Group 3 – East Gloucester Club, Cheltenham, 18-22nd July 2016.
As expected, Group 3 provided Lincolnshire Ladies with some great competition and in the glorious heat of Gloucestershire, the league was not decided until the final day.
In the 1st few days Hampshire beat Lincolnshire 5.4, to then to lose to Nottinghamshire 5.4, who Lincolnshire beat 6.3 and Leicestershire beat Essex 5.4, who subsequently beat Lincolnshire 5.4, only for Lincolnshire to beat Leicestershire 6.3……
We knew the league was wide open.
By Friday Essex and Hampshire were fighting for the title, with Lincolnshire needing Essex to win 6.3. Lincolnshire needed to beat Northumberland to compete with Hampshire for promotion. Northumberland needed to win to avoid a relegation battle
And the East Midlands Derby between Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire was for survival, if Lincolnshire could beat old rivals Northumberland.
On the Friday Essex mustered the win for us but only by 5.4, so we needed to win 6.3, and only managed a 5.4 loss after 2, 3 set matches.
So we stayed, but to have been within 2 rubbers of a seventh successive promotion was a great effort by the team. Jade and Charlie Windley achieved a brilliant 14/15 wins.
We welcomed new addition, Yasmin Clarke and thank Faye for her wonderful organisation again. Thanks to the girls who gave it their all – Lydia Walker, Danielle Smith, Vicky Beardsley, and Jamie for keeping us loose and fit to play.
Lianne Tapson
Very proud Captain.