NSW left feeling Blue after tussle with Big V
NSW’s title defence of all three Australian Under-18 Championships major trophies has taken a turn for the worse, after the perennial powerhouse was overcome by a red hot Victorian contingent in four of its six disciplines in Nightcliff today. Having walked away with the boys, girls and overall trophies at Sorrento, Western Australia last year, NSW were rocked by an inform Big V team today, who appear to be well placed to claim their first piece of major silverware since 1997. During a high class start to the second day, Victoria won all but two of its girls’ encounters against the Blues in the opening two sessions; clinching the coveted blue-ribbon boys’ singles this morning, and prevailing in all three disciplines this afternoon; the boys’ pairs and triples and girls’ fours. Victoria now have the upper-hand going into the final sectional rubber in four disciplines, with NSW remaining undefeated in the girls’ pairs and triples courtesy of their victories in the morning session, while the girls’ singles and boys’ fours second round is currently being staged. Joining them on the winners’ list was perennial powerhouse Queensland, which claimed three of its six matches against the Tasmania, with blemishes coming in their girls’ pairs, and draws in the girls’ triples and boy’s pairs. Western Australia rebounded strongly after feeling the might of the Blues on day one, prevailing against the Northern Territory in all but one of their six encounters so far today – with former singles winner David Downey cut down to size by 11 year-old Top Ender Marcus Simpson. South Australia were also big improvers after a shaky start to the tournament, also claiming five out of six disciplines against the ACT, with their only fault coming in the girls’ pairs. Click here for full results from the 2014 Australian Under-18 Championships in Nightcliff, Darwin. Caption: Victoria’s Jay Bye-Norris remains undefeated at the Australian Under-18 Championships in the boys’ singles and triples.
