12 & Under Girls
Captain: Danielle Gallagher Assistant Captain: Jess Eastwood
Team Naimah Grant, Leslieba Inko-Tariah, Annabel Jackson, Naina Kapoor & April Sackflame
The Girls travelled to Notthingham on Thursday night ahead of a long days tennis on the Friday. The girls were in Group B with Dorset, Essex and Kent and knew they had a tough few days ahead of them. First up on Friday the girls took on Dorset with the result at 2-2 after the singles with Naina losing out in the match tie break 9-11 against their top player. The girls knwe they were going to be up against it in the doubles and lost both the rubbers giving Dorset a 4-2 win. With spirits low the girls fought back to finish the day 3-1 up against Essex with a great match tie break win for April.
Saturday started with the remaining doubles against Essex and a win each leaving the tie a Lancashire 4-2 win! Next up Kent who had so far won all their matches. A fighting starting the singles saw the score at 2-1 Lancashire after a match tie break win for Naimah and a match tie break loss for Leslieba, then the rain came! With only 3 indoor courts booked for all 16 teams to compete on after a long delay Naina eventually got on to play her singles, a win for Kent 2-2. Another long wait for a court the girls eventually completed 1 doubles at 7.30pm a loss for Lancashire, 3-2 Kent. It was then decided to come back tomorrow to finish the tie.
Sunday another long day with over 50 matches to complete on 3 bubbled courts due to the continuing rain on the outdoor courts. Lancashire started as they still needed to finish their Group matches, another doubles loss against Kent meant they had finished 2nd in their group and were now playing for 3rd/4th place against Middlesex. After yet you guessed it a slow day due to weather and a lack of indoor courts the singles against Middlesex started, 2 tough match tie break singles losses for Naina and Leslieba and a 15-13 win for April the team were 1-3 down! All to play for in the doubles with the girls hoping to win both matches and take it to a match shoot out! The girls managed to do that, both straight forward comfortable doubles wins despite them knowing the importance of winning the matches, now for a shoot out! Unfortunately winning the shoot out was just a match too far and the girls lost to Middlesex meaning they finished 4th in the Country!
Well done to all the players and captains and the parents who supported from home.