Essex 14&U Girls Pipped at the Post in County Cup

Day one:

Despite the last minute withdrawal of our top player, team spirits were high going into the competition. On paper all four teams were quite evenly matched, and we knew that there would be a matter of just a few key points won here and there between the overall winners and those facing relegation.

Essex got off to a good start with a singles win over Sussex. Unfortunately, the rest of the singles matches didn't  follow suit, and we lost three tightly fought matches to put us 3-1 down going into the doubles. The dynamic duo of Jennifer Brown and Shannon Newnes took us one step closer to leveling,, but despite a late comeback Tanya Li and Marie Ba couldn't quite stop Sussex from claiming the tie.

Day two:

The Middlesex team we faced had been lucky to have survived a two match deficit and a championship tie-break doubles decider on day one.  Our top two lost their singles, although Millennia performed admirably. 

Day three:

The final day's  drama was to be all played out on the court. All four teams still had something to play for on the final day. Middlesex were the likely winners, although they had to beat Sussex to claim the title, and Sussex, Surrey  and Essex were all fighting for the chance to be runners-up and avoid relegation. The weather took the competition indoors and resulted in the format being modified to short sets with a championship tie-break third.

Our survival hopes rested on defeating Surrey 5-1, which seemed unlikely but possible. But then the referee made a 9am decision that the ties would consist of only the four singles rubbers, effectively sealing our fate. Sian's start looked promising, taking a quick 4-0 set. But her Surrey opponent kept the pressure on and turned it around to take a tie-break victory. Jennifer dismissed a very dangerous opponent 4-2 4-2 to equal the tie. Marie Ba battled through at two to put Essex into an unfamiliar 2-1 lead, and then as if buoyed by her team mates success Millennia took us one stage further.

The result was that. Essex were relegated by one rubber, 

The team were understandably disappointed,  probably no one more so than Shannon Newnes who'd been nominated as a doubles-only player that day, and who'd been undefeated in doubles all weekend with partner Jennifer Brown.

With a young team this year Essex will be in a strong position next year to go and win promotion again. My thanks to Helen Crook for co-captaining, and to all those involved behind the scenes in the County

Jo Ward