AEGON U12 GIRLS NATIONAL FINALS
Saturday 13th to Sunday 14th July 2013
When we went to pick the girls up my husband could not believe how much luggage 4 girls need for 2 days tennis!!!! Called them the Bucks Diva’s!!!!
The journey up to Bolton took 5 ½ hrs, but this did not stop the girls from having fun in the car, when in traffic waving at various cars!!!!
Unfortunately Indu was injured on the Friday and although travelled up with us on the Friday, did not play on the Saturday and unfortunately had to go home.
SATURDAY 13th JULY 2013
First match against Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Lauren won the first set comfortably she also won the second set but this was much closer with a lot of deuce games and Lauren’s drive volleys were excellent. Erika was on court next and kept her focus to win this match to make it 2-0 up. Due to the injury to Indu, Emily stepped in to play the 3rd singles and having won the first set comfortably, lost the second and eventually losing the 3rd set tie break 10 -8. We now needed the doubles with Lauren and Erika, having won a tight first set went on to win the second, a first win for Bucks.
In the afternoon we then played Hertfordshire Lauren played very well taking on the drive volley and putting the short ball away, 1 up to Bucks. Erika had a tough match winning 4-1, 4-2, but this did not reflect the intensity and the length of the rallies. Bucks 2-0 up. Emily also worked really hard, but unfortunately lost her singles which meant it all came down to the doubles, this proved to be a tough match having won the first set 4-0 and going along well, they lost the 2nd set 4-1 and the tie break 10-6, this meant we had to play a shoot out tie break to win the match, not sure my nerves would take this, the girls took a bathroom break, composed themselves very well, when they came back won the shoot out 10-3. A win to Bucks 5-4.
Having been on court from 10 am the girls eventually finished at 9 pm on Saturday evening. Time for a well earned rest and recuperation ready for the Sunday. A very good first day for Bucks.
SUNDAY 14th JULY 2013
I had said I would wake the girls up at 7 am, it was the other way round, cannot understand why that was!!!!! I did not play.
On court for 8 am practice ready to play at 9 am against Warwickshire. Lauren took the 1st set comfortably, but the 2nd set became a much closer affair but eventually winning 5-3. 1 up to Bucks. Erika had a tough match and again another 3rd set tie break which she eventually lost. Emily played a great match winning 4-2. 4-2 her first win of the weekend, well done. Lauren and Erika won the doubles comfortably and so Bucks were in the Final against Surrey.
Lauren played a brilliant 1st set wining 4-1, but we all know it is never over until the final point, then lost the 2nd set 4-0 and was 6-0 down in the tie break, but eventually winning 10-7, not sure my nerves will take much more. Erika than had a very long match which she lost.. Emily played the best tennis of the weekend for her but unfortunately lost this match on a 3rd set tie break. We were now 2-1 down and needed the doubles to tie the match. Lauren and Erika played a brilliant 1st set which they won, lost the 2nd set so we needed the tie break, after a bathroom break they eventually pulled it off, so the whole weekend came down to a shoot out tiebreak!!!! They lost the tie break so Bucks were runners up for the first time.
I would like to say a big thank you to the girls, Lauren, Erika, Emily who played every match with desire, intensity, and focus and fought for every ball, their coaches and the County should be proud of their attitude and behaviour both on and off the court.
On a lighter note, Mark who had been out on the Saturday getting the girls lunch, found NANDOS!!!! We had promised the girls we would eat there on the Saturday evening, but as we finished so late it was not possible, so we will be taking them to NANDOS as a thank you from the both of us for a brilliant weekend.
The final ball was struck at 9 pm and we eventually arrived home at 1 am. A long but very enjoyable weekend!!
Lastly, a big thank you to Janice for all the help organising the Hotel etc and to Venetia for her continued support and also to Mark for driving us safely to Bolton and home.
Caroline Care – Bucks 12U Girls Captain