12U AEGON County Cup Round-Up

BOYS

Gloucestershire team: Miles Johnson-Manley, Charlie Chapman, Oliver Palmer, Joel Price

On day one we faced our toughest challenges – Hertfordshire and Middlesex. We knew these teams were strong and that we had to be on top form.

Oliver Palmer, Charlie Chapman and Miles Johnson-Manley all started off against Hertfordshire. Miles and Charlie both played fantastic matches and won, and unfortunately Oliver lost his match. This put us 2-1 up against Hertforshire, needing the doubles to win. Miles and Charlie played the doubles. They started off with a really positive attitude after winning the first set comfortably, but Herts won the next set. Our boys lost the championship tie break, meaning we were 2 all and needed a tie break shoot out to decide. Unfortunately the boys lost but it was an amazing match. They both worked really hard and I was very impressed with their attitudes and their tennis.

Our next challenge was Middlesex. The boys all tried really hard and remained positive, despite losing their singles matches. Joel and Ollie played doubles. It was a fantastic match and Gloucestershire won, which was very well deserved.

Day two began with Gloucestershire vs Buckinghamshire. Joel, Oliver and Charlie lost their singles matches, but all were very close. Ollie and Joel want on to play a brilliant doubles match, winning doubles once again.

The last team we were up against was Oxfordshire. We beat Oxfordshire in all three singles, with Miles, Charlie and Ollie all playing really well.

Overall, Gloucestershire finished in 4^th place. It was a tough group but I was impressed with the boys’ consistent attitude and good spirits.

by Nick Edwards (Team Captain)


GIRLS

25^th June 2011

Gloucestershire v Hertfordshire 0-4

1. Megan Webb (7.2) lost to Georgie Walker (7.1) 1-4 1-4
2. Lauren Evans (8.2) lost to Amelia Campbell (8.1) 0-4 1-4
3. Eleanor Findlay (8.2) lost to Michaella Brown (8.1) 0-4 0-4
4. Evans & Rawlings lost to Walker & Brown 0-4 1-4

A tough start to the weekend against a very strong Hertfordshire side. Megan Webb’s match was slightly closer than the score suggests.

Gloucestershire v Middlesex 1-3

1. Megan Webb beat Jennifer Gogova (7.2) 5-3 4-1
2. Lauren Evans lost to Martha Williams (7.2) 1-4 0-4
3. Jordan Rawlings (9.1) lost to Nevena Georgieva (8.1) 0-4 0-4
4. Webb & Findlay lost to Gogova & Georgieva 1-4 1-4

A great win for Megan beating a player she had lost to before. She got her tactics spot on and deserved the win. However the rest of the girls struggled against strong opponents. The doubles was competitive but Middlesex won comfortably.

26^th June

Gloucestershire v Buckinghamshire 2-3

1. Megan Webb beat Lauren King-Sparke (8.1) 4-2 4-1
2. Lauren Evans lost to Sophie Russel (9.1) 2-4 4-1 (9-11)
3. Eleanor Findlay lost to Imogen Scarles (9.1) 2-4 0-4
4. Webb & Findlay beat King-Sparke & Scarles 1-4 5-3 (10-8)
5. Webb & Findlay lost to King-Sparke & Scarles (7-10)

A really good effort by the whole team. A narrow loss to Bucks with a very tight match by Lauren which could well have gone Gloucester’s way. It went to a tie-break shoot out which we ended up losing. It was a shame as the girls effort and commitment deserved the win they deserved.

Gloucestershire v Oxfordshire 1-3

1. Megan Webb beat Asha Badiani (8.1)0-4 4-0 (10-2)
2. Eleanor Findlay lost to Jessica Lythgoe (8.2) 2-4 5-3 (5-10)
3. Jordan Rawlings lost to Elisha Guisral (8.2) 1-4 2-4
4. Rawlings & Evans lost to Badiani & Lythgoe 0-4 2-4

Megan Webb won after a slow start and Eleanor was desperately unlucky to lose her match. Another gallant effort from the whole team which unfortunately ended in another defeat.

Overall

All the girls had a great attitude and gave 110%. For most of them more experience is needed at playing at this higher level. It really showed the girls what they needed to improve to become more successful. They will all learn from this trip and hopefully be able to build on their experiences.

by Mark Lunn (Team Captain)