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The Cambridgeshire girls’ team of Lizzie Pam, Anna Traherne, Anna Loughlan and Kira Reuter played extremely well to finish fourth in the Aegon County Cup Finals at Bolton Arena on 9th and 10th July.
The team had qualified from their group 2 weeks ago and joined the other group winners Avon, Middlesex, Lancashire, South Wales, Surrey, West of Scotland and Nottinghamshire. On paper Cambridgeshire had the second lowest ratings team and were draw against the second seeds Avon in the quarter finals.
In the first match on court Lizzie Pam, the Cambridgeshire number 1 player took on the strong Lizzie Burton in what proved to be a very tight match which ebbed and flowed each way. Pam won a very tight first set 5/4 winning the tie-break 10 points to 8. Burton then hit back to take the second 4/0 so the match went to the deciding match tie-break which Pam eventually won 10 points to 8. Next on court was Anna Loughlan who took on Ella Reeman and despite constructing some good points she lost 2/4,1/4 . With the match all square Kira Reuter took on Maria Budin. Kira played extremely well to close out a really tight first set 5/4 winning the tie-break 8-6. Reeman then started to complain about a sore leg and after two injury time outs eventually withdrew with Kira leading 1/0 in the second set.
Lizzie Pam and Kira Reuter then teamed up in the doubles to play against Budin and Burton – this match was full of tension and some great tennis. Cambs won the first set 5/3, but then lost the second 3/5 but eventually won the match tie-break 10 -7 to claim a great victory and do progress to the semi finals. In the second match of the day Cambridgeshire played Middlesex for a place in the finals.
After the long first match against Avon, Anna Traherne playing at number two was the first on court. Anna played a hard hitting Martha Williams and despite playing very well and a good second set Anna eventually succumbed 1/4 , 3/5. Lizzie Pam then took on her opposite number one player Jennifer Gogova and played above herself and over-whelmed her opponent with some very hard aggressive play winning 4/0, 4/0. Kira Reuter then played a great match against Nevena Georgieva who defended unbelievably well but lost 1/4 , 1/4.
This left the match depending on the doubles where Pam and Anna Loughlan took on Georieva and Govova and despite a great first set which the Cambs girls won 4/1, they could not quite keep up this play and lost the second set 0/4 and the lost the deciding match tie break 4-10.
On the Sunday the Cambs team played Lancashire for third and fourth position and again they had their chances and played very well – this being the last match of the tournament to finish!
Lizzie Pam again spearheaded the team with a great performance against Lauren Dowling who was both higher rated and ranked. Lizzie won the first set 5-3 with some excellent hard hitting. She could not quite keep up the momentum and lost the second set 1/4 so the match yet again came down to the deciding match tie break which the Lancashire girls just won 10-8! Next on court was Anna Loughlan who despite playing well was out hit by a stronger player, Lucy Harper 2/4, 0/4.
Kira Reuter then had to win to keep the match alive and she duly did by playing a really solid game against Penny Roberts winning 4/1, 4/2.
Kira and Pam then teamed up for the deciding doubles against Dowling and Harper . Cambs won a great first set 5/4, lost their way in the second and lost this 1/4 by which time the momentum had switched to the Lancs team who won the match tie-break 10-5.
Overall the team of Lizzie Pam, Anna Traherne, Anna Loughlan and Kira Reuter had a really good weekend and did Cambridgeshire proud and a special mention for Anna Traherne who was a great supporter when not playing. Captain Sue Rich was delighted with the efforts of the girls.
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