Match Reports
U17s
Mandy Garnham has submitted this report on the U17 Shires League match against Lancashire played at home on 7 February. This was a very tough match with exceptional play from Jess Portas who won 18-21 21-19 and 26-24 against Terri-Lee Holmes and from Chloe Sidwell who also won her singles match 21-11 and 21-15 against Rebecca Ashton. Jess also went on to win both her girls doubles matches with Natalie Hassall in three games and Jacob Perez and Tom Woodcock also played well together to win against Jack James and Tom Wolfenden 21-11 21-15. The final score was 5-15 to Lancs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2nd Team
The senior 2nd team's rearranged match against Durham at home took place at NK on Sunday 31 January. The team was out for revenge having lost away 11-4. It didn't start well with only Leo Medley winning his singles 21-15 21-19 against James Parnell. Emily Mumby had another good game against Holly Robson but again lost in three. Fortunately our men managed to take all the level doubles games and Emily and Cherry Dowson won a ladies doubles game which meant 6-6 going into the mixed. As Nigel Heather was still injured from the game against Cumbria, Cherry partnered Leo winning 21-18 21-19 and Andy Horsfall and Kerry Durham won 21-11 21-11, but Simon Turner and Sharon Levick lost 18-21 21-23. Well done to Leo for winning all his four games, Andy for winning all his three games and thanks to Paul Sturton for standing in and winning both his mens doubles with Simon. The final score was 8-7 to Lincs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
o45s
Alex Cruickshanks reports on the o45s last match of the season away against Norfolk. It was an early start and freezing temperatures travelling to Norwich on 31 January listening to the Federer/Murray final at the Australian Open. Try as the team might it was a convincing 11-1 win for Norfolk with Helen Bush and Janice Bustin winning the only game in ladies doubles. Thank you to everyone who travelled in particular Therese and Fred who came all the way from the Immingham area. Although the season hasn't been very successful, the players have made the matches very enjoyable.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2nd Team
The County senior 2nd team enjoyed a weekend away, playing Cumbria on Saturday 23 January at Appleby-in-Westmorland. Unfortunately after winning both singles and one game of mens doubles captain Nigel Heather badly injured a calf muscle forcing him to pull out straightaway. That meant conceding one game of mens doubles and swapping all the mixed doubles pairs around. Special mention must go to our mens singles players as both Leo Medley and Nige managed to scrape wins Leo 25-23 in the third game and Nige 23-21 in the third game! Leo also went on to win our only mixed game with Sharon Levick. This meant the final score was 9-6 to Cumbria, but the whole team felt it could have been an 8-7 win if Nige hadn't got injured.
The team then travelled straight to Chester and had an evening out before playing Cheshire on the Sunday. In spite of phoning around several potential replacements, the team was unable to find a reserve for Nige who was willing to travel to Chester. That meant giving away two mens doubles games straightaway and weakening the mixed pairs again. Congratulations must go to Kerry Durham who makes no secret of the fact that she doesn't really like playing singles, but managed to win her first match of the season 14-21 21-12 21-12 against Laura Peatfield. Once again Leo and Sharon were the only pair to take a mixed game. The final score was 11-4 to Cheshire.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
o40s
The o40s captain Mike Dobbs has submitted the following report on their first 2 matches of the season.
On 18 October the o40s travelled to Huntingdon and there was a really good team spirit for the first match. Even though most of the players hadn't played together before, we really pulled together which made it enjoyable for everyone in spite of the 12-0 defeat. Some of the games in the ladies and the mixed were very close and could have gone either way.
On 8 November Notts 2 travelled to NK. Lincs had a couple of different players making the team slightly stronger than the last match. Four rubbers went to 3 but unfortunately we only managed to win one of them, so the final score was 1-11 to Notts.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
o50s
David Frobisher captain of the o50s team has submitted the following summaries of the first 3 matches played this season.
The team competed well in most rubbers against a very strong Notts team away on 18 Oct. Particular mention to Therese and Ed who have little match experience but were not intimidated and didn't give up. Final score Notts 10 Lincs 2.
We lost Phil to injury on the eve of the home game to Cambs on 15 Nov but thanks to Fred for stepping in at short notice. We fancied our chances but a number of the Cambs team had just qualified for this age group and needing three out of four of the mixed games we only managed one, meaning a 7-5 defeat for Lincs.
Notts brought an identical team for the return game at NK on 29 Nov so victory was always unlikely. We narrowed the gap in a number of games however and reversed two rubbers for an 8-4 defeat.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
U17s
The following report has been submitted by Mandy Garnham U17 team manager. Lincs U17s played against a very strong Cheshire side on Sunday 6 December at DeAston, Market Rasen. The Lincs team consisted of Jacob Perez, Rodger Annis, Oliver Bramley, Tom Martin, Jessica Portas, Natalie Hassall, Chloe Sidwell and Jennifer Bates. Unfortunately Jess picked up an injury which meant we had to forfeit two of the doubles games. The two U15 girls did us proud though, with Jennifer winning her singles 14-21 21-18 and 21-13 and Chloe partnering her to win a doubles 21-17 and 21-16. Natalie and Rodger took their mixed match to three as did Jacob in his singles and Natalie in her singles, but the final score was 18-2 to Cheshire, not bad considering this Cheshire team has already beaten Yorkshire 1.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2nd Team
The following report has been submitted by Nigel Heather senior 2nd team captain. Lincs County 2nd team had a weekend away in the North East on 14/15 November playing Durham on the Saturday and Northumberland on the Sunday. The team on Saturday was Nigel Heather, Andy Horsfall, Leo Medley, Simon Turner, Cherry Dowson, Sharon Levick, Kerry Durham and Emily Mumby. Unfortunately Leo sprained his ankle in his singles game and although leading had to concede and this also affected his doubles games. Simon won his singles though and Emily went close taking her opponent to 3. Nige and Andy won a mens doubles and Cherry and Emily won a ladies doubles, Nige and Cherry then took their mixed. The final score was 11-4, but it could've been much closer. Thanks to Emily and her parents for travelling up to Durham on the Saturday.
Thanks too go to Sam Beal for travelling up to Newcastle on the Saturday to replace Emily for the match against Northumberland on the Sunday. Leo won his singles, Nige and Andy won both their mens doubles and Sam and Cherry won both their ladies doubles. Leo and Simon won one mens doubles and Sharon and Kerry won one ladies doubles and Nige and Cherry won their mixed to make the score 8-7 to Lincs. For the record the score at Northumberland has been 8-7 for the past 3 years so that just shows what close matches we have there! Thanks go to the whole team as the cost of a weekend away can soon add up, but i'm sure everyone enjoyed it!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
U17s
The following report on the U17 Shires Match away against Lancashire on Sunday 15 November is from Mandy Garnham.
Team: Rodger Annis, Jacob Perez, Oliver Bramley, Tom Martin, Jess Portas, Natalie Hassall, Chloe Sidwell, Ella Mountjoy and Sarah Bates. Dave Perry was Team Manager for the day.
Congratulations to the team winning 11-9 away from home. It was a long journey to Leyland in Lancashire and my thanks go to the whole team but in particular to Ella Mountjoy and Sarah Bates who stood in to ensure we could turn out a full team. A big thank you to all the parents who helped with transport.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
U17s
The following report has been submitted by Mandy Garnham U17 Manager.
On Sunday 11 October the U17 Shires match between Lincolnshire and Yorkshire 1 was played at DeAston Sports Hall, Market Rasen. We all knew this was going to be a very tough match indeed but we were determined to put up a fight. The team consisted of Jessica Portas, Natalie Hassall, Chloe Sidwell, Emily Bedford, Rodger Annis, Jacob Perez, Oliver Bramley and Tom Martin.
The outstanding games of the day were between Jacob Perez and Josh Wetherill, with Jacob winning 21-19, 21-19 and between Jessica Portas and Chrissi Nettleton which was a very long and close match with Chrissi eventually taking it 24-26, 21-18 and 22-24! So the final score was 19-1 to Yorkshire but this is undoubtedly the toughest match of the season in the Shires league and so thanks to all the players for putting up a good fight and keeping their heads held high. Thank you also to the parents for transporting the players and for providing food.
