Cheshire v Gloucestershire v Cumbria

Cheadle, Cheshire, March 22nd 2009.

Cumbria's Under 17 girls did what no other Cumbrian girls team has ever achieved before, winning a national trophy. At the week-end Rachael Kennon (Wigton), Lara Cooper, Sarah Frain, Jessica Winder and Hannah Crichton (all Windscales) won the Harris Inter-County 'Trophy' competition at Cheadle in Cheshire, against the hosts Cheshire and Gloucestershire.

Cheshire had just managed to overcome Gloucestershire in the first match by 3 ties to 2, and therefore it was vital that Cumbria matched the result in their first match against Gloucestershire also. Cumbria's chances were helped in that Hannah Crichton had a walkover at string 5, due to Gloucestershire only having four players available to play. So first games on for Cumbria were Jessica Winder at string 4, and Sarah Frain at string 3.

Jessica always had too many shots at her disposal to be seriously threatened by Alice Hemingway, and was comfortably positioned in all three games, never being behind, to be able to dictate the events of each game, running out a 3-0 winner, 11/6, 11/6, 11/1.

Sarah's game against Ellie Lake was the reverse of Jessica's, in that she was never really in command, and yet the 3-0 game score could so easily have been the other way round. In the first Sarah staged a fantastic recovery from game ball and five points adrift, to pull the game score to 10/9, only to fall at the final hurdle and lose 11/9. The second saw Sarah build up a five point lead, only for great play from Ellie take that game 11/8, and the third could have gone either way as both girls had good chances, but Ellie had the momentum, and wrapped up the third and match 11/8.

So with the match score at 2-1 to Cumbria, either Rachael at string 1, or Lara at 2 needed to win.

Rachael, by her own admission has played better, and up against Rebecca Quiney, she really needed to be on top form, alas for Rachael, despite a positive opening, her inaccuracy cost her dearly and she lost the first 11/3. Somewhat unsettled she never got going in the second game as Rebecca won the game in one hand in 11/0, and but for a slight recovery half way through the third was well beaten, by a very good player it has to be said, 11/4, for a 3-0 loss.

So Lara playing last, had Cumbria's hopes resting on her shoulders. Against the much more experienced Emily Penkett, Lara unleashed her power game, and literally out hit, and blew away Gloucestershire's hopes. Emily simply couldn't cope with Lara's power, recovery shots, or determination to chase potential lost causes, and never having been behind Lara brought home the all important winning tie 3-0, 11/6, 11/4, 11/5.

So, after a relaxing lunch break, the girls were ready for the all important tie against Cheshire to decide the 'Trophy' winners.

Hannah had her first competitive game of the day against a much improved Annie Openshaw, and the first game was a tight affair, with neither player able to pull clear by any great margin to secure the opening game, in the end Hannah's tenacity saw her through, well into the tie-breaker 14/12. Hannah found the second somewhat more comfortable, as she pulled clear of Annie mid game and kept the advantage to win 11/6. The third was another close encounter until the games mid point, but once again it was Hannah that dug deeper when it mattered to secure the third game11/7, and match 3-0.

Sarah was in a battle royal with Jessica Davies, and similarly to the last time they played Jessica won the opener 11/6. Sarah tightened things up throughout the second, and despite a slight panic when serving at game ball, won at the second time of asking, in the tie-break 12/10. Sarah was more composed with a game under her belt and scored regularly in the third, but Jessica fought well and was always in striking distance of Sarah, should she make mistakes. Sarah was determined however, and despite losing four points having lost a game ball, won a nervy game 11/9. The fourth was a topsy- turvy affair as Jessica led by four points, only to see it eroded and passed as Sarah scored seven. Both players then shared a succession of rallies, until Sarah finally managed to secure the winning points for game and tie, 11/9, 3-1.

Jessica was somewhat careless in her first game against Lucy Atkinson, another much improved player, from our previous match against Cheshire. Too much extravagance, and wrong shot for the moment were evident, and Jessica lost a game she looked second best in, well into another tie-breaker 15/13. Determined to make amends in the second, Jessica started to play more constructive rallies and it paid off with a more comfortable game win 11/4. A carbon copy third game followed, also 11/4, and Jessica, despite the early scare, wrapped up the tie in the fourth game 11/5, winning the tie 3-1.

The overall match was now won, with Rachael and Lara still to play.

Rachael played Lucy Townley and has always struggled to compete with the England team player, and in the first game it was Rachael that made more errors, and soon found herself a game down 11/6, despite having played all the best squash to lead by four points in the early stages. The second game saw both players exchange points up until four all, with Rachael more than holding her own, alas to make more unforced errors, allowing her opponent to pull clear and win the game 11/4. More consistency was required in the third by Rachael, and she delivered with some excellent rallies, of well thought out squash, and took the game to Lucy. Despite being 9/6 down, Rachael was playing the better squash, and deservedly seized the chance when offered, to get back in and reel off five unanswered points to win the game 11/9. Rachael was again profligate with her errors in the fourth game, and this proved her downfall, as Lucy won an easier game than hoped for 11/4, and the tie 3-1.

Lara was last on court against Evie West, a tall left hander, who consequently has great reach to match her athleticism. Lara therefore needed to be very accurate with her shot positioning if she was going to reproduce her earlier match result. Lara resumed very much where she had left off in that earlier match, power when appropriate, and great touch when needed, and had the first game in the bag at 11/7. Evie tried to use Lara's pace to her advantage on service return, but Lara's court coverage more than matched Evie's accurate drops and the same score was achieved by Lara in the second, 11/7. Evie was getting to grip with Lara's style by now, and in the third gave Lara nothing to hit, and played a much slower paced game, which brought its rewards with Evie's first game 11/7, giving Lara something to think about. A rapid start by Lara in the fourth saw her eke out a 5 point lead, only for Evie to reply with a series of winners to level things back up at seven all. Lara was hanging on but Evie was more accurate when it mattered, and Evie levelled the tie 2 games all with an 11/9 game. Into the final game Lara again upped the ante' in the pace stakes, again pulling well clear of Evie by five points, As before Evie clawed her way back, but this time had given herself too much to do, and despite a wobble from Lara at game and match ball, she held her nerve to see the game out 11/8, to win an excellent tie 3-2, and complete the match for Cumbria by 4 ties to 1.

This is the first time England Squash have introduced the 'Trophy' competition, and with three keenly contested, close fought matches, it was a considerable success, for the players and spectators.

Thanks also to the two Marker/Referees from Cheshire Squash, who gave up their time to officiate for the day.