Sunday 2^nd November, saw our Girls take on Yorkshire and Cheshire at Carlisle. Represented by Rachael Kennon (Wigton), Lara Cooper, Sarah Frain, Jessica Winder, and Hannah Crichton (all Windscale), Cumbria had a very daunting first game against Yorkshire.

At 5, Hannah played Hannah Shipley, and following a poor start, to go 4 points down, never really recovered, and soon found herself game ball down, losing the first game 11/4. The second saw Hannah C. improve steadily, and the game was close, until a late run of points from the Yorkshire girl saw her clinch the second 11/6. Hannah again improved in the third game and was far the better player for most of the game, only to again succumb to a late run of points, for Hannah S. to win the third, and match 11/8, 3 games to 0.

Sarah's game against Charlotte Kirkwood was fairly similar, in that she too got off to a very slow start, and was soon 7 points behind, not surprisingly Charlotte was first to game ball, 11/3. Sarah was more accurate, and determined in the next, and the game was tight for the first 5 points, however the Yorkshire girl pulled away mid game with 6 unanswered points, and Sarah was two down, 11/4. Once again Sarah was a match for her opponent over the early points of the third game, and like before, a late flurry of winners swung the contest for Charlotte, with an 11/5 score-line, and a 3-0 match win.

A well tanned Jessica Winder (straight back onto court from a fortnight's holiday) played Christina Yousseffbeygi, and looked as though she had never been off court. Jessica was soon into her stride, and the hard hitting Christina couldn't cope with Jess's court craft and Cumbria had their first game on the scoreboard courtesy of Jessica's 11/6 win. Into the second and all Jessica's accuracy and touch deserted her. Half court balls were despatched to all corners and Christina levelled the match at 1 game all, 11/6. The third saw Jessica's lack of court time catch up with her and the Yorkshire girl soon ran up a third game 11/3, for a 2-1 lead. Jessica dug deep in the 4^th, but she couldn't get a run of points going, and Christina pulled away to take the fourth 11/5, and match 3-1.

Rachael, playing an old adversary in Katie Smith, was always in the first game, as both players shared the first nine points, but she let her opponent pull away, and before she knew it, was a game down, losing the first 11/5. Rachael was on top in the second, taking good early points, but unfortunately lost her way when in a good position to push for victory. Katie came from a few points down, to go in front again, to take the game 11/8. At 2-0 down, a somewhat dispirited Rachael was soon three points down, but she pulled the game back to lead, only to see Katie reel off another string of winning rallies, to again build a healthy lead. Alas it was too good of a lead, and Rachael lost the third game, and match, 11/7, 3-0.

Last onto court for Cumbria was Lara, who was opposing Jade Thompson. The first game was a cagey affair, with never more than two points separating the players, and it was first blood to Lara, with an 11/9 win. Somewhat stung into action, Jade came out all gun's blazing, and other than sharing the first 6 points, hit a string of winners to level the match at 1-1, 11 points to 3. Jade continued with a fine run of winners, only briefly stopped by Lara's well executed shot's. It was however, inevitable that having raised her playing level after the first game setback, that Jade ran out a comfortable winner, by taking the third and fourth games, 11/6, 11/3, for a 3-1 win.

The match was therefore lost 5 ties to 0. However this was considerably closer than our previous meeting with the majority of these Yorkshire girls. On the previous occasion we lost 5-0 also, but only gathered 18 points in the 15 games. So although we lost again this time, our 98 points (PAR scoring) in 17 games, shows a massive improvement in the girls endeavours.

After Yorkshire had comfortably beaten Cheshire 5-0, it was our turn to play the Cheshire girls.

Hannah wasted no time in dominating her opponent, Amy Makin. Hannah's control was evident from the first few rallies, and the game was soon over for Amy, losing to Hannah 11/3. More of the same flowed from Hannah's racket in the second, and again it was quickly over, Hannah 2-0 up, 11/2. Amy rallied (no pun intended) in the third, as Hannah was prepared to play more lengths, and extend the game. However when Hannah needed to up the tempo, she duly did, winning comfortably in the end 11/5, and 3-0.

Sarah, playing Jessica Davies, was a complete clash of styles. Sarah, flowing and measured on court, as opposed to Jessica's frantic, and scurrying about style. Sarah always had the upper hand in the first, due to a good run of 7 points when 2-4 down and she ended the game to win 11/5. The second, a virtual carbon copy of the first, saw her go into a 2-0 lead, with some tight squash 11/4, as Jessica struggled to retrieve Sarah's well positioned winning shots. Even when Sarah found herself behind in the next game, she had the ability to turn it round, and reeling off 4 points to clinch the match, summing up her superiority over her opponent, winning 11/7, and 3-0 also.

Jessica, tired, and carrying a slight strain from her first match, was tested in the first game by Annie Openshaw, who extended the game beyond 10 all for the first time in the day. After a bright start Jessica became involved in a dogged battle and was first to game ball, however Annie clawed the point back, and was soon serving her own game ball. No mistakes and it was 1-0 to the Cheshire girl, 13/11. Jessica raised her tempo in the second and her shot selection was much improved, Annie unable to cope was soon 6 points adrift and never looked like pulling back the deficit, as Jessica levelled at 1-1, 11/6. By now, Jessica's lack of court-time was becoming more evident, as her timing, accuracy and length of shot deserted her, so she played a series of winners whenever the opportunity arose. Annie never really threatened in either of the remaining games, and lost both to the same score 11/6, 11/6, for a 3-1 Cumbrian win.

On the other court, Rachael played Evie West, and blew her away in the first game 11/1, with some unplayable shots, and some excellent winners. Evie came out for the second in much more determined mood, causing Rachael considerably more problems. In fact it wasn't until well through this game that Sarah pulled out a 3 point lead, and managed to hold on for a 2 game lead, 11/7. Evie once again was determined to show everyone that she was Rachael's equal, and opened up a 4 point lead for herself, a further couple of points were shared before Evie pulled away to a game winning lead. Taking that game 11/8 to pull a game back, and pressurise Rachael. Into the fourth game and neither player could gain any points advantage, as the first 17 points were shared with Evie taking a slender 1 point lead. Rachael managed to retrieve the serve and a couple of points later serve to win the game and match, 11/9, 3-1.

All that remained was to see if Lara could make it a 5-0 result to Cumbria. In her first game against Lucy Atkinson, she produced a couple of good runs of points when the pressure came on, and comfortably won 11/4. The second followed a similar pattern to the first, except this time it was a devastating spell of 8 straight winners which saw her home, 11/3, for a 2-0 lead. Lucy played her best squash of the afternoon in the third game, but once again, when Lara applied more pressure, Lucy couldn't provide the answers, and despite it being won, by the players swapping serves, the job was done, 11/6 and another 3-0.

A very satisfying win, albeit against perhaps an under strength Cheshire team, however the girls stuck to the task, and kept their focus. Yorkshire will progress into the higher group for the next stage, whilst Cumbria will play similar strength opposition to themselves, on February 1, 2009. Between now and then the Cumbrian quintet will need to get plenty of quality practice in, ready for the challenge.

All retired to the Beehive, for a well earned meal with the opposition, and a spot of socialising!