Warwickshire County Week tennis final results - men promoted from Group 5, women relegated from Grou
Fri, 26 Jul 2019 00:00
Warwickshire men’s tennis side scored a stunning victory in Group 5 of the Aegon Inter-County Championships, beating local rivals Hereford and Worcestershire 6-3 after several cliff-hangers to make it five victories out of five, clinching the title and ensuring long-overdue promotion to Group 4. The depleted women’s team, missing several top players through injury or work commitments, including Alannah Griffin and Tamara Malazonia, narrowly lost their crucial relegation battle with Yorkshire in Group 1 at Eastbourne, 6-3, dropping two out of three rubbers in the final round, which had been held over from the rain-disrupted previous day. They then lost 6-0 to unbeaten Hertfordshire, three of whose international players had achieved the impressive feat of winning 15 rubbers out of 15. This sealed the Midlanders’ fate and they and Essex were relegated to Group 2, their first foray out of the elite Group 1 since 2013.
“The girls battled their hearts out,” said Katie Shaw, in her 20th year as county captain. “With several experienced players missing, this was always going to be a big ask, but I was proud of how everyone, including our youngsters and newcomers performed at this highly-competitive level. I know they’ll be raring to bounce back up from Group 2 next year.”
Big-hitting Lilly Mould, the former national junior champion combined well, both with debutant Josie Williamson from Blossomfield and with Rugby’s Lizzie Massie, while Coventry stars Natasha Hillyer and Soumeya Anane showed the way at first pair, staging a string of fine fight-backs and winning three out of three in the county’s one win, over Essex. Katie Malazonia and newcomer Kara Biggs from Warwick Boat Club proved an impressive scratch pairing, while the fluent Holly Reid went for her shots boldly against highly experienced Hertfordshire opposition.
There was joy for new captain Gavin Henderson as his well-matched pairs ensured a clean sheet of victories, after seeing off the highly-rated Lancashire and West of Scotland teams at the start of the week. The Stratford partnership of Cameron Malik and Luke Hammond promoted to first pair, looked a class act throughout, as did their clubmate Oliver Plaskett. The Sutton Coldfield duo of Max Stewart and Oliver Nolan and the highly-experienced Simon Ferguson, imported for the last few days, were equally gritty and defiant, Ferguson winning three out of three on the Day 5. Despite a few sore heads on the final day, thanks to enthusiastic celebrations, with promotion in the bag by Thursday night, the side held it together to win the three final rubbers after being pegged back by Hereford and Worcester to 3-all at tea.
“I’m delighted with how our young side jelled and backed one another up all week, ,” said Gavin Henderson. “They’ve really come together and pulled their weight. Cam Malik and Luke Hammond have been a revelation and Simon Ferguson added some real character and experience which boosted the camaraderie and teamwork among the whole side. With promotion guaranteed, we’re now determined to keep up the momentum and win promotion again next year to Group 3 – and not before time.”
Results: Day 5: Eastbourne AEGON INTER-COUNTY CUP, Group 1 Women’s Championship.
Warwickshire lost to Hertfordshire 0-6
Warwickshire 1st pair Holly Reid / Soumeya Anane lost to Hertfordshire 1st pair Emily Arbuthnott/Annabel Davis 4-6 0-6
Natasha Hillyer / Anane Lost to Herts 2nd pair Mimi Bland/Georgie Walker 2-6 6-3 9-1
Warwickshire 2nd pair Lizzie Massie/ Lilly Mould Lost to Herts 2nd pair 3-6 2-6
Massie/Mould lost to Herts 3rd pair Georgina Axon/Indianna Spink 3-6 3-6
Warks 3nd pair Kara Biggs/ Katie Malazonia lost to Hertfordshire 1st pair 2-6 2-6
Lost to Herts 3rd pair 4-6 3-6
Results: Day 4: Eastbourne AEGON INTER-COUNTY CUP, Group 1 Women’s Championship.
Rain disrupted play. Warwickshire lost to Yorkshire 3 rubbers to 6.
Warwickshire 1st pair Natasha Hillyer / Soumeya Anane lost to Yorkshire 1st pair Eleanor Dean/ Holly Horsfall 2-6 3-6
Beat Yorks 2nd pair Isabelle Hearnshaw/ Serena Nash 7-5 6-2
Beat Yorks 3rd pair Megan Hopton/ Sofie Woon 6-1 6-2
Warks 2nd pair Lizzie Massie/ Lilly Mould lost to Yorkshire 1st pair
Josie Williamson/ Lilly Mould Lost to Yorks 2nd pair 6-1 2-6 4-6
Williamson/Mould Beat Yorks 3rd pair 6-4 2-6 6-3
Warwickshire 3rd pair Kara Biggs/ Katie Malazonia lost to Yorkshire 1st pair 2-6 1-6
Lost to Yorks 2nd pair 6-2 6-7 3-6
Lost to Yorks 3rd pair 5-7 4-6
Aegon Inter-County Cup, Men’s Group 5 at West Worthing
Warwickshire beat Hereford and Worcestershire 6-3
Warwickshire 1st pair Luke Hammond/Cameron Malik lost to Hereford & Worcester 1st pair Alexander Maggs/ Alexander Parker 3-6 6-3 8-10
Beat Hereford & Worcester 2nd pair Charlie Crisp/ Jamie Marks 6-2 6-1
Beat Hereford & Worcester 3rd pair Michael Langston/ Oliver Nunn 6-2 2-6 8-6
Warks 2nd Richard Partridge/Oliver Plaskett lost to H&W 1st pair 6-7 1-6
Partridge/ Mason Recci beat H&W 2nd pair 6-4 7-5
Partridge/Recci Lost to H&W 3rd pair 7-5 4-6 8-10
Warks 3rd pair Oliver Nolan/ Simon Ferguson beat H&W 1st pair 7-5 6-2
Ferguson/ Oliver Nolan Beat H&W 2nd pair 6-2 6-4
Ferguson/Max Stewart beat H&W 3rd pair 6-1 6-0
Warwickshire win 5 out of 5, take the Group 5 title and are promoted to Group 4.