Well the Team nearly got off to a really bad start as we originally planned to get to Boston for 3pm for our match to start at 4pm. After checking and rechecking the paperwork we in fact needed to be there for an 11am start! Thank goodness for mobile phones now as a quick message to all players parents and an 8am meet on Saturday it was!
Day 1: It was great to have our chauffeur pick us up and help with our baggage (hehe). I think only then did Callum understand what he had let himself in for and that was for a long three days!
All present and correct we made the journey over to Boston knowing that a tough Yorkshire team awaited!
The girls on the way found out some inside knowledge that Yorkshire’s No1 had not made the sacrifices to be available for her team and that raised the belief and desire of discuss on the bus!
3 singles matches took to the court first and boy was Team Notts fighting. Eva Shaw playing at 1 got us off to a perfect start with a 3 set victory before Jess Spencer, Millie Wileman and Olivia Corfe lost in 2 tight sets all being heavily up in one of the two sets. They left everything out there and competed in great spirits. 1-3 down after singles and our backs against the wall but still with the knowledge that we had the experience in the team to turn the tie around having spoken in our team meeting about huge sporting upsets like GB Davis Cup team and Leicester City’s Premier League victory. Eva and Jess joined forces at took a straight sets victory 2-3! Olivia and Millie were locked in a tight battle all the way through but went down in two tight sets meaning Yorkshire got the better of us this time 4-2. Off to check in to our hotel, refuel and come back the next day refreshed and ready to do battle.
Day 2: After a lie in and a full English breakfast we were back on the court doing battle with The East of Scotland and boy were the girls not messing around today! A slight change to the singles team with Alexandra Kepa coming in for Millie and our youngest team mate Mia Wainwright stepping in to play doubles with Millie in place of Olivia we won 6-0 with the loss of only 12 games! Coming back stronger and better after a tough loss is a great attribute for any player to have and these girls had it in abundance. We knew we could no longer qualify for the finals but we were gunning for 3rd position. After seeing off Eva who was only with us for 2 days it was back to the hotel and for Callum and I to get our competitive juices flowing with a game of pick up sticks! If you have never played believe me it’s a quality game and requires tactical and extreme focus. With a 3-course meal devoured it was off for 40 winks before our task of securing the bronze medal commenced.
Day 3: Northumberland awaited and stood in our way. Our ruthless nature continued with a 6-0 victory without dropping a set. The weather was amazing and job done 3rd place secured. Well almost job done! The girls had been compiling a playlist and the tunes were on fleek I believe you say or peng would be another way to describe it! The new words I have learned over the weekend. The minibus on the way back was rocking and all of us Callum and I included had a great sing-a-long on the journey back.
The girls were a pleasure to captain and were a credit to Nottinghamshire over the weekend. We will be back next year stronger and better. We want a place in that Final and next year we are going to go and get it. Team Notts are coming for you!
Captain Hollie
