2009 Junior CASA Championships …
… to face Bermuda today
AFTER a few nervous performances, the Guyanese girls’ team came through to put away Jamaica 4-1 in their final group match at the 2009 Junior CASA Championships in Barbados.

The Guyanese lasses will now oppose group `D’ runners-up Bermuda in the semifinal today from 13:00 h.

The other semifinal will feature group `D’ winners, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.

Due to illness, Mary Fung-A-Fat was unable to make her first appearance in the team competition, but Kayla Jeffrey stepped back in to register an emphatic 3-0 win over Justine Anderson in the Girls Under-19 #2 position.

Ashley Khalil started well in the Under-17 match-up against Lauren Mahfood but a number of unforced errors allowed her opponent into game.

Mahfood made a match of it by retrieving well and forcing Khalil to hit the extra shot, but in the end Khalil’s superior quality saw her through 3-1.

Caribbean Under-17 champion Keisha Jeffrey then seemed out of sorts against a rejuvenated Brooke Burrowes, in the Under-19 #1 match.

Jeffrey won the first easily but Burrowes’ retrieving, coupled with Jeffrey’s unforced errors, saw the Jamaican take a 2-1 lead in no time.

Jeffrey refocused well in the fourth but Burrowes seemed to have had the upper hand in the fifth and even led 9-6 at one point before the young champion took back the serve and eventually ended the match 11-9.

With the win already secured, Gabrielle Fraser stepped onto the court against Under-13 champion Mary Jo Mahfood. The young Guyanese tried valiantly but was just out of her league against the hard-hitting Jamaican.

Victoria Arjoon then sealed the deal with a clinical display against Under-15 individual finalist Jessica Perkins.

The Boys’ team were down to play last evening against the OECS, and would have had to play well if they hope to come out on top of their group.

The Boys’ team semifinals are scheduled for today also and although Guyana, OECS, Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago have already secured places, the final match-ups will be known after this evening’s results.