The team was a little depleted with some last minute pullouts with injuries and players that weren’t quite match fit. So we took 7 players, who were Phoebe, Olivia, Andre, Annali, Katie, Erica and Ashlie. The team had good depth and were tactically a much improved team than that of last year.
26/02/16 Derbyshire
The Derbyshire team on paper had a strong team with their first 2 players ranked and rated significantly higher than our 2, but we had great depth to our lower ranked player and hoped that’s where we start well. Ashlie, Annali and Erica went on first. They all played fantastic and won easily in straight sets to put Essex up 3-0, Phoebe, Liv and Andre went on next and Andre played very well at 3 to again win in straight sets. Liv playing at 2 had a slight relief at not playing the stronger #2 player but had an equally tough match to a girl she had lost to before.
Liv ran away with another straight sets win. Phoebe who had been carrying a injury was up against the Derbyshire #1 but couldn’t quite get the win. So Essex was 5-1 up after the singles.
Andre and Ashlie did extremely well coming back from a set down to win in 3.
Liv and Annali found themselves in the same predicament playing at #2 but with some tactical suggestions came back to win in 3.
Phoebe and Katie had a tough match playing at #1 but battled well to go down in 2 sets but played well..
Essex 7 -2 Derbyshire.
27/02/16 Lancashire
Lancashire had lost their first match vs East of Scotland and so were looking for a win against Essex to hopefully keep them up, but Essex were brilliant.
Ashlie and Annali again won in straight sets, Katie came in for Erica to help rest her wrist. She went down in 2 tight sets but played well against a good #4 player.
Andre, Liv and Phoebe all won in straight sets and showed dominance in their singles play. I was very pleased with Phoebe as it was a good match to win and a real confidence boost.
So Essex found themselves 5-1 up again so effectively had won the match with the doubles still to play.
Ashlie and Andre teamed up again and won in straight sets, as did Liv and Annali who played some exceptional tennis.
Phoebe teamed up with Erica and they also won in straight sets to give Essex a comprehensive win.
Essex 8-1 Lancashire
28/02/16 East of Scotland
Both counties had not lost so far, so both teams were gunning for promotion.
Ashlie and Annali played unbelievable throughout the weekend and didn’t disappoint again winning 6-0, 6-1. Erica came in again as #4 and lost in a marathon 3 set match, she played very well to turn around the second set but ran out of steam in the 3rd. The impressive Andre won comfortably 6-3, 6-1 and Liv won with the same score. So Essex were leading 4-1 in rubbers with just 1 more match needed to gain promotion.
Phoebe playing at #1 lost narrowly in straight sets but considering how much match practice she had, I thought did very well.
So Essex still needed 1 match 4-2. Next up the doubles!!
Andre and Erica went out with a tactical change up as pair #3 and destroyed their opposition in just over an hour. Liv and Annali won their doubles and Phoebe and Katie lost in straight but it didn’t matter as Essex go back up to Division 2 as champions!!
Essex 6-3 EoS
Overall I was very happy with the team, the doubles this year was a huge improvement with the girls actively looking for volleys. The attitude was very positive and everyone was very supportive of their team mates.
A special well done to the youngest members of the team Ashlie and Annali who played fantastic and didn’t lose a match. Andre was very dominant and a great squad player. Phoebe and Katie played really well and the fact they hadn’t played that much didn’t really show. Erica did well to overcome her wrist injury and played some great doubles. Last year for Olivia but she played great, another player who didn’t drop a match, and really helped Annali on the doubles court.
Lets hope the training session can be well attended as I believe they really helped the girls with positioning and tactics in both their singles and doubles matches.
Darren Rogers
Girls U18 Captain