Carrying on this momentum, Christ's College won the South Island Secondary Schools Tennis Championships and the South Island Team Cup from 25–26 February at Wilding Park. College delivered an impressive performance throughout the 14-team South Island competition, while the cup team was in equally fine form over the two-day tournament, with neither team dropping a match. The premier team – featuring Liam Barrett, Lucca Wiseman, George Brakenridge, Lucas Evans, Franklin Barry, and Jack Hansen-Ratter – claimed the championship title while Louis de Lautour, Tasman Daly, and Nick Rayner triumphed in the South Island Cup. The 2023 New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships were held in Christchurch from 27–29 March, giving College the home advantage. The competition featured the best tennis players from around the country competing in a round-robin format. On the opening day, a last-minute withdrawal left College without a scheduled match. The boys made the most of the opportunity, having
a short training session at 7.30am and studying their opponents in preparation for the next competition day. On day two, most of our players gained massive victories against Tauranga Boys' College as the match opened with the singles. Jack Hansen-Ratter and Lucas Evans brushed aside their opponents, 4–0 4–0, as did Franklin Barry, 4–2 4–2. In the highly anticipated BS1 match, Liam Barrett suffered a surprising 2–4 2–4 loss against an opponent in strong form. Following their good performance in the singles, College replicated their success in the doubles. A comfortable 4–0 4–0 win for Jack Hansen-Ratter and Lucca Wiseman and a thrilling 4–2 5–4(4) win for Liam Barrett and Lucas Evans meant that College cruised into the finals, five matches to one. On day three, the tension of anticipation surged among the boys as they faced a strong Westlake Boys High School squad in the finals. The match-ups hinted at intense and closely contested battles and the boys were up for the challenge. In the essential opening match, Jack Hansen-Ratter performed
spectacularly to defeat his opponent, 7–6(6) 6–4, in a high-quality tussle and record the first win for College. Lucca Wiseman and Lucas Evans, despite their best efforts, faced a tough battle and succumbed, 5–7 2–6 and 4–6 2–6, respectively. In yet another eagerly anticipated BS1 showdown, Liam Barrett braced himself for a challenging match against the top-seeded player, Eddie Biss, setting the stage for a gripping clash. In a fierce 91-minute battle, each moment was laden with tension as he navigated numerous tough, tug-of-war exchanges. However, the match ended in a close 7–5 3–6 5–10 result in the opponent’s favour. Jack Hansen-Ratter and Franklin Barry secured a comfortable 6–4 6–3 win in the doubles, placing College above Westlake Boys High School on points. The tension hung heavy in the air as the outcome of the doubles match would determine the ultimate winner. The high-stakes match, featuring Liam Barrett and Lucas Evans, unfolded as a tense affair, with both sides grappling with nerves and struggling to assert dominance and control throughout
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