Guyana top Jamaica at CASA Team championship

Team Guyana started off on a winning note in its quest to retain the Overall team title. The Girls team had a convincing five matches to nil win in their match up with Jamaica in the first of their five-round round matches in the Girls Team event, while the Boys team had a narrow three games to two win in their Pool A match against Jamaica.

In the first Girls Team match in the Under-13 category, Abosaide Cadogan easily defeated Alia Haddad 11 – 1, 11 – 1, 11 – 1. Next on court was the Under 17’s Rebecca Low against Mira Handa. Rebecca had a tougher fight, but also won in straight games 11- 2, 11 – 8, 12 – 10.

Next on court was the match everyone was waiting to see again, Taylor Fernandes against Alyssa Mullings. Even though Larissa Wiltshire had won the Under-19 category, the Guyana team had already been declared with Taylor Fernandes as the No. 1 player.

Alyssa Mullings had only lost three times in the last five years and one of the losses was to Taylor in the semi-finals of the individual event. Taylor had game ball in the first game but lost it 10 – 12. After that Taylor took control of the match with her tactical play and comfortably won the next three games 11 – 8, 11 – 7, 11 – 6.

In the Under 15 category, Makeda Harding was made to work hard in her match with Mia Lake. She easily won the first game 11 – 4, but dropped the second 12 – 10. She then managed to win the crucial third game 12 – 10 and then took the fourth 11 – 5. In the final match of the tie, the Under-19’s No. 2 Larissa Wiltshire defeated Mia Mahfood 11 – 1, 11 – 6, 11 – 4 to secure a five nil victory for Guyana.

In the Boys Team event, the Under-13 were on court first and Shomari Wiltshire dropped just three points in his match against Tobias Levy winning 11 – 1, 11 – 1, 11 – 1. Next on court were the Under-19’s No. 2 and this would prove to be a crucial match for team Guyana. In the individual event, Alec Melville had lost to Stephan Morrison and they were again matched up. Alec won a close first game 12 – 10, but then lost the second game 4 – 11.

Alec however, was playing very well and won the third game 11 – 7 and then won the fourth game 11 – 6. In the Under 19, No. 1 Ben Mekdeci was playing Tahjia Lumley. Ben had beaten Taj in the individuals so was very confident of winning. Ben won the first game 11 – 5 but then lost a close second game 10 – 12.

When Taj won the third game 11 – 7, Ben was in trouble and eventually lost the fourth game also 10 – 12. In the Boys Under-15 tie Anthony Islam made things look easy with his straight sets win over Sebastian Levy 11 – 3, 11 – 1, 14 – 12. The final match of the day featured the Boys Under-17 with Alex Cheeks playing Jonathan Walker. Alex won the first game 11 – 7, but then lost the next three games 6 – 11, 8 – 11, 6 – 11.

In the Girls Team match, Guyana defeated the Cayman Islands by four matches to one with wins from Madison Fernandes, Larissa Wiltshire, Taylor Fernandes and Rebecca Low and a loss by Makeda Harding.

Cover photo caption: Part of the action in the Boys Team match between Guyana and Jamaica