Brandon Rowe. Photo Simon ‘tennis elbow’ Haslam.
Margaret Gort
The Northern Rivers Tennis Academy won five matches from five to beat off five regional competitors to claim the area’s first Academy Challenge title.
On the weekend of July 12-13 junior tennis players from six academies including two from Coffs Harbour, one from Sawtell, Forster, Terranora and the Northern Rivers played over 600 sets of tennis to determine a winner.
On the back of some great individual efforts that helped build a strong team culture the Northern Rivers academy side, featuring 16 players from Mullumbimby, Ballina, Bangalow and Alstonville Clubs won.
They played through through five major matches undefeated, despite lots of tight finishes, to claim the inaugural Academy Challenge title.
Northern Rivers academy coaches Steve Gort (Mullumbimby) and Brandon Rowe (Ballina) thanked Sawtell coach Eli Bayliss for orgainising the competition.
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