Inter-County Stage 2, Sunday February 1st, 2009.

Following on from our good stage one result, where we beat this weekends 'host', it was the stage two event at Bowdon. Following a late withdrawal through injury to Rachael Kennon, our team number one, we had to re=shuffle the girls that were left, and include Victoria Watson (Penrith) for her under 17's debut.

Against a strengthened Cheshire team, from the original match, our girls fought valiantly, but lost the match 4 games to 1, to finish any hopes of any silverware this season for the girls.

At 5, Victoria Watson (Penrith) played Annie Openshaw and raced away to a comfortable 9/3 lead, only to serve out and let her opponent into the game. Pressing for the crucial last couple of points, Victoria saw all of her lead slip away as Annie tied the scores. Victoria got the next point and served for the game, however Annie took the game to 'tie-break, 2 clear points'. Victoria had another chance at 12/11, but this too slipped by and Annie won the opener 14/12. Victoria played well but made too many errors in the second, and Annie put more pressure on Victoria than she had in the first, taking the second 11/7. The third was a copy of the second, as Victoria continued to play the right shots, only to see them go down, and Annie wrapped the game up 11/6, for a 3-0 result. Had the opener gone to Victoria, the outcome of this match, and the overall result may well have had a profound outcome on the days result.

At the same time on another court Sarah Frain (Windscale) playing number 3, was in a battle against Jessica Davies, and after seeing her good lead in the first game whittled away, managed to win the first 11/7. Back came Jessica in the second, taking the game to the Cumbrian girl, indeed Jessica raced ahead to a 9/1 lead, and apart from a couple of shots from Sarah which gained her a couple more points, it was one game all, 11/3. Sarah was soon behind in the third as she struggled for width and accuracy, and had it not been for Jessica's errors which allowed Sarah back into the match, it could have been worse, but Sarah hung on to go ahead in the match again, winning the third 11/6. Jessica played better squash in the fourth, and covered every inch of court, making Sarah work hard for her points, but they didn't come often enough and again Jessica levelled the match at two games all, 11/6. Sarah was soon 5/1 down in the decider, and pulled out all the stops to level up the game, but Jessica wasn't to be denied, and reeled of a succession of great shots, to leave a crestfallen Sarah beaten 11/6, for a 3-2 Cheshire win. This was to prove a very costly loss for our team.

At number 4, Hannah Crichton (Windscale) playing down the order, managed to win Cumbria's first (and as it turned out only) point, in her game against Lucy Atkinson. The first game was point for point up to seven all, only for Lucy to pull clear to nine. Then, following a lengthy wait while the marker, and her intervening father discussed the merits of Hannah querying whether the Cheshire girls serve was down or not, meant that the momentum was lost for Hannah, and so was the first game 11/8. Somewhat fired up for the second, Hannah produced some clinical lengths and volley kills, to put Lucy on the receiving end, only for another bad call to upset the flow of the game again. Lucy hit a ball to the back of the court, and ran across the intended path of Hannah's shot, as Hannah prepared to play, rightly Hannah asked for a let, and the Cheshire marker immediately awarded Hannah a stroke, only for her father to again intervene, making the decision that it was only a 'let ball'. Hannah appealed, rightly, but the 'let-ball' call was final. Hannah took her time to re-focus and played enough good squash to see her level the match, 11/8. Even more determined in the third, Hannah played all the best squash, and Lucy was hanging on, but Hannah was soon two one up winning the third 11/3. By now Hannah was in her stride, and any further disruption from the gallery only served to make her punish her opponent even more, winning the fourth 11/5, and the match 3 games to 1.

Lara Cooper (Windscale) playing number 1 on the day, had her work cut out, as she was up against Lucy Townley (ranked 3 at under 17 in England), whom Cheshire pulled in for the game. Needing to win this match, and the final match also, meant that Lara was going to have to play to the best of her ability. In the opener it became apparent that Lucy was going to give Lara no chances to play shots, and Lara had a hard lesson in retrieving, every shot of Lucy's played with purpose and precision, no surprise then that the first game was over in an instant, 11/1. Lara, interesting the scorer, only right at the end of the game. Better was to come from Lara in the second, as she produced a couple of winners to threaten Lucy's dominance. However as Lucy again tightened the screw, it was Lara's only points as that game went Cheshire's way 11/2. The third saw Lucy race to five love, only for Lara again to manage a couple of points, mainly through sheer determination, and making Lucy play another shot, when she didn't want to. However it was only a temporary respite as Lucy powered home 11/2, for a comfortable 3-0 victory. That was the winning rubber, and Cumbria's hopes for a reasonable reward or not, rested on Jessica Winders shoulders.

Jessica Winder (Windscale) was promoted up the order (partly as a reward of her reaching the Under 17 final at Carlisle, and equally, as she is not afraid to get on court with the 'big-girls' when it's tough)! She found herself against Evie West, another well ranked under 17, who had previously played number one in our first Inter-County encounter. Both girls played some excellent squash to share the early points, and an even game was played out all the way to seven all, but it was Jessica who frustrated her more experienced opponent, with some excellent court coverage and drop-shots, to sneak the late points and win the opener 11/7. Somewhat taken aback, Evie opened the second with a salvo of winners, that Jessica had no answer to, building up a six point lead. However Jessica's fighting spirit and good squash saw her level the game score, and even managing to get her nose in front at nine eight. Evie pulled through this almighty scare to level the match at one all, 11/9. The third game saw a rather tired Jessica, (who was carrying a slight injury also) outplayed by her more experienced opponent, and it was noticeable that Evie was able to set up more winning shots, rather than, as before, having to hurry her shots. Sure enough, Evie pulled away and won a relatively 'easier' game 11/5, for a two one game lead. The fourth saw Jessica push hard at the start to try to upset Evie's rhythm and winning shots, and it worked for a while, but Evie wasn't to be denied, and reeled off the last seven points without reply as she won 11/6, and the match 3-1. Jessica's Valliant effort drawing a well deserved appreciation from the viewing gallery.

Well done Cheshire, good luck in the 'Y - Final'.