The Essex team for the U16’s 12 Counties consisted of Peter Odegbami, George Gray, Darien Lamb and Harry Melluish. The Essex boys were in division 2B made up of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Leicestershire. First up the team faced Northamptonshire with Odegbami and Gray kicking off the singles. Odegbami fought hard against the Northants number 1 who is ranked number 7 nationally but eventually lost 4-2, 5-3. Gray battled well to come back from a set down against a tough opponent to clinch Essex’s first victory of the day 4-5, 4-1, 10-7. Lamb didn’t quite get going in his first match and lost while Melluish started well and was a set up but his opponent played well and fought back to clinch the tie 4-2, 3-5, 4-10. Essex lost 3-1
Next up was Bedfordshire; Odegbami had a hard match against the Beds 1 and played well with some very long exchanges taking place but couldn’t quite break through his opponent and eventually lost 4-2, 2-4, 5-10. Gray couldn’t quite carry through the level he showed in the first match and lost. Lamb played a lot better against a good opponent but couldn’t get a win and Melluish followed suit with a 4-0 defeat to a strong Bedfordshire side who ended up winning the division.
Last up was Leicestershire and to see if we could finish with a good result. Odegbami played as well as he could with a shoulder injury he sustained in his second match but his opponent played well and got the first win for Leicestershire 4-1, 5-3. It wasn’t looking good but then Gray returned to form and got a much needed win for Essex 4-1, 5-4. Lamb showed his potential and put Essex in a winning position with a convincing 4-0, 4-0 win. Last up was Melluish to get the first win for the team but couldn’t quite pull through and lost 4-2, 4-1, so we finished with a 2-2 draw.
Overall Essex put in a very good team effort and finished 3rd and were unfortunate not to pull off some more wins which would have changed things. Well done to all the boys on their effort and support they put in on the day.
Luke Spooner, Team Captain