INTER COUNTY PREMIER FINALS
3-4 MAY 2014 WIMBLEDON RACQUETS CLUB
SUNDAY MORNING PLAY OFFS
Play offs for over all finishing positions took place Sunday morning
Men 7/8: Oxfordshire v Durham & Cleveland
Oxfordshire made sure of avoiding the wooden spoon against Durham & Cleveland with 3-0 wins at Geekie also won at 3rd string beating Paul Davies 3-1. Consolation wins for Yawar Abbas and Andrew Cross at 4 and 5 for Durham.
Oxfordshire v Durham & Cleveland
Scott Handley Danny Hockburn 3-0 11/4 11/6 11/5
Mark Cairns Gareth Lumsdon 3-0 11/2 11/2 11/1
Jon Geekie Paul Davies 3-1 11/2 6/11 11/3 11/8
Nelson Fung Yawar Abbas 1-3 11/7 3/11 8/11 14/16
Mark Webster Andy Cross 0-3 7/11 1/11 6/11
Oxfordshire 3-2
Men 5/6: Sussex v Yorkshire
Sussex showed sparkling form to take 5th place with an emphatic win over Yorkshire. 3-0 wins for strings 1-4, Tim Vail, Tim Garner, Brandon Hanley, and Steve Wykes, with only Andrew Widdison putting up any real resistance for the northerners with a good 3-2 win over Miles Jenkins.
Sussex v Yorkshire Score Games
Tim Vail Dom Hamilton 3-0 11/7 11/8 11/7
Tim Garner Taminder Gata-Aura 3-0 13/11 11/7 11/2
Brandon Hanley Alex Hodgetts 3-0 11/5 11/4 11/8
Steve Wykes Sam Wileman 3-0 11/4 11/5 11/4
Miles Jenkins Andrew Widdison 2-3 11/5 10/12 11/9 3/11 8/11
Sussex 4-1
Men 3 /4: Kent v Surrey
Neil Frankland ensured that he went through the weekend unbeaten securing a comfortable win over Bradley Masters to put Surrey ahead. Bradleys brother Josh also made it 3 out of 3 with a fine 3-1 win against the experienced Phil Rushworth. A tight 3rd between Chris Tomlinson and James Simpson, went the way of Surrey’s Simpson 3-2. A tight opening first game between the 2nd strings Charles Sharpes and Steve London, went the way of London, and despite losing the second, he came through to win 3-1 for Kent. Ben Ford couldn’t live with his younger opponent Joe Lee who won3-0 to give Surrey 3rd place.
Kent v Surrey Score Games
Ben Ford Joe Lee 0-3 10/12 3/11 4/11
Steve London Charles Sharpes 3-1 14/12 7/11 11/3 11/4
Chris Tomlinson James Simpson 2-3 12/10 10/12 11/7 6/11 4/11
Josh Masters Phil Rushworth 3-1 12/10 8/11 11/1 14/12
Brad Masters Neil Frankland 0-3 5/11 8/11 9/11
Surrey 3-2
Women 7/8: Warwickshire v Leicestershire
A great battle between these already relegated teams. Wins at the bottom of the order for Lisa Key, Jill Chilvers, and Rachel Woolford consigned Leicstershire to 8th place, but a good performance from Rachel Calver beating Alicia Mead 3-1 made it 3-1 and young Lily Taylor played very well indeed to beat the more experienced Leonie Holt. It would be interesting to see how Leicestershire would fare with Marie Taylor topping the order, and Warwickshire with Chloe Pearson and Sarah Jane Perry
Warwickshire v Leicestershire Score Games
Leonie Holt Lily Taylor 2-3 7/11 11/5 9/11 11/9 9/11
Alicia Mead Rachel Calver 1-3 12/10 10/12 3/11 9/11
Lisa Key Laura Campbell 3-0 11/9 11/2 11/7
Jill Chilvers Tracey Sykes 3-1 11/9 14/12 4/11 13/11
Rachel Woolford Debbie Bowen 3-0 11/7 12/10 11/4
Warwickshire 3-2
Women 5/6: Yorkshire v Kent
Yorkshire were in combative mood and they utilised there experience to overcome Kent’s young side 4-1. A great top string match between Kirsty McPhee and Gina Kennedy could have gone either way, but McPhee used her experience to take it 11/6 in the 5th. Wins for Jess Dixon , Andrea Santa Maria and Ellen Cooper at 3, 4 and 5 showed that Yorkshire had recovered from their lift drama of yesterday (the lift is still out of action by the way). Amelia Henley was Kent’s only winner, 3-0 over Claire Walker.
Yorkshire v Kent Score Games
Kirsty McPhee Gina Kennedy 3-2 7/11 14/12 8/11 11/4 11/6
Claire Walker Amelia Henley 0-3 7/11 6/11 14/16
Jess Dixon Stephanie Shaw 3-1 11/5 9/11 11/8 11/7
Andrea Santamaria Louise Gregory 3-0 11/7 11/5 11/5
Ellen Cooper Beth Seaman 3-0 11/2 12/10 11/2
Yorkshire 4-1
Women 3-4: Essex v Gloucestershire
First blood went to Gloucestershire with Elin Jones winning 3-1 in the opening 5th string rubber. Ellie Lake pipped Elise Lazarus 3-1 at 3rd string to give Gloucester what would prove to be an unassailable lead despite the fine efforts of Sohpie Lemom winning 3- 0 at 4th string and Lauren Briggs overcoming Julianne Courtice by the same margin it was Gloucestershire’s Jenny Tamblyn who beat Keeley Taylor 3-1 to give the newcomers a fine 3rd placed finishing spot.
Essex Gloucestershire Score Games
Lauren Briggs Julianne Courtice 3-0 11/8 11/3 11/4
Keeley Taylor Jenny Tamblyn 0-3 8/11 4/11 9/11
Elise Lazarus Ellie Lake 1-3 9/11 11/5 10/12 8/11
Sophie Lemom Amber Peacey 3-0 11/7 11/6 11/7
Sarah Neller Elin Jones 1-3 7/11 5/11 14/12 10/12
Gloucestershire 3-2
THE FINALS
MEN: Hertfordshire v Essex
The stakes were high for these neighbouring counties and the 70 minute first rubber between 5th strings Joe Green and Jack Jago bore this out. Green took the first game, and was up in the 2nd before Jago took it 14/12. It seemed that Essex would get the perfect start as Jago then took the 3rd 11/8, but with his team mates urging him on, Green took the closely contested 4th 11/8. This seemed to knock Jago and he never got a foothold in the 5th, losing it 11/5, to give Hertfordshire a dream start.
Youseff Abdalla started brightly against Angus Gillams and took the first game to the delight of Essex. Long rallies and excellent retrieving in the 2nd gave Gillams a toehold in the match and he took the 2nd 11/7. He continued to exert his game on Abdulla in the next 2 games which he won 11/4 11/9 to put Hertfordshire firmly in control of the match. 4th string Nick Mulvey was in full control throughout his 4th string match beating Rory Pennell 3-0 to give Hertfordshire the title. Meanwhile on the adjacent court the match of the day was unfolding between top strings Adrian Waller and Ben Coleman. Waller started slowly and Coleman took full advantage, with an 11/4 score line.
The next game swung the other way and Waller took it 11/4, back came Coleman in the 3rd 11/6, but that really was the last of his resistance as Waller played some really good stuff in the next two games to take them 11/4 and 11/6 in just over 70 minutes. Chris Ryder completed the whitewash beating Richie Fallows 3-1 at 2nd string, and whilst there were flashes of brilliance form Fallows, Ryder played the more controlled game and ran out a 3-1 winner. So after several seasons in runner up spot, Hertfordshire finally got their hands on the trophy they won 6 seasons ago.
Hertfordshire v Essex Score Games
Adrian Waller Ben Coleman 3-2 4/11 11/4 6/11 11/4 11/6
Chris Ryder Richie Fallows 3-1 11/4 11/3 6/11 11/2
Angus Gillams Youssef Abdalla 3-1 7/11 11/7 11/4 11/9
Nick Mulvey Rory Pennell 3-0 11/8 11/1 11/9
Joe Green Jack Jago 3-2 11/8 12/14 8/11 11/8 11/5
Hertfordshire 5-0
WOMEN: Cheshire v Surrey
Cheshire captain Kirsty West had started the weekend not as confident of Cheshire retaining their title due to the unavailability of 2 key players, and she might have been more concerned as Surrey took the vital opening rubber 3-0 when Isabell Tweedle beat Annie Openshaw-Blower 3-0 as well as the 3rd string game between Olivia Howell and Alison Thomson – the latter showing no ill effects from her 18th birthday part the evening before battling to a tight 3-1 victory to put Surrey in touching distance of the title.
West then stopped the rot with an emphatic 3-0 win against Emma Matthews at 4th string to raise Cheshire’s hopes, and they were raised even higher when Emily Whitlock efficiently despatched Nada El Kalawaay in the first string match. The tension on the gallery grew as the 2nd string players stepped on court, each hoping to be the heroine of the day. Harriet Ingham just took a close first game 11/7, but all credit to Rachel Chadwick who battled hard to level things 13/11 in the 2nd, but the effort in doing so gave Harriet a golden opportunity in the 3rd which she duly took winning 11/3.
Ingham knew she had a tough task to win the next 2 games, but she worked extremely hard in the 4th and with her opponent tightening up looked as if she might take it, but Chadwick came through 11/8 to give Cheshire a richly deserved win to keep hold of the title for another season
Cheshire v Surrey Score Games
Emily Whitlock Nada El-Kalaawy 3-0 11/7 11/5 11/2
Rachel Chadwick Harriet Ingham 3-1 11/7 11/13 11/3 11/8
Olivia Howell Alison Thomson 1-3 11/9 9/11 10/12 10/12
Kirsty West Emma Matthews 3-0 11/8 11/9 12/10
Annie Openshaw-Blower Isabelle Tweedle 0-3 4/11 5/11 8/11
Cheshire 3-2
SATURDAY FIRST ROUND
Men
Hertfordshire v Oxfordshire
A powerful display from Hertfordshire as they beat Oxfordshire 5-0, with wins for Adrian Waller, Chris Ryder, Nick Mulvey, Joe Green and Keith Timms easing them through to the semi. This left Scott Handley and his team needing a win in the afternoon match to avoid relegation to the first Division.
Hertfordshire v Oxon Score Games
Adrian Waller Scott Handley 3-1 4/11 11/7 11/5 11/4
Chris Ryder Mark Cairns 3-0 11/1 11/8 11/3
Nick Mulvey Jon Geekie 3-0 11/6 11/2 11/8
Joe Green Joe Brooke 3-0 11/9 11/8 11/2
Keith Timms Nelson Fung 3-1 11/9 7/11 11/6 11/7
Hertfordshire 5-0
Kent v Sussex
This was a tighter affair. James Evans and Chris Tomlinson got Kent of to a perfect start, both beating their opponents Miles Jenkins and Brandon Handley 3-1. Sussex now had to win a rubber to stay in the match as Captain Tim Vail took on Ben Ford. Vail took an extremely tight game 13/11, but Ford came back in the next 2. Vail took another tight 4th 8/11 before falling short in the 5th as Ford took it 11/8 to put Kent through to the semi’s and to leave Sussex on the brink.
Kent v Sussex Score Games
Ben Ford Tim Vail 3-2 11/13 11/6 11/9 8/11 11/8
Steve London Tim Garner 1-3 11/9 9/11 8/11 1/11
Chris Tomlinson Brandon Hanley 3-1 11/7 7/11 14/12 11/7
Josh Masters Steve Wykes 3-0 11/6 11/9 11/5
James Evans Miles Jenkins 3-1 11/7 11/9 7/11 11/6
Kent 4-1
Yorkshire v Essex
5th string Andrew Widdison got Yorkshire off to a great start beating Jack Jago 3-2 in a close 5th string encounter. However, Essex turned on the burners in the remaining rubbers, to take all four 3-0. Richie Fallows impressing in his 20 minute win over Dom Hamilton
Yorkshire v Essex Score Games
James Earles Ben Coleman 0-3 10/12 0/11 5/11
Dom Hamilton Richie Fallows 0-3 5/11 8/11 6/11
Taminder Gata Aura Youssef Abdalla 0-3 2/11 9/11 12/14
Alex Hodgetts Rory Pennell 0-3 6/11 6/11 6/11
Andrew Widdison Jack Jago 3-2 11/7 10/12 15/13 8/11 11/7
Essex 1-4
Surrey v Yorkshire
Favourties and current Champions Surrey were in equally impressive form making short work of Durham and Cleveland in a 5-0 whitewash. 3-0 wins at the top of the order for Joe Lee, Charles Sharpes and James Simpson.
Surrey v Durham & Cleveland Score Games
Joe Lee Danny Hockburn 3-0 11/8 11/8 11/8
Charles Sharpes Gareth Lumsdon 3-0 11/8 11/4 11/3
James Simpson Chris Gillespie 3-0 11/4 11/7 11/4
Phil Rushworth Paul Davies 3-2 11/7 11/4 5/11 7/11 11/4
Neil Frankland Andy Cross 3-1 7/11 11/7 11/6 11/9
Surrey 5-0
Women
Essex v Kent
Essex, with a fine blend of youth and experience eased past Kent 4-1 with only Keeley Taylor losing to Amelia Henley.
Essex v Kent Score Games
Lauren Briggs Gina Kennedy 3-0 11/6 11/3 11/3
Keeley Taylor Amelia Henley 0-3 3/11 3/11 2/11
Elise Lazarus Stephanie Shaw 3-0 11/7 11/7 11/3
Sophie Lemom Louise Gregory 3-0 11/5 11/6 11/2
Sarah Neller Beth Seaman 3-0 11/2 11/2 11/2
Essex 4-1
Cheshire v Leicestershire
Holders Cheshire was ruthless in the defence of their crown drubbing Leicestershire 5-0. Lily Taylor was the only Leicestershire player to get points on the board going down 3-1 to Emily Whitlock.
Cheshire v Leicestershire Score Games
Emily Whitlock Lily Taylor 3-1 8/11 11/9 11/8 11/6
Rachel Chadwick Rachel Calver 3-1 11/2 11/3 11/9
Olivia Howell Laura Campbell 3-0 11/6 11/4 11/6
Kirsty West Tracey Sykes 3-0 11/5 11/6 11/5
Annie Openshaw-Blower Debbie Bowen 3-0 11/5 11/6 11/4
Cheshire 5-0
Warwickshire v Gloucestershire
These neighbouring counties were evenly matched. Rachel Woolford took the 5th string match for Warwickshire against Elin Jones.. Ellie Lake at 3rd string levelled things up for Gloucestershire beating Lisa Key 3-1. 4th string for Gloucestershire Amber Peacey played a great match versus Jill Chivers and just nicked it 13/11 in the 5th to put Gloucester ahead. Back came Warwickshire with a stylish win by Leonie Holt over Julianne Courtice to leave the match all square and pile pressure on the 2nd strings. Alicia Mead looked to have put Warwickshire in the semi as she went 2-0 up v Jenny Tamblyn, but then seemed to run out of steam as Tamblyn took the next 3 11/5 11/2 11/9 to put a delighted Gloucestershire through to their first semi.
Warwickshire v Gloucestershire Score Games
Leonie Holt Julianne Courtice 3-1 5/11 11/9 11/5 11/9
Alicia Mead Jenny Tamblyn 2-3 11/8 11/5 5/11 2/11 6/11
Lisa Key Ellie Lake 1-3 7/11 10/12 11/7 8/11
Jill Chilvers Amber Peacey 2-3 3/11 7/11 11/6 11/9 11/13
Rachel Woolford Elin Jones 3-0 11/9 11/7 11/3
Gloucestershire 3-2
Surrey v Yorkshire
Surrey equalled the ruthlessness of their male counterparts dismantling Yorkshire 5-0, which sent the alarm bells ringing through the other teams, especially when their top 3, Nada El Kalawayy, Harriet Ingham and Alison Thomson had a combined age of just 58 years..
SURREY v YORKSHIRE Score Games
Nada El Kalaawy Kirsty McPhee 3-1 11/6 7/11 11/7 11/8
Harriet Ingham Claire Walker 3-0 11/9 11/6 11/8
Alison Thomson Jess Dixon 3-0 11/7 11/6 11/3
Emma Mathews Andrea Santamaria 3-1 11/9 5/11 12/10 11/6
Isabelle Tweedle Ellen Cooper 3-0 12/10 11/5 11/5
Surrey 5-0
SATURDAY SECOND ROUND
Men
Hertfordshire v Kent
Kent were brimming with confidence after their earlier victory over Surrey, but 5th string for Hertfordshire Keith Timms played a battling 5th string match to beat James Evans 3-1 in 51 minutes to set Herts on their way. Another tight match between Angus Gillams and Chris Tomlinson put Herts further in control as Gillams ran out the 3-2 winner in 52 minutes. Josh Masters gave Kent some hope as he continued his first round form to beat Nick Mulvey 3-1. Herts top string Adrian Waller sealed their place in the final beating Ben Ford 3-0 and Chris Ryder put the icing on the cake with a 3-0 win at 2nd string
Hertfordshire Kent Score Games
Adrian Waller Ben Ford 3-0 11/7 11/6 11/3
Chris Ryder Steve London 3-0 11/1 11/4 11/4
Angus Gillams Chris Tomlinson 3-2 9/11 7/11 11/6 11/6 11/1
Nick Mulvey Josh Masters 1-3 9/11 3/11 11/8 4/11
Keith Timms James Evans 3-1 11/5 10/12 12/10 13/11
Hertfordshire 4-1
Essex v Surrey
This looked like it may be a very close match, and it certainly lived up to that billing. Surrey Captain Neil Frankland took the first game 17/15 in his 5th string encounter with Jack Jago, and then easily came through the next two to win 3-0. Yusef Abdalla levelled the tie when he beat James Simpson 3-0 at 3rd string. Rory Pennell then took Essex ahead with a 3-0 victory over Wimbledon pro Phil Rushworth, leaving the reigning champions needing Joe Lee to keep them alive in his 2nd string match versus Ben Coleman. An entertaining match unfolded with Lee taking the 1st 11/6, Coleman the 2nd 11/7, and the see saw pattern continued the 3rd and 4th to leave it all square before the deciding 5th game. Lee played the slightly more controlled squash winning 11/6 and this 86 minute victory kept Surrey in the tie. Everything then rested on the 2nd strings, Charles Sharpes for Surrey and Richie Fallows for Essex. The tension was palpable, both on and off the court with a gallery packed to the rafters with home supporters. The first game was extremely tight with Sharpes edging it 12/10. Fallows playing in an extremely aggressive style seemed to upset the flow of Sharpes in the 2nd and the Essex No 2 took it 11/7. Sharpes took the 3rd 14/12 and did extremely well to hold his game and temper together in an extremely tough 3rd game, with Fallows looking to provoke him at every opportunity. Fallows then took the 4th 11/9, to set up a nail biting final game. Passions were close to boiling over both on and off the court throughout this game, which swung one way and the other. Fallows finally took it 11/9, to the delight of his team but to the frustration of the Surrey supporters and squad.
Essex v Surrey Score Games
Ben Coleman Joe Lee 2-3 6/11 11/7 8/11 11/9 6/11
Richie Fallows Charles Sharpes 3-2 10/12 11/7 12/14 11/9 11/9
Youssef Abdalla James Simpson 3-1 8/11 11/8 11/8 11/9
Rory Pennell Phil Rushworth 3-0 11/4 11/1 11/8
Jack Jago Neil Frankland 0-3 15/17 4/11 5/11
Essex 3-2
Oxfordshire v Sussex
Both teams were keenly aware that the losers of this encounter would be relegated to Division 1 next season, and the tie reflected this throughout, with Sussex knowing that they needed their lower string players to the business for them. Miles Jenkins duly responded at 5th string recovering from 1 game down to beat Ross Gore to give Sussex an important edge. Jon Geekie took control early on in the 3rd string match going 2 up, but big Brandon Handley took the next 2 and then came through in a tight 5th 12/10. 4th string Steve Wykes also came from 2 down to beat Joe Brooke, to maintain Sussex’s status as a Premier League side. Scott Handley and Mark Cairns both won 3-0 at 1st And 2nd strings for Oxon
Oxfordshire v Sussex Score Games
Scott Handley Tim Vail 3-0 11/6 11/6 11/5
Mark Cairns Tim Garner 3-0 11/8 11/3 11/4
Jon Geekie Brandon Hanley 2-3 11/2 11/8 4/11 10/12 5/11
Joe Brooke Steve Wykes 2-3 11/4 11/6 5/11 8/11 2/11
Ross Gore Miles Jenkins 2-3 4/11 11/5 4/11 12/10 8/11
Sussex 3-2
Yorkshire v Durham & Cleveland
Again the losers of this tie would be relegated, and again it was a close run thing, dependant on the form of the lower order. Andrew Widdison came through a gruelling 60 minute encounter with Yawar Abbas 14/12 in the 5th to draw first blood for the White Rose County. 3rd string Taminder Gata Aura doubled their lead beating Chris Gillespie 3-1. 4th string Sam Wileman consigned the Teesiders to Division 1 with a 3-1 victory over Paul Davies. Danny Hockbourn and Gareth Lumsden prevented a whitewash by winning at 1 & two for Durham.
Yorkshire v Durham & Cleveland Score Games
James Earles Danny Hockburn 2-3 7/11 7/11 11/7 12/10 9/11
Dom Hamilton Gareth Lumsdon 2-3 7/11 11/8 2/11 12/14
Taminder Gata-Aura Chris Gillespie 3-1 11/8 12/10 2/11 11/9
Sam Wileman Paul Davies 3-1 9/11 11/5 11/7 11/9
Andrew Widdison Yawar Abbas 3-2 12/10 11/7 9/11 3/11 14/12
Yorkshire 3-2
SATURDAY SECOND ROUND
Women
Essex v Cheshire
Holders Cheshire knew that they had to be at their best to overcome a confident Essex team and started off well with Sarah Neller beating Annie Openshaw-Blower 3-0 in just 23 minutes. Sophie Lemom pushed the Essex girls closer to the final with an equally emphatic win over Kirsty West. Elise Lazarus did extremely well to push Olivia Howell all the way at 3rd string, but the Cheshire player prevailed 11/5 in the 5th to keep them in the tie. Emily Whitlock was too god for Lauren Briggs at first string and drew the tie level as she beat Lauren Briggs 3-0. Despite a good fight from Essex 2nd string Keeley Taylor, Rachel Chadwick was just 2 strong winning 3-0 to take Cheshire through to another final
Essex v Cheshire Score Games
Lauren Briggs Emily Whitlock 0-3 7/11 7/11 6/11
Keeley Taylor Rachel Chadwick 0-3 6/11 10/12 0/11
Elise Lazarus Olivia Howell 2-3 7/11 5/11 11/7 11/5 5/11
Sophie Lemom Kirsty West 3-0 11/7 11/5 11/7
Sarah Neller Annie Openshaw-Blower 3-0 11/2 11/8 11/9
Cheshire 3-2
Gloucestershire v Surrey
The 2 youngest sides in the competition squared up in the other semi-final deciding tie.
Captain and elder statesman Isabelle Tweedle got the home side of to a great start beating Elin Jones 3-2 in 35 minutes. This gave confidence to her young charges with birthday girl Alison Thomson celebrating her 18th in style by beating Ellie Lake 3-0. So one more win needed by Surrey and this was duly delivered by Emma Matthew’s 3-0 victory over Amber Peacey. Nada El Kalawaay belied her 18 years with a confident 3-0 victory over Julianne Courtice at the top of the order and Harriet Ingham completed the whitewash 3-0 over Jenny Tamblyn
Gloucestershire v Surrey Score Games
Julianne Courtice Nada El-Kalaawy 0-3 2/11 6/11 5/11
Jenny Tamblyn Harriet Ingham 0-3 3/11 3/11 7/11
Ellie Lake Alison Thomson 0-3 1/11 6/11 8/11
Amber Peacey Emma Mathews 0-3 9/11 9/11 8/11
Elin Jones Isabelle Tweedle 2-3 4/11 11/8 11/9 8/11 11/2
Surrey 5-0
Kent v Leicestershire
Kent made sure that they would be back in the Premier League next season with a hard fought 3-2 victory over newly promoted Leicestershire. Wins at the top of the order for Gina Kennedy, Amelia Henley and Stephanie Shaw over Lily Taylor, Rachael Calver and Laura Campbell, 3-1, 3-0 and 3-0 did the trick. Leicestershire pulled in the points at the bottom of the order with Tracey Sykes comfortably beating Louise Gregory 3-0 and Debbie Bown 3-2, versus Beth Seaman
Kent v Leicestershire Score Games
Gina Kennedy Lily Taylor 3-1 10/12 11/9 12/10 11/4
Amelia Henley Rachel Calver 3-0 11/7 11/2 12/10
Stephanie Shaw Laura Campbell 3-0 15/13 11/6 11/5
Louise Gregory Tracey Sykes 0-3 5/11 4/11 3/11
Beth Seaman Debbie Bowen 2-3 10/12 7/11 11/5 11/3 9/11
Kent 3-2
Warwickshire v Yorkshire
Weakened by the loss of key players, Warwickshire’s premier status hung in the balance as they took on Yorkshire. Rachel Woolford bravely fought back from 2-0 against Ellen Cooper, but it wasn’t enough as the Yorkshire lass to the opening 5th string rubber 3-2. Yorkshire again won 3-2 in the 3rd string match but it was Warwickshire’s Lisa Key who went 2 up, only for Jess Dixon to fight back and take the 5th 11/5. Leonie Holt, captain and first string for Warwickshire had to win to stave off relegation, and she duly did, beating Kirsty McPhee 3-1. 4th string Andrea Santa Maria made sure of survival for Yorkshire when she beat Jill Chilvers 3-1. Alicia Mead gave Gloucestershire some consolation beating Claire Walker 3-1 at 2nd string. So Yorkshire stay up, despite doing their best not to make it to the club at all after getting stuck in the hotel lift earlier in the day.
Warwickshire v Yorkshire Score Games
Leonie Holt Kirsty McPhee 3-1 9/11 12/10 11/3 11/9
Alicia Mead Claire Walker 3-1 11/5 7/11 11/6 11/6
Lisa Key Jess Dixon 2-3 11/6 11/9 6/11 4/11 5/11
Jill Chilvers Andrea Santamaria 1-3 11/5 6/11 6/11 8/11
Rachel Woolford Ellen Cooper 2-3 7/11 9/11 11/4 11/3 5/11
Yorkshire 3-2