18U Girls County Cup Report 2017
Team : Livvy Tomkins, Anna Kirk, Anna Buckley, Amelia Rajecki, Millie-Mae Matthews, Jessica Spencer, Jasmine Ramsden, Jessie Beiley.
This year the venue was The Nottingham Tennis Centre, the first time for the 18U girls. Nottinghamshire was in Division 4a, competing against North Wales, Leicestershire, and Devon.
Livvy was not available on the Friday due to her mock A levels on Monday morning, so all the team played one place up on the Friday. The singles are always played in reverse order so Jasmine and Jessica were first matches on against North Wales. They were against older, stronger players and both lost in straight sets. Millie-Mae and Amelia were next on, playing very solid tennis, Millie-Mae had a good win in two sets, Amelia won the first, lost the second 4-6, but went on to win 6-2. Anna Buckley played well in a tight first set to win 7-5, but sadly lost the next two. Anna Kirk is new to the County, still living in Warwickshire, but was born in Nottingham, so has chosen to play for us. She had a tough first match playing at number one, she lost in straight sets.
We went into the doubles 2-4 down, Anna Buckley and Amelia won in the match tie-break 10-5. We lost the other two doubles, giving North Wales a 6-3 win.
Results:
Anna Kirk lost to Morgan Cross 1-6, 0-6
Anna Buckley lost to Eleanor Scarff 7-5, 1-6, 0-6
Amelia Rajecki beat Ethne Dowling 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
Millie-Mae Matthews beat Megan Davies 6-3, 6-1
Jessica Spencer lost to Charlotte Ainge 1-6, 1-6
Jasmine Ramsden lost to Lucie Hogg 3-6,2-6
Anna Kirk and Millie-Mae Matthews lost to Morgan Cross and Megan Davies 3-6, 2-6
Anna and Amelia beat Charlotte Ainge and Eleanor Scarff 3-6, 6-3, 10-5
Jessie Beiley and Jasmine Ramsden lost to Ethne Dowling and Lucie Hogg 2-6, 0-6
Day two was against Leicestershire, who had beaten Devon 5-4 on the first day. We had Livvy so everyone moved a place down. It made all the difference, Jessica and Millie-Mae both had convincing 6-2, 6-1 wins, followed by Amelia winning in three sets, and Anna Buckley in straight sets. Anna kirk had another tough match, she played well but lost in two, Livvy had a tough first set, but managed to win the set tie-break 7-3, going on to win the second 6-2. The girls were so pleased to be going into the doubles 4-2 up, only needing one more match to win. Anna Kirk and Jessica played well but lost in two sets, Anna and Amelia had a great match they won the first lost the second on a set tie-break 9-11, but went on to win the match tie-break 10-6. The match of the day was Livvy and Millie Mae’s match, losing the first 6-7, winning the second 7-5, with a match tie- break going to 10-6, with all four players producing first class doubles. A great 6-3 win for Notts.
Results:
Livvy Tomkins beat Anna Chesca 7-6, 6-2
Anna Kirk lost to Lilia Boukikova 3-6,1-6
Anna Buckley beat Christina Pozerskis 6-2,
Amelia Rajecki beat Elizabeth Allwood 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
Milli- Mae beat Martha Thomas 6-2, 6-1
Jessica Spencer beat Charlotte Clarke 6-2, 6-1
Livvy and Milli-Mae beat Lilia and Anna Chesca 6-7, 7-5, 10-6
Anna B and Amelia beat Elizabeth and Christina 6-3, 6-7, 10-6,
Anna K and Jessica Spencer lost to Charlotte and Martha 4-6, 2-6
The final day was against Devon, they had lost on the two previous days, so for Notts it was everything to play for. Livvy agreed to come in just to play the singles, which was a huge advantage to the team.
Jessica was against an older more experienced player, she lost the first set 2-6, won the second with more focus and concentration. Captains are able to go on court and this helped Jessica cope, she is only 12 and has a lot to learn of match play at this level. She went on to win 6-0 in the third. Millie- Mae played another compact tight match, winning easily.
Amelia is so strong now, she just hit her opponent off the court, giving another great win. Anna B likewise won 6-0, 6-0. Anna K had along match, played well to win 6-4, 6-3 against Lucy Gill (Chris Gill’s daughter). Livvy had a tough match, and lost in two sets, she had not been playing because of exams and so is not match tight, but she gave the team the chance to play down a position, so allowing their wins, we do thank her for this.
Notts were sitting 5-1 up after the singles, so giving us a win, Jessie and Jasmine went on to play their doubles, they were up in the first set but it slipped away in a tie-break, they lost the second set 0-6.
North Wales had beaten Leicestershire, which then gave us second place, so Devon conceded the doubles as they wanted to start their five hour journey home.
Results:
Jessica beat Katie Wiltshire 2-6 6-2 6-0
Millie-Mae beat Leah Hurst 6-0,6-2
Amelia beat Jessica Hill 6-3 6-0
Anna B beat Emily Sims 6-0, 6-0
Anna K beat Lucy Gill 6-4, 6-3
Livvy lost to Beth Cooper 6-4, 6-2
Jessie and Jasmine lost to Leah and Katie 6-7, 0-6
Anna B and Millie-Mae beat Emma Cobby and Jessica 6-1, 6-2
Final doubles not played
I would like to thank Sarah Wright who worked with me over the three days on and off court. Our thanks also go to the members of the Notts LTA Committee who all came to support on each day. As usual, thank you to the parents for the transport and support during the matches.
Jane Stokes (Captain)