Windscale Ladies wrapped up a fantastic season on Friday night at Carlisle, by beating the Carlisle Ladies by 4 ties to 1, to win the Cumbria Ladies County League Knockout Cup, a worthwhile addition to the County League Championship Title won the week before. A fine double indeed!

The team consisting of Jessica Winder (13 years old), Hannah Crichton (14), Sarah Frain (15), Lara Cooper (16) and Linda Winder (somewhat older!), saw off the challenge of the much more experienced Carlisle Ladies in fine style, thrilling a large gallery in the process.

Hannah played Kath Coulthard and in the first game was never behind, keeping the score moving in her favour, winning it 9/5, A more focussed Kath had Hannah on the ropes in the second and was soon seven points to one to the good, but Hannah has ice in her veins in situations like this, and chipped away at Kath's lead. Without losing serve, or her nerve, Hannah got back in front to serve for the game, only then for Kath to regain the serve. A tense few rallies, saw Kath get to game ball, only for Hannah to dig deep to secure a second game ball, and win the game 10/9, a great comeback! The third game went to form, with Hannah exerting her dominance from the front court on Kath, and the tie was wrapped up with the third game to the Windscale girl 9/4, a 3-0 result.

Jessica against Linda Reay was a much tighter affair, with neither player prepared to give up an inch of court without a fight, and in some cases a dog-fight! The first was a relative marathon, with thirty nine serves required between them to acquire the nine points needed for victory. As serves and the lead changed hands, the points were evenly shared as Jessica won the first 9/7.  A more fired up Linda appeared in the second game and Jessica was soon six points adrift, a brief exchange of serves, and that lead was soon eight points and game ball to Linda. Jessica started to play now, and chipped away at Linda's commanding lead, indeed Linda had no fewer than eight game ball serves to win the second, before finally, at the ninth attempt gaining the vital point to level up the tie at one all, 9/5.

A somewhat chastened Jessica was soon behind in the third as Linda went for her shots, and a four point deficit, was overturned as finally Jessica started to play squash again. Jessica led by two points, but then allowed the Carlisle player back in front, and the third was Linda's as she held her nerve to win 9/7, for a two games to one lead. Needing the fourth, and to get back into the tie, Jessica had to pullout all the stops if Hannah's early work was not to be all undone. Jessica's good shots allied with Linda's errors, made for an easier game for Windscale as the fourth developed, and Jessica was soon three nil, five nil, and seven nil up, before Linda briefly bothered the scorer, however it was Jessica that came through to level the tie at two games all with a 9/4 game. Jessica now had the momentum and made sure that there was only going to be one winner. As hard as Linda tried, Jessica had an answer, and sure enough it was the Windscale cheers that were heard as Jessica won a fifth and deciding game 9/2, for a close win 3-2.

Linda Winder, next on court against Amanda Ward, was still recovering from thumb surgery late in the afternoon, and needed to put the pain to one side, to bring the match to a close. Amanda started well and pressured Linda in the early rallies and after a couple of hand-outs either way was deservedly ahead, although only just! Linda was in no mood for a long tussle, and quickly regained the initiative, picking up points in bunches, and winning the opener 9/1. A love game to Linda in the second was just rewards for the effort she was putting in, and Amanda played her part in some excellent points, but on the night she was under a lot of pressure, and points were hard to gain. The third game saw Amanda more than match Linda, as she kept Linda within a couple of points range all the way through, as the girls shared the first eight points. But all this effort was taking its toll on Amanda, and as Linda raised the pace and accuracy even more, it was Linda that had more in the tank, and she secured the third 9/4, the tie 3-0, and the match to Windscale on the night 3-0.

Sarah against Michelle Mc Dill has up to now always been a close affair, with both girls having beaten the other, so it was vital for Sarah to start well. Sure enough that was what occurred and Michelle was playing a much more confident Sarah this time round. Sarah won a one-sided first game, through good shot selection and execution, as Michelle had very few answers to what was coming at her, 9/1, one game up to Windscale. The second game saw Michelle more involved, and rallies came and went without many points being won, indeed, some twenty one serves were made before either player had managed to open up a two point lead, and it was still only five points to three to Sarah even then.  But this steady play by Sarah had somewhat broken the resistance of Michelle, and it was another game to the Windscale girl 9/3. The third game saw Michelle produce her best squash, and although the early points were shared again, Michelle was more determined to hang in this time. Even into the crucial later points of the game, Michelle gave as good as she got, and despite having match ball against her, dug deep to level the game. A few nervous points later it was all over, as Sarah prevailed, winning the setting-to two without dropping any more points, 10/8, for a great 3-0 victory.

All that remained now was for Lara to play Sharon Chandler, to bring the match to a close. As before, these two all-action, fully committed players have brought out the best in each other all season, and a close encounter was anticipated. Lara, was somewhat under-the-weather, having been laid low for a couple of days with a flu/sickness bug, but was determined to give it her best shot regardless. Alas, from the outset it was obvious that her usual dynamism and court coverage was going to be somewhat short of what was required, against someone as redoubtable as Sharon is. Sharon was first into her stride as she led four nil, and soon making it six three, after a brief good spell from Lara. But the punishing rallies were taking their toll on Lara, and other than levelling the opener, it was Sharon that sneaked the first 9/7. More good squash from Sharon followed in the second as she ground out a four one lead, only to see a glimpse of the 'old' Lara, coming back to lead five four. But as the rallies played out, it was Lara's lack of health that undid her willingness to run anywhere, and before too long, Sharon had the second game in the bag 9/5, for a two nil lead.

Lara, again points behind early in the third, didn't panic, and picked off a few winners of her own, and took the fight to Sharon, leading four three. Sharon knew she needed to finish Lara off, and once again got in front by a couple of points. Back came Lara though in a fantastic effort, to level the points score and then power on to claim the third game 9/6, to give herself hope. A see-saw encounter ensued in the fourth as Lara threw everything into trying to level the tie. Likewise Sharon raised her effort again, and all the points were very keenly contested. The first eight points were shared with never more than a point separating the two of them. Sharon then got a good four point lead as Lara's illness induced tiredness, not to mention Sharon's remorseless play, looked as though the end of the game was near. But Lara produced a major last effort to claw back a couple of points from match ball down, but in the end it wasn't quite enough as Sharon claimed the game 9/6, and the tie 3-1, for Carlisle's sole victory on the night.