Solihull’s rising star Summer Yardley, 17, made the perfect debut for the depleted Warwickshire women’s tennis side at the Aegon County Cup, Group 1 at Eastbourne, winning three out of three on the opening day in an impressive 6-3 victory over Middlesex. Partnering the consistent Natasha Hillyer from Coventry for the first time, the big-hitting Yardley imposed her heavy groundstrokes on more experienced opposition and served powerfully throughout. Sadly two junior internationals Alannah Griffin from Solihull and Emily Smith had had to pull out with injury on the eve of the championship so captain Katie Shaw from King’s Heath selected Soumeya Anane and Katie Malazonia, 18, at first pair and they won two out of three to clinch a vital win in this highly competitive group. Reigning champions Surrey then proved just too strong for the Midlanders, winning 6-3 after two ultra-tight encounters went their way, but Yardley and Hillyer kept battling fearlessly and go into the vital tie with Hertfordshire desperate to record a win and ensure the county’s Group 1 survival.
Katie Shaw praised all her girls for their fighting spirit, impressed by how well the new pairings had combined, staying positive and determined in the tightest of situations.
“The girls tried their hearts out,” she said “and all showed terrific teamwork despite being up against the favourites. Our youngster Summer Yardley who’s only 17 kept going for her shots and she’s forming a great partnership with Natasha Hillyer, while Luisa Cowper and Leyla Ogan battled bravely and won their final rubber of the day against a strong young Surrey pair by cleverly varying their tactics. After beating Middlesex on Day 1, there’s still all to play for – Herts and Kent are also looking very strong and it’s probably the highest standard County Week ever. All the same, I’m convinced we can stay up and finish high in Group 1.”
Warwickshire men’s captain Nathan Rooney from Solihull led from the front as his young side, including three teenage debutants showed great character to beat Nottinghamshire 6-3 in a rain-affected fixture in Group 5 at Felixstowe. With the first day’s play entirely wiped out by rain, any rubber that went to set-all was decided by the unpredictable ‘shoot-out’ of a championship tiebreak and the teams had to play 2 rubbers of their second match after finishing the first. Warwickshire had earlier lost 6-3 to title favourites West of Scotland despite Rooney, partnering junior international Luke Hammond, 19 at first pair, winning two out of three and then making it a clean sweep of straight sets victories against Notts. 18-year-old Luke Simkiss from Solihull made his debut at third pair with Oliver Nolan, 19, and narrowly failed to clinch a long, hard-fought tiebreak against the Scots’ first pair.
“I’m really proud of how our young players have performed against seasoned opposition,” said Rooney. “Luke Hammond looks a class act, to be able to win so many tight matches in his first County Week and Luke Simkiss and Oliver Nolan have shown real character too. We’re desperate to win promotion from Group 5 but whatever the outcome, they’re all learning a lot from the experience and our experienced players like Simon Ferguson and Steve Lee who’s 36 and at his 19th County Week are giving them a lot of support with tactics and strategy.”
Results: Aegon Inter-County Cup, Women’s Group 1 at Eastbourne
Warwickshire beat Middlesex 6-3 (Warwickshire names first.)
Warwickshire lost to Surrey 3-6
Results: Aegon Inter-County Cup, Men’s Group 5 at Felixstowe
Warwickshire lost to West of Scotland 3-6
Warwickshire lead Nottinghamshire 4-2
Results Warks women beat Middlesex 6-3 (Warwickshire names first.)
Warwickshire 1st pair Soumeya Anane/ Katie Malazonia bt Middlesex 1st pair Constandena Nicolaou/ Louise Ronaldson 6-4 7-6
lost to Middx 2nd pair Holly Hutchinson/Ella Taylor 4-6 3-6
beat Middx 3rd pair Danielle Daley/ Destinee Martins 7-6 7-6
Warwickshire 2nd .Natasha Hillyer / Summer Yardley beat Middx 1sts 6-2 6-2
beat Middx 2nds 6-4 6-4
beat Middx 3rds 6-3 6-1
Warks 3nd pair Leyla Ogan/ Holly Reid lost to Middx 1sts 3-6 2-6
Leyla Ogan/ Luisa Cowper lost to Middx 2nds 6-7 2-6
Leyla Ogan/ Luisa Cowper beat Middx 3rds 6-2 4-6 6-4
Warks women lost to Surrey 3-6
Warwickshire 1st pair Soumeya Anane/ Manisha Foster beat Surrey 1st pair Christa Victoria Gecheva/ Charlotte Pearce 6-2 6-3
Lost to Surrey 2nd pair Lily Miyazaki/ Laura Slater 4-6 6-3 4-6
Lost Surrey 3rd pair Jasmine Ashgar/ Candida Reid 6-4 6-2
Warwickshire 2nd pair Natasha Hillyer / Summer Yardley beat Surrey 1st pair 5-7 6-1 6-1
Lost to Surrey 2nd pair 2-6 6-4 2-6
Lost to Surrey 3rd pair 3-6 3-6
Warks 3nd pair Leyla Ogan/ Luisa Cowper beat Surrey 1st pair Charlotte Pearce/ Lily Ghodrati 6-3 6-2
Lost to Surrey 2nd pair 4-6 6-3 3-6
Lost to Surrey 3rd pair 2-6 0-6 (ret’d)
Results: Aegon Inter-County Cup, Men’s Group 5 at Felixstowe
Warwickshire beat Nottinghamshire 6-3.
Warks 1st pair Nathan Rooney/ Luke Hammond beat Notts 1st pair Ben Dunbar/ Dominic West 6-2 6-2
beat Notts 2nd pair Jamie Praditngam/ Marcus Walters 6-3 6-3
Beat Notts 3rd pair Patrick Foley/ Pierre Luiggi 6-3 6-1
Warks 2nd pair Simon Ferguson/ Richard Partridge lost toNotts 1st pair 5-7 4-6
Beat Notts 2nd pair 7-6 3-6 1-0
Simon Ferguson/Steven Lee beat Notts 3rd pair 6-3 6-4
Warks 3rd pair Cameron Malik /Oliver Nolan lost to Notts 1st pair 4-6 4-6
Lost to Notts 2nd pair 5-7 5-7
Beat Notts 3rd pair 6-1 6-4
Warwickshire lost to West of Scotland 3-6 (Warwickshire names first.)
Warks 1st pair Nathan Rooney/ Luke Hammond lost to West of Scotland 1st pair Robert Dalgetty/ Gary Thomson 4-6 6-3 0-1
beat W.of Scotland 2nd pair Matthew Stout/ Lee Wishart 6-2 6-2
Beat W.of Scotland 3rd pair David Culshaw/ James Shemilt 6-4 3-6 1-0
Warks 2nd pair Simon Ferguson/ Richard Partridge beat West of Scotland 1st pair 3-6 6-3 1-0
Lost to W.of S 2nd pair 3-6 4-6
Lost to W.of S 3rd pair 4-6 4-6
Warks 3rd pair Luke Simkiss/Oliver Nolan lost West of Scotland 1st pair 4-6 7-5 0-1
Lost to W.of S 2nd pair 3-6 4-6
Cameron Malik/ Oliver Nolan lost to W.of S 3rd pair 4-6 6-3 0-1