The other teams in the group were Middlesex, Surrey, Northumberland, Hertfordshire and Yorkshire.

Our team consisted of the following players:  Harriet Burley, Freya Davies, Debbie Hale, Isla Hignett, Lottie Howard, Harriet Jones, Taro Keens, Lisa Hanley, Hannah Smith

Day 1 vs Middlesex

Our pairs were:      Freya and Hannah     Debbie and Lottie      Harriet Jones and Lisa                                             

Middlesex were a strong team.  We had a very on / off day with a lot of drizzly rain.  Sadly we lost 6-3 with wins in all 3 matches for Freya and Hannah.  Lisa and Harry had two tight matches against the 2nd and 3rd pairs.  Isla came in for Debbie in the 3rd round.

Day 2 vs Yorkshire

The team was the same as yesterday:      Freya and Hannah     Debbie and Lottie     Harriet Jones and Lisa

It was another miserable day with a number of stops for rain.  We lost 5-4 in a close match.  Hannah and Freya managed to win all 3 matches, Harry and Lisa had great win against the 3rd pair, Isla came in for Harry for the 3rd round and lost in the 3rd set tie break against the Middlesex first pair.  Debbie and Lottie lost in the 3rd set tie break against their 3rd pair.

Day 3 vs Northumberland 

The team for today was:      Freya and Hannah     Taz and Lottie       Debbie and Isla

A sunny day was forecast and we were playing at the Meads club today off site.  Our result was another close 5-4  win for Northumberland.  Freya and Hannah again managed to win 3 today in 2 sets.  Taz and Lottie managed a great win against the Northumberland 3rd pair.

Match 4 vs Surrey 

As the weather was due to be bad on Thursday, the ladies were asked to play the first round of the 4th days matches on Wednesday evening.

The team was:       Freya and Hannah     Debbie and Lottie      Taz and Harriet B (making her debut)

Hannah and Freya again won their first match.  Debbie and Lottie had a very close match against the 3rd pair.  Going into day 4 we were 2-1 down.

Day 4 vs Surrey (to complete)

So on Thursday it was raining and we had to go offsite on astro and play fast 4 scoring.

The team pairs changed to:       Hannah and Freya     Taz and Lisa      Lottie and Isla

Sadly, Freya and Hannah lost to a very in form 1st Surrey pair but won against their 3rds.  Taz and Lisa lost in the 3rd set tie break to the 3rd pair.  Our end of day score was 7-2 to Surrey.

Day 5 vs Hertfordshire 

The team today was:       Hannah and Freya     Lisa and Taz       Debbie and Lottie

Sadly, we knew that we were relegated but it didn’t stop the team putting in a massive effort.

We lost to Hertfordshire 6-3, but again Freya and Hannah managed to win all 3.  They have been trying to beat the Hertfordshire 1st pair for 3 years and finally they managed it in 2 sets.  Lisa and Taz lost in the 3rd set tie break to the 3rd pair.  Isla and Harriet B replaced Debbie and Isla in the second round.

Obviously, the team is disappointed to be relegated from Group 1.  They have done exceptionally well over the last 4 years, but with some of our key players missing due to injury, we just didn’t have the depth to be able to compete as we have done in previous years.

A huge congratulations goes to Hannah and Freya who won 14 out of 15 matches.  It was so disappointing for them that they had to play on wet Astro with fast 4 scoring on Thursday.       

Thank you to a brilliant team, as always, I’m so proud of you all.

Sue Espley, Team Captain