Ladies Summer County Cup Report
Notts County Teams are sponsored by Brenntag
This year’s Aegon Summer County Cup saw Nottingham at the North Oxford Club – home to Tim Henman – in Division 4. There were several new additions to the team with teenagers Georgia Lawson, Millie Rajecki and Anna Buckley all making their senior summer debut.
In day 1, with rain falling early doors, we started on the hard courts against Somerset who we beat in a narrow 5-4 win a couple of years earlier. And with some amazing tennis and a dramatic turn in several years of appalling tie break and 3 set match loss statistics Nottinghamshire took the match 9-0. Sarah Wright and Livvy Tomkins won all their games in straight sets (1 tie break win), Emily Crowe and Georgia Lawson took their 3 (2 three set wins and a tie break loss) and 15 year old Anna paired up with Laura Cooper to secure the whitewash (2 three setters 1 tie break win!) and put us in a very strong position on the leader board and a feeling of confidence from a great start.
With rain forecast on and off all week, Tuesday saw us against Durham and Cleveland and starting round 1 back on the hard courts. Sarah and Livvy and Emily and Georgia got a win and Anna and Laura struggled against a very experienced partnership. Sarah and Livvy managed to hold off Durham’s 1st pair in round 2 on the grass and the Notts 2 and 3 both won giving up a win after round 2 that we consolidated to a 7-2 win with Bec Wood coming in for Anna Buckley.
On Wednesday it was back to Hard courts against Avon who we have had some tough battles with in the past. The arrival of Millie Rajecki who teamed up with Bec at second string meant we have some fresh legs! Sarah and Livvy maintained their unbeaten run with 3 great wins (though a narrow 11-9 match tie break 3rd set had us all on the edge of our seats). Emily and Georgia won their 1st round but had to retire in the second round as Georgia was struggling with an arm injury. Sarah Usher stepped in to play with Emily for the 3rd round narrowly losing in a match tie break 10-8. Millie and Bec put in solid performances winning 3/3 for another 7-2 victory.
By Thursday, up against Derbyshire the team were starting to show signs of fatigue and injury and we knew if we secured the win we would definitely be promoted. Sarah and Livvy managed to hold on to their unbeaten record for 12/12 wins but Sarah was struggling to walk. Georgia was rested for the day and Emily teamed up with Millie and secured 2 great wins. Bec and Anna also got 2 wins so another 7-2 win and promotion guaranteed.
On Friday we played Leicestershire who were also on 4 wins. However Sarah wasn’t able to walk and Georgia and Bec were both struggling with injury. Unfortunately Sarah had to be side-lined for the first time in over a decade, and Georgia knew she could only manage 1 round so with Livvy and Emily at first pair, Georgia partnering Millie and Anna and Bec, we went on to try and clinch the win. Sadly Leicester proved too strong and with Sarah Usher replacing Georgia in the 2nd round we were 6-0 down and conceded the final round rather than facing more injuries.
A massive congratulations to Livvy who could have possibly joined the 15/15 win club if Sarah hadn’t suffered what has since been diagnosed as a stress fracture and damage to the Patella tendon. And with 4 teenagers getting impressive results throughout the week the future for Nottinghamshire Ladies is looking very rosy at the minute.
Sarah Usher (joint Captain)