Devon U15s v
Wiltshire
09/03/2008
Team:
Luke Bovey, Sam
Oldershaw, Patrick Slack, George Joannou, Harry Williams, Luke Rutter.
Rowan Despard,
Hannah Preece, Rachel Perkins, Laura Anson, April Richards, Olivia
Marshall.
The Devon under
15 team went into this match under pressure to win as a victory
against Wiltshire would set up a championship decider against us and
Dorset for the last match of the season next Sunday 16th
March.
Going into this
match we were a few players short as it was the All England Finals,
and a few of my team players were away in Birmingham.
Luke Bovey was
due to be at the All England too, but the day before the match he
heard that the team was one boy short so he decided to give up his
ticket for the All England and play for his county instead. It proved
to be a selfless act that was crucial for Devon.
The boys singles
started with Luke Bovey playing George Dent. Luke won 21-9 21-9. First
blood to Devon!
Sam Oldershaw
then lost a tough three setter 21-15, 20-22, 13-21.
Patrick also lost
5-21, 12-21. George Joannou also lost 18-21, 17-21.
Harry Williams
hit back for Devon winning 21-5, 21-15, and Luke Rutter also won on
his return to the team 21-17, 21-15.
The boys singles
finished 3-3.
Rowan Despard
opened the girls singles, but lost a close 3 setter to Harriet Ferris
21-14, 21-23, 18-21.
An on form Hannah
Preece who has recently been promoted to the no. 2 spot in the team
beat Amy Gamble 21-10, 21-16.
Next up was
Rachel Perkins. Rachel had a bad fall early in the first game pulling
a muscle in her leg, but fought bravely on to win 21-19, 21-15.
Laura Anson then
won 21-9, 21-7.
Olivia Marshall
lost 13-21, 15-21.
So the match
score after the singles stood at 7-5 to Devon.
The boys doubles
proved to be tough for Devon with Luke Bovey and Harry winning two of
there three matches, and Sam and Patrick winning one, and George and
Luke Rutter winning one.
After the boys
singles the score stood at 11-10 to Devon.
The pressure was
on the girls now.
Rowan and Rachel
were both carrying injuries and it showed in their games with lots of
unforced errors creeping in. However they managed to win two of their
three doubles matches.
Laura and Hannah
however were both on form during this match and put in very strong
performances to win all three of their doubles.
Olivia Marshall
also played out of her skin to back up April Richards and they won two
of their three doubles matches.
After the girls
doubles the match score stood at 18-12 to Devon.
We now only
needed to win one out of the six mixed to win the match.
Luke and Rowan
went down after a three setter 14-21, 21-14, 14-21.
Then Sam and
Rachel went down 14-21, 16-21.
Patrick and April
the stars of the Team Challenge Finals in Luton, then went down 20-22,
21-10, 13-21.
By now, I was
fearing the worst, if we drew the match against Wiltshire Dorset would
have won the league!
But Laura and
Harry saved the day and won 21-11, 20-22, 21-12. Phew!
The victory was
ours!
George and Hannah
backed it up winning 22-10, 21-15.
Olivia and Luke
Rutter put on a good show in the last mixed but lost 18-21, 21-15,
12-21.
So final score
was Devon 20 – Wiltshire 16.
This was a match
that we should have won much easier but with players away and players
carrying injuries we were very lucky to win.
We now only have
a week to recover before facing Dorset for the title decider.
Whatever the
outcome of the Dorset match next week I want my team to know that I am
so proud of them all this season. They have done so well and worked so
hard this year. I really want to win the league for them. They deserve
it.
I’m going to miss
the crucial match against Dorset as I have other coaching commitments,
but my thoughts will be with them next week.
Come on Devon!
You can do it!
Player of the
match is Hannah Preece. She performed brilliantly all day and won
every match she played.
Steve Duggan.
Devon U15s Lead
Coach.
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