10U Girls County Cup Report

The Herefordshire & Worcestershire 10U Girls County Team played teams representing Gloucestershire, Cheshire and Derbyshire at The Manor Park Club, Malvern on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May 2024 in Group D of this year’s County Cup event.

Captain: Chris Marlow
Assistant Captain: Katy Lewin

Team: Luna, Evelina, Georgia, Florence and Iona

Day 1 Arrival:

The team arrive on a beautiful sunny morning at 8:45am to warm up, hit some balls and prepare for their matches.

The matches get underway at 10:00am after the referees briefing.

Singles v Cheshire:

Georgia and Florence go on to face their opponents. The Cheshire team look very strong and both girls find the matches difficult. The consistency and quality of the Cheshire girls gets them off to a winning start. Evelina tries hard but also struggles to deal with Maisie’s power and accuracy. There are some excellent points, but Evelina loses 0-4 0-4. Luna finds Eva’s forehand difficult to deal with as she hits with excellent pace and angles. The Cheshire player takes the first set 0-4. Composing herself at the end of the set, Luna battles hard and gets a game point, the first bit of pressure Eva has felt. Luna wins the game from a missed forehand and the Cheshire player immediately breaks down into tears. Luna keeps calm as Eva, losing her composure, makes numerous unforced errors and Luna takes the set 4-1. The reset of the set ending and Eva regains some of her focus, although looks like she could lose it again as the match tie-break starts off close. A couple of big winners including a good drive volley gives the Cheshire player confidence and unfortunately Luna’s defence was broken. Eva won the tie-break 5-10.

Score: H&W 4-0 down after the singles

Singles v Gloucestershire

Trying to put the last matches behind them the girls now play singles against Gloucestershire who also have some very good players. Florence again tries her best, but Bianka wins comfortably. Georgia is in closer match against Lottie, the Glos no. 3. At 2-3 down and 30-30 needing only 2 points to force the tiebreak the Gloucestershire player plays good match-play tennis, not overhitting but making Georgia move and gets the errors to take the set 2-4. Georgia tries hard in the second set but a couple of missed attacking short balls and some great consistency from Lottie get her over the line 1-4. Evelina is hitting some really attacking shots but a few too many unwelcome double faults and quality play from her opponent mean the match quicky goes the way of the Gloucestershire player. Luna is playing a solid match against Grace. Trying to make sure of the win, Luna plays tactically defensive and manages to keep chasing the ball down and frustrates her opponent. Luna does well to win 4-2 4-1.

H&W 3-1 down after the singles.

Doubles v Cheshire

Having struggled in the singles to get games the team go on to compete for the doubles when the rain comes. We have about an hour and half delay and play recommences on the indoor courts. Florence and Georgia put in a really good fight against good opposition and using both back to frustrate their opponents they do well make the match competitive. Maybe a little more clinical when given balls to attack and we could have forced an upset. The H&W girls lose out 2-4 2-4. Luna and Evelina face Eva and Gwynne who both have fantastic volleys. Although the H&W girls do well to attack the net player and play some excellent doubles Eva and Gwynne were just too strong and win 1-4 2-4.

Score: H&W Lose 6-0

Doubles v Gloucestershire

With the match at 3-1 to Gloucestershire the doubles is still live. We are now outside again as the sun has come out but on the artificial clay courts as the acrylic courts were still too wet. Georgia and Florence on and lose 0-4 0-4 to Lottie and Blanka. Although its and comfortable win for the Gloucestershire girls the H&W girls take it in good spirts with a lot of loud ‘mine’ and ‘yours’ being called. Luna and Evelina play some great both back tennis as well as mixing in Luna starting forwards. They hit lots of attacks at the net players and win 4-1 4-1.

Score: H&W Lose 4-2

Day 2 Arrival:

The team arrive on another beautiful sunny morning at 8:45am, but today there is no chance of rain! The girls warm up and get ready to play.

Matches start at 9:30am although the message clearly didn’t get to the Derbyshire team who arrive a bit flustered at 9:30 thinking the matches started at 10:00.

Singles v Derbyshire:

Iona and Georgia go on and have close competitive matches. Iona plays Tahlia and makes it awkward for her with a combination of deep and short shots. Tahlia just gets through the first set 2-4. Iona does well to compete hard but fairly, and in a rare moment, when asked, ‘are you sure’ on a line call, she says ‘not really’ and concedes the point. Unfortunately, Iona loses the match in the second set in a tie-break. Georgia gets her first set to a tie-break. She is battling hard against Jessica who can hit some outstanding forehand winners but misses quite a few as well. A couple of unforced errors in the tie-break from Georgia and then a string of good shots from Jessica are enough for her to take the set and then the match 3-4(3) 2-4. Evelina takes on Lettie who is another good player. The tennis starts off at a blistering pace with both girls hitting some lovely outright winners. As the set progresses both girls start regularly double faulting and service games get harder to hold. Lettie takes the first set on a tie-break and then gets into her stride. Evelina tries to defend but Lettie is too confident and takes the second set 0-4. Luna plays Tiffinay who is super-fast and seemingly able to get so many balls back. Luna plays and attacking game but the errors creep in and Tiffinay wins 1-4 0-4.

Score: H&W 4-0 down after the singles

Doubles v Derbyshire

Only the doubles to play to try and get something from the tie. Iona and Georgia face Tiffany and her partner. After Tiffany’s win against Luna she is clearly feeling good and the H&W girls struggle to keep it away from her and hit it to her weaker player in the Derbyshire pairing. 0-4 0-4 to Derbyshire in a slightly flat match. Luna and Evelina are involved in a closer match but still the energy seems to have gone after a long weekend. Some miscommunications between the H&W pairing gift the Gloucestershire team points which in this close match needs to worked on. The match is up and down but after losing the first set 2-4 the H&W girls have opportunities at 3-2 up but seeming a bit out of sorts the match is lost and the Derbyshire pair make it a clean sweep.

H&W lose 6-0.

In short:

• 4th Place
• Well done Cheshire – 1st Place
• The players tried hard against quality opposition who in many instances were vastly more experienced.
• Lots to be taken away from the opportunity of playing good opposition.
• Great support from parents.

Well done everyone!

Thank you Katy for your help over the weekend!

Chris Marlow