Devon U13 versus
Somerset (A)
Sunday 6 April 2008
Match Report
Result:
Won 24 -12.
Team:
|
Tom Otto |
Hannah Laidler |
|
Samuel Owens |
Jenny Maddison |
|
Dominic
Garside |
Lauren Crump |
|
Paul Reed |
Abigail
Summers |
|
Ryan Parker-Bowker |
Sophie Laidler
(U11) |
|
Ben Hilborne |
Emily
Hutchings (U11) |
It was a
refreshing change to have four U13 girls in the team and two County
team debuts – for Ryan Parker-Bowker and Ben Hilborne. Everyone in
the U13 squad has represented the County at some point over the
season. This is testament to the depth of the squad (on the boys’
side) and how hard everyone has worked for a place in the team.
Tom Otto was
rewarded for an improving season with top spot for the boys and won
convincingly. The rest of the boys also took a clean sweep including
impressive performances from the debutants, Ben Hilborne particularly
only allowing his opponent a combined 19 points.
The girls found
their opposition slightly tougher to break down and hearts were broken
as games started to go against us. The passion of the Devon girls was
clear to see but we unfortunately edged only two of the girls’
singles.
Some new
partnerships were tried in the boys’ doubles, with the exception of
the established Dominic Garside and Paul Reed who played up in
position two and dominated their opponents. The two other pairs
followed suit and we took all nine of the boys doubles games.
The girls knew
they had to avoid a whitewash to put us in a strong position for the
match. Jenny Maddison and Abigail Summers performed well as a pair,
winning two rubbers (winning one game 23-21 and taking one rubber to
three ends). Hannah Laidler and Lauren Crump picked up an important
third rubber. Emiyl Hutchings continued to show improvement, working
with Sophie Laidler to pick up a combined 27 points off one pair!
In the mixed we
continued our dominance over a crumbling Somerset, winning four of the
six rubbers. Following on from their success in the last match the
partnership of Samuel Owens and Sophie Laidler again proved too much
to handle winning their games to 12 and 14. In addition Ryan Parker-Bowker
commanded the mixed court with Abigail Summers, winning their rubber
too.
Nothing surprises
me anymore with this squad. Time and time again they perform so well
and refuse to be intimidated. This has been an incredible season with
them, and they have made me so proud of them every time we have
played.
Emily Macaulay
U13 Lead Coach
|
