Team: Livvy Tomkins, Nina Luiggi, Ellie Horton, Frances Benson, Claire Godber, Amy Harrold-Vaux, Charlotte Milbank.
Friday, the first day of this years’ 18u County Cup was played at Gosling Sports Centre, Welwyn in Division 2B. Buckinghamshire were our first opponents. Claire and Charlotte played the first singles at 5 & 6. Both had a nervous start and although both played well they lost to more consistent players. Frances played at number 4, she had a confident win 6-4, 6-2. Ellie had a hard hitting match, she put up a great fight but went down 5-7, 4-6. Nina and Livvy both played very solid attacking tennis, both achieving two set wins.
We went into the doubles at 3-3, Ellie and Amy played well but lost 2-6, 5-7. Frances and Claire had a tough time also losing in two sets. Livvy and Nina played a high level match but also just lost. This gave us a final result of 3-6.
The second day was against Kent. They had a very strong team. Charlotte played a more confident match, but went down in two sets as did Claire. Frances lost the first set very quickly, but played better in the second going down 4-6. Ellie had a marathon three hour match, she played so well,with only points turning the sets. She lost 3-6, 7-5, 4-6. Nina also had a long three setter against Olivia Parson, it was another high standard hard hitting match with some excellent tennis played, but she lost 1-6 6-3, 2-6. Livvy played Sophie Thomas in yet another great match, again it was close loss of 4-6, 5-7.
The result of 0-6 after the singles on paper did not reflect the standard and quality of the tennis played by the Notts team. In the doubles Claire and Amy played well as did Ellie and Frances, but those two matches also went to Kent. Nina and Livvy did achieve a win against Olivia and Sophie in wonderful doubles match. This was a very long day for the girls, not leaving the tennis centre until 6.15pm.
The final day was against Essex. Charlotte and Claire played well but could not sustain the power and consistency of their opponents. Frances went 1-4 down then turned the set round to win it 7-5 producing some great tennis, she went on to win the second set 6-3. After Ellie’s tough match the previous day, her left wrist was sore, preventing her using her doubled handed backhand. She played well but went down 3-6, 4-6. Nina had another tough three set match against Alexandra Jones who she lost to the week before. It was Nina’s day and she won 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 in a great match. Livvy also was taken to three sets, she won the first 6-3, the second slipped away 0-6, but Livvy came back to win 6-2.
Again we went into the doubles at 3-3, Claire and Amy lost in straight sets, but Frances and Ellie played a great match winning 7-5, 4-6, 10-7. At 4-4 it was very tense, Livvy and Nina won the first set 6-4, the second set went to a tie break which we lost, so all down to the match tie break. Livvy was serving underarm due to a sore shoulder, but they fought on to win 10-8. This gave us a 5-4 win.
We left Welwyn at 6.30 pm with a very tired team to then drive home in pouring rain. My thanks go to Louise Luiggi for her help and support and driving, and also to Richard Milbank who was there to support each day, bringing in extra food goodies and sweat shirts and blankets as the Centre was very cold.
Jane Stokes
Click here for final results