St Andrew’s Shines at U11 Sussex Schools Cup
On Tuesday, St Andrew’s teams travelled to Bedes Senior School to compete in the prestigious U11 Sussex Schools Cup. With high-level tennis on display, each match was structured around one singles and two doubles games, demanding both individual excellence and teamwork. Throughout the day, both the girls’ and boys’ teams demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship, determination, and skill.
The girls were placed in a particularly tough group, facing two of the eventual finalists. In their opening match against a strong Westbourne House team, they fought hard but were ultimately defeated 0–6. Their second match was a tightly contested battle against Brighton College, which went down to the wire before ending in a narrow 3–5 loss. However, the team rebounded in style against St Peter’s, delivering a dominant 6–0 performance, showcasing improved tactics and growing confidence. Although they did not reach the knockout stages, Hebe, Grace, Pari, Clara, and Evie should be immensely proud of their resilience and progress throughout the tournament.
The boys’ team, entering as reigning champions, faced a tough group but opened confidently with a 6–0 win over Windlesham. A closely fought match against Hurst followed, resulting in a narrow loss. Nevertheless, thanks to a favourable count-back on points, St Andrew’s emerged as group winners and advanced to the knockout rounds. In the semi-final against Bedes, the team played with control and belief, winning 5–1 to book their spot in the final.
The final against Westbourne House proved a thrilling showcase of high-pressure tennis. George and Theo both delivered clutch performances in the singles, each winning their matches 7–5. Harry added a commanding 6–0 victory, while Harvey showed great determination in a hard-fought 4–7 loss. With the score finely poised heading into the doubles, the match hung in the balance. Down 3–6 in the deciding rubber, George and Theo mounted a dramatic comeback, eventually prevailing 7–6 under the extended scoring format to clinch the championship title.
St Andrew’s boys were crowned U11 Sussex Schools Champions for the third consecutive year—a remarkable achievement and a testament not only to their technical skill but also their composure and competitive spirit. Congratulations to George, Theo, Harvey, and Harry for their outstanding performance and memorable victory.
