The team knew their work was cut out from day 1 as the players Lincolnshire were able to field were highest rated at 5.2 and no other county fielded a player of a lesser rating than 5.1. So on paper, we were looking at 27-0 for our trouble.
However, Lincolnshire Ladies are a seasoned and spirited bunch of players and with the addition of Lydia Walker, who made her senior county cup singles debut we were up for the fight.
Friday we faced Cornwall, who 2 years previously had beaten us 7-2. With excellent singles wins under our belt from Lydia (making her debut at 3), Danielle Smith and Faye Button, a narrowly missed 3 setter by Charlie Windley, and a tie-break 2nd set from Jane Hunter, the result was down to the double rubbers and Charlie and Danielle were the only pair able to deliver a result, leaving us with a 5-4 1st day defeat.
Encouraged by our 1st day, we faced Devon – the strongest team in our league, and, like Dorset, we were only able to pick up the one rubber – a 3 set singles match toughed out by Faye.
So day 3 was about survival. Dorset had brought in reinforcements since Friday’s beating by Devon and had secured success against Cornwall but only by 5-4. So a straight win for us would maintain our division position. Once again, our singles were strong with great performances and wins from Faye, Jane and Charlie (at 1). The closest of matches was fought between Danielle and her higher rated opponent, in which Danielle lost in a close 3rd set tie-break in her 9th singles set and in her 11th hour of tennis… We were 3 all again, going into the doubles, and despite Jane and Madeline Verdegaal battling to another tie-break, we were again unable to convert a win.
Lincolnshire won in spirit and in effort, thank you ladies. What is apparent is that we need to convert our doubles rubbers into a result (summer county results suggest we can) and encourage the very best players in our county to come and play. We shall take away the notable wins and performances from this weekend and build on them.
Lincs Ladies congratulate our Men on their promotion to division 3.
Lianne Tapson (nominated team captain).