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Cambridgeshire were without 4 key players but the team of Cassius Jessup, Ralph Hayward, Reva Onibere, Daniella Pam, Rezi Onibere and Daisy Whooley played magnificently all day to finish up with the silver medals just missing out to Suffolk by 5 matches to 4.
The team had been practicing all week and had an excellent team spirit and supported each other extremely well.
Four Counties played at Hills Road – Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Each team had 3 girls and 3 boys in the team. Each match against the other Counties consisted of 3 girls singles matches, 3 boys singles matches, 1 boys doubles, 1 girls doubles and 1 mixed doubles match. Each match consisted of the best of three tie breaks to 7 points with 2 points clear. All the singles matches against each County were played first and then all the doubles to add more excitement to the day.
Cambridgeshire played Suffolk in the singles first and had some really exciting matches. Cassius Jessup at number one beat his opponent 7/1, 5/7, 8/6; Ralph Hayward lost his match 6/8, 7/5, 6/8; Reva Onibere lost his match 5/7, 7/3, 3/7 but the girls with Daniella Pam at number one won two matches with Daniella winning 8/6, 7/0; Rezi won 7/3, 8/6 and Daisy Whooley lost 2/7, 6/8 to leave the match at 3 rubbers each.
Next up were Norfolk – Cassius won his match; Ralph won a tight three setter and Reva just lost. In the girls Daniella narrowly lost 7/4, 5/7, 4/7 but Rezi won 4/7, 7/5, 7/5 and Daisy won 7/3, 7/4 leaving this match poised with Cambridgeshire 4- 2 up after the singles.
In the final match against Bedfordshire all the girls won their matches but only Ralph won his singles which left Cambridgeshire again 4-2 up after the singles.
In the doubles against Bedfordshire all three Cambridgeshire pairs won. Rezi and Daniella won7/5, 7/3; Cassius and Ralph won 7/3, 7/3 and Reva and Daisy won 7/2, 8/6. This meant Cambridgeshire won 7 matches to 2 overall.
In the doubles against Norfolk Cassius and Ralph won 3/7, 7/5, 7/5; the girls Daniella and Rezi won 5/7, 7/0. 7/5 and Reva and Daisy won the mixed 8/6, 7/5. This meant Cambridgeshire won 7-2 overall.
The deciding match was then the doubles against Suffolk. The mixed played first and they lost 2/7, 4/7. The boys’ team of Cassius and Ralph had a fantastic match which eventually they won 7/5, 5/7, 13/11 leaving the score at 4 matches all. In the girls doubles Daniella and Rezi played their hearts out and just lost 4/7, 8/6, 6/8 – oh so close!!!
Overall Suffolk came first, Cambridgeshire second, Norfolk third and Bedfordshire fourth.
The team played extremely well and captain Sue Rich said ‘I was so proud of our team as they really gave everything and did marvellously well to finish second and come so close to winning the event – well done team’.