consistent performance with a competitively tough approach to all matches. It is important to acknowledge the dedication and enthusiasm that the teaching staff put into their roles as team coaches. It is necessary to have that enthusiasm so that students are keen to continue with their tennis and strive to do the very best they can. My thanks for this go to Ms Gordon, Mrs Lane, Ms Neasham, Mr Malarkey, Mr Rousset, Mrs Prior, Mr Stewart, Ms Kauhanen, Ms Stewart and Ms Mizen. To the parents who regularly came along and supported their team, thank you. Also, to the parents involved with the PSA teams, thank you for the support with the morning teas.
Geoff Jamieson First VIII Tennis Coach
TENNIS FIRST VIII Back row: Mr Geoff Jamieson [Coach], Matt Fitzgibbon, Christopher Dendle, Alex Rees Front row: Jesse Lucas, Christopher Sabatini, Adam Russell, Pete Polsittichok, Mitchell Spark Absent: Andrew McIntyre, Luke Armitage, Alex Massey
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