........and off to Bolton we go, Friday evening after a practice at Edgbaston honing some volley and doubles communication skills, a bit of grub a shower and a change we head north looking to take the girls under 10 National title, a feat last replicated by Warwickshire in 2007 with a certain Leyla Ogan as captain.
The team which was Madison Rumney, Tamara Burdiashvili, Lily Mould, Savannah Yardley and Eva Healy they had come through qualifying comfortably two weeks earlier beating Nottinghamshire, Linconshire, Northhampton and Leicestershire on the way, so the girls were on a high and were aware what playing in a team meant and the fun and excitement that went with it.
After a little excitement of the glass lift and a hotel room to stay in the girls settled and rested up ready for the first day of play. The draw consisted of 8 teams and you would play all matches for your place from one to eight. Our first opponents were the west of Scotland team, the Scotish are always tough opponents as they are used to travelling and have great spirit in team events. The format is three singles and one doubles where in the event of the tie being two all a doubles tie break to 10 points decides the winner. First up was Madison Rumney playing Eve Lumsden, Madison started well but Eve was tenacious and hung in well and made Madison play extra shots when she didn't want to, causing frustration to Madison and the loss of the first set. Madison then managed to settle herself, regain her composure and take the second set 4-1 to take the match to a match tie break to decide the winner, Madison managed to continue to compose herself and take the tie break 10-6, Madison did well to get through this but this was a definite warning shot to show it certainly wasn't going to be all plain sailing. Next to grace the court was Lily Mould, looking a little apprehensive she entered the court, I tried to make her feel relaxed, I am able to do this as coaches are allowed to stay on the court for the whole match and talk with the players during the change of ends, it is like a minute and a half of calming counciling with a few tactics thrown in for good measure. Lily had no need to be apprehensive as her use of variety and ball speed was to much for her opponent as she came through with a 4-1, 4-1 Win and put us into a strong position, a good start is always useful to raise the spirit of the team, but due to the format the doubles normally plays an intricate role in the outcome of the tie. The third singles left the potentially big hitting Tamara Burdiashvili to put the tie out of reach for the Scots and Warwickshire into the semi-final. After a few jitters in the oponening set, when the nerves calmed and the body and mind relaxed Tamara was able to deconstruct her opponent and come away with a 4-0, 4-0 Victory. This was great news as it would then enable me to bring all players into the tie so up stepped Eva Healy and Tamara again to play the doubles, a good all round performance from the pair with volleying and intercepting a plenty and even the odd smile and joke, they carried good energy and spirit and worked well together, this is vital if you want to be a successful doubles pair, after a final high five the girls took the victory and Warwickshire took the tie with a whitewash 4-0.
Next up, what can only described as a vocal Sussex this was going to be a tough match, as for youngsters to just deal with a very vocal crowd can be difficult but we had heard what we needed to put up with so the team was ready. The first tie was a great match up with Madison Rumney up against Sonay Cartel, on paper this was going to be a close opening match and it did not disappoint, a great match from both players showing the technical skills they have and the versatility of tactics, after and epic battle which swung one way then the other, Madison could not quite hold her composure long enough and eventually was overcome by Sonay 4-1, 0-4, 7-10. A tough opening, so we would require the rest of the team to step up to take this tie to the doubles. Next into the fray was Lily Mould, feeling a little more confident after her earlier victory Lily was up against Isabella Swann, Lily had got the game to take this tie and just needed to play within herself to allow her to keep her consistency levels high and then add her finishing skills ontop, she managed to execute this well and return victorious with a 5-4, 1-4, 10-6 Victory tying the match at one a piece. The final singles would take place between Tamara and Tiana, a girl with nearly half the physical size but with a strong spirit and some vocal backing. Tamara started big but not consistent giving Tiana a 3-0 lead in sets first to 4 this is not ideal, after calming back down at the change of ends and a change of tact with a little more variety Tamara rattled off 9 games in a row to storm through to a 5-3, 4-0 victory giving us a 2-1 lead heading into the doubles. Down to the doubles, Burdiashvili and Rumney would take on Swann and Cartel, doubles can turn very quickly on a couple of points and this was one of those matches, after taking the first set 4-1 we looked well in control, but a few points not quite in our favour turned the tie and Sussex took the second set 4-1 so a match tie break would decide the winners. we competed well early in the tie-break but got edged out 10-6 with an electric atmosphere in the centre, dinner had been booked for 6:30 with the Warwickshire boys team for a bit of team building and story telling but this was out the window as it was now gone 8 pm. The team were deflated but the tie was far from over it would be a doubles tie-break shoot out to decided the winner of the tie, to refresh the team and to provide us with a different tactical option I brought Lily Mould into the fold, know for great skill at the net this was a tough position to be brought into but I had faith she would have what it took, Mould and Rumney took to the court and together they did not disappoint, I can't even remember much of the tie-break apart from how close it was, but one thing sticks in my head at 9 all after having match point at 9-8 up Lilly Mould hit a hat-trick of smashes and then finished the point with a backhand drive volley as I erupted from my seat in delight the players were cool as ever and finished the match point with an exquisite forehand angle volley to win the tie and take us to the final, now 9pm it had been one heck of a day emotionally and physically for the players, this allowed just enough time to throw some food down their necks and get them into bed to prepare for tomorrows final.
A 6:45 wake up was what started the team on Sunday morning, with a few bleary eyes at breakfast including my own!! It was back to business and what we do best, to deliver on court, after an 8am practice we were ready to go for our 9am start against Lancashire, with our Warwirkshire boys under 10's team in the boys final on the other side of the balcony, this could be history in the making. Savannah Yardley had travelled up to join the team on Sunday having not been available on the Saturday and she would play first in the attempt to get us off to a good start and that she did, not letting Alexis Peet a look in taking the rubber 4-0, 4-0, we could not of asked for a better start. Next up was Madison Rumney who had battled a lot over the weekend and this looked like it had mentally taken its toll as she wrestled with her emotions. After trailing in the first set she managed to regain herself and use the energy she had left efficiently to pull back against Marni Banks and take the tie 5-4, 4-1, now to put the tie out of reach Tamara Burdiashvili would take on the quick and smart Holly Staff, difficult to get the ball past and a good competitor with some flashes of brilliance, Tamara's patience was tested and this time she cracked unable to hold it together in the toe to toe battle Holly out lasted her and kept the tie alive with a 4-2, 5-3 victory. Down to the doubles again, I anticipated who Lancashire would choose to play in their doubles and matched it with our own, I was going to pick our team to play good doubles and win this tie in order to do this Lily Mould was needed and I brought her in to play with Savannah, the freshest player we had. We flew off and led 3-1 out playing Lancashire with some good doubles but with a change of tact from Lancashire's captain taking and a more defensive approach this was going to make life awkward. We edged the first 4-2 but I knew it was going to be close and it was, the second set was nip and tuck with only a couple of points making the difference. It reached 3-3 in the second set and needed someone to take the match by the scruff of the neck, up steps Lily Mould with a couple of great volley put aways to take us 4-3 up with Savannah to serve, at the change of ends a decision to play positive tennis and look to dominate the net paid off with 5 first serves going in and again some great volleying and communication, at 40-15 the finish line was in our grasp one last serve and a forehand long from Lancashire and the title was ours!! A long weekend that I won't forget made memorable by all the support we received and the effort of all the children. Not to forget the boys over the balcony and team captain Matt Thomas who had been in a vocal battle against Yorkshire. Unfortunately we were not able to do the double as they got edged in a highly spirited affair where the boys left it all out on the court, but they will be back and have great strength in depth and an under 12's title must be in there sights.
Adam Wharf
Warwickshire Girls under 10 captain