Girls Team of Phoebe Collins, Millie McIlraith, Katie McGarrigle & Joanna Rimmington travelled up to Corby to compete against Bedfordshire, Hereford & Worcester and Nottinghamshire.
Beds had arrived with an over-age player meaning that they had to concede their matches at 2, 3 & 4 – the matches were still played, but couldn’t count in the overall standings. The girls did well to win 3-1 with Phoebe losing a tight one in 3 sets to their number 1.
Next up was Hereford & Worcester – this proved to be the decisive match of the day. Phoebe played & won a comfortable match with Millie losing a tight match to a higher rated opponent 1-1. Katie & Joanna went on and both lost the first set – things not looking good at this point. However, both girls dug in and fought back to take the 2nd sets – Millie saving a match point!! Katie then won 10-7 in the 3rd and Joanna won 13-11 in the 3rd – to say it was close was an understatement! Essex win 3-1 again.
Last match of the day was Nottinghamshire and while Katie & Joanna were battling hard in their previous match Phoebe & Millie had already played and won in the other air hall with neither dropping a game. Joanna’s opponent withdrew, giving her a walkover, leaving Katie to play the last match of the day. After giving everything in her previous match Katie found it hard to get going and lost in 2 close sets to give Essex a 3-1 win overall.
Essex Girls finished top of their group and I couldn’t have asked for any more effort from them – they were a credit. A huge thanks to Joanna who stepped in at very short notice to play and also to all the parents who came up to watch & support – fantastic!
Amanda Michelow (team captain on the day & chief cheerleader)
Pictured above: Millie McIlraith, Phoebe Collins, Katie McGarrigle and Joanna Rimmington