Cambridgeshire girls 12 and under team of Anna Loughlan, Kira Reuter, Aisha Brown and Ellie Coleman played very well over the weekend to win their Group at Corby Tennis Center, Corby, Northants to qualify for the National Aegon 12 and under County Cup Finals in Bolton on 14 and 15th July.
Cambridgeshire were in a Group with Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Bedfordshire. Each County plays each other over the course of the weekend and then the winning County goes through to the Finals. Each match consists of 3 singles and 1 doubles with 2 points awarded for each win. Should the match be tied at 2 wins each then a tie-break shoot out to 10 points is played.
On the Saturday Cambridgeshire started against Essex. First up was Aisha Brown at number 3 and despite some very windy conditions which is often a great leveller Aisha came out on top beating Sophia Herman 4-0, 4-0. Kira Reuter then beat Denva Maibird 4-0, 4-1. Anna Loughlan at number one easily beat Katie McGarrigle 4-2, 4-0. The doubles was played later after all the singles and Aisha Brown and Eliie Coleman beat Denva Maibird and Suzanna Glowaez 4-2, 5-3 to complete a 4-0 victory.
Next up on Saturday was Suffolk. Again Aisha played the first match and had a great tussle with Sofia Khalyaeva losing the first set 2-4 but then coming back to take the second 5-3 and then won the match tiebreak 10-6 to get the team off to a good start. Kira Reuter beat Florence Kenworthy 4-0, 4-0 being too strong for her opponent. Anna Loughlan again performed very well in the wind and played smart tennis to beat Georgia Davies 4-0, 4-1. Anna and Kira paired up to win the doubles 4-0, 4-0 to complete another 4-0 win.
The weather was just as windy on the Sunday which really meant the young players had to use their heads to play at their best. Norfolk provided the opposition for the first match. Aisha Brown had a good match against Katherine Barnes taking the first set 4-2, but then lost the second 2-4 before coming good in the match tie break which she won 10-5. Kira Reuter played Megan Lait and again showed her class as she won comfortably 4-0, 4-0. Anna Loughlan again played a really smart match using the wind effectively to beat Rosie Pooley 4-0.4-0.Ellie Coleman and Aisha Brown played the doubles and beat Rosie Pooley and Frances Evans 2-4, 4-2, 10-7.
This meant the last match against Bedfordshire was going to be the decider as to who won the group. Bedfordshire had won all three of their matches but one on a tie-break shoot out!
Aisha Brown started very well winning the first set 4-1 against Emma Brown but then stopped being aggressive and then lost the second set 3-5 and a close tie-break 7-10. Kira was next up and swept past Alexandra Hildreth 4-0, 4-1. Anna then had to play the vastly improved Shanice Marshall and despite losing the first game she then played very well to take the set 4-1 and likewise swept through the second 4-1.
This left the match with Cambs 2-1 up and just needing to win the doubles. Anna and Kira teamed up for the vital doubles. They lost the first set 2-4 having lost 3 games on the sudden death deuce points! They stormed back in the second to win this 4-1 and then we were in the match tie break. From being 3-2 down Anna and Kira stormed through and won 10-4.
Sue Rich Team Captain said ‘It was a superb weekend and the team was speared headed by two very strong players, Anna and Kira at numbers one and two and well supported by the improving Aisha and Ellie – all the girls played very well in extremely windy conditions.’
Everyone is looking forward to Bolton.