St Lucy reign

EYES ON THE BALL: Kerry “TC” Francis keeping his eye on the ball and the “B” Class title for St Lucy. (Kenmore Bynoe)

By Kenmore Bynoe | Sun, January 15, 2012 - 12:02 AM

LED BY PURE “A” class road tennis from Kerry “TC” Francis, St Lucy captured the “B” Class title of the National Sports Council’s Inter Parish competition on Friday night at the Dover Courts.

On a bleak night with annoying drizzles and some showers interrupting and finally curtailing the finals, Francis dismissed rising star Garry Thomas 21-19, 21-19 in front of a big crowd of supporters and family who had travelled from the North to see their team take out Christ Church.

With a straight-sets win in the first match, St Lucy’s Neil Greaves just had to win a set or avoid losing to Christ Church’s Simon Bayne in less than a total of 38 points for St Lucy to clinch the title.

The rain however washed out that match in the deciding set although the outcome of that set would not affect St Lucy’s capture of the crown.

A host of Government officials – including ministers Stephen Lashley, Steven Blackett and Haynesley Benn – along with Deputy Speaker Kenny Best plus Director of Sports Erskine King and NSC chairman Siebert Straughn turned out to take in the action.

The night started with Emar Edwards of St George stunning defending junior champion Darius Gaskin of St Michael 21-15, 21-15.

Former queen Sandra Bailey then won the first in the women’s finals from St George’s Kim Holder, 21-19, and Bailey was trailing 8-9 in the second set when the rain came.

A valiant move to dry the court did not satisfy the women who agreed to continue their match last night, thus making way for the men’s “B” finals.

The shots on the court from both Francis and Thomas dried up any remnants of water and the excitement provided warmth for the very excited crowd.

Thomas seemed in charge when he moved to 19-16, with both players showing their skills along both attacking lines. However, the game experience and superior mental fortitude of Francis was displayed as he denied Thomas any more points to take the first set.

Needing to avoid a straight-sets loss to give his partner Bayne a fighting chance, Thomas battled strong as Francis led throughout.

Hoping to return the favour from the first set, Thomas tried to recover from 15-19, but he only reached 19 before Francis closed out the match, held his clenched fist aloft and accepted the embrace from his family and supporters.

Bayne then looked like bringing home the title for Christ Church when he soaked up a barrage of smashes from Greaves to take the first set 21-16.

Needing to win a set for his parish to win, Greaves constantly attacked Bayne’s backhand to then follow up with a passing shot down the forehand, Bayne’s Achilles heel.

Greaves took that set as early celebrations broke out among the St Lucy supporters. Greaves was leading 11-7 in the deciding set, which would decide bragging rights but not the title, when the rain returned. That set would have been concluded last night.