On Saturday 3rd - Monday 5th May the 14U Girls County Cup team played at The Graves Tennis Centre, Sheffield, competing in group D.
The team consisted of Hannah McColgan, Olivia French, Rhona Cook, Jessica Purdy, Grace Jones and Ellie Aldrich.
The other counties in the group were West Scotland, North Scotland, South Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire. The group was divided into 2 round robin boxes and we were up against West Scotland and Northumberland.
Our first opponents would be West Scotland. After a shaky start from Jessica Purdy, who was making her first county cup appearance, her nerves settled and the girls ran away with a comfortable 6-0 win.
Due to the format of the event we had to start the next match against Northumberland with both doubles.
After a comfortable win for Olivia French and Jessica Purdy, tension was tight and tiredness had kicked in but after losing a tight second set, Hannah McColgan and Rhona Cook knuckled down to secure the third set championship tie break 10-8.This put the girls in a very positive position going into the second day.
Day Two proved straight forward for 3 of the girls. Jessica Purdy, Rhona Cook and Olivia French all winning comfortably in straight sets. Unfortunately Hannah McColgan lost in straight sets. Hannah struggled from the start against a very strong Northumberland number 1, who went on to win all her singles.
Having beaten both teams we finished top in our box which put us against a very strong Yorkshire team for 1st and 2nd play-off.
The team fought hard all day but eventually succumbed to an impressive Yorkshire display 5-1. Hannah and Rhona took the only rubber on day 3 with a strong doubles performance.
Cheshire would finish 2nd in the group and sets us up for a qualifying campaign next year with the majority of the team still being available for selection.
Victoria McNeight
Girls 14U Team Captain