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18U County Cup 2019
March 4, 2019
Middlesex started our 2019 County Cup Race Campaign off to a strong start at the beginning of March in the 18U County Cup.
18U Middlesex Girls were competing in Bath, Division 1 for the 8th year in a row, claiming the national title in 2012 and 2016 respectively. The team led by Ronnie Maxwell and Louise Hutchinson, with a very young team with 4 players stepping up from the 2018 14U girls team.
On Day 1, first up against Yorkshire the girls battled hard to take a 4-2 lead in the singles with 5 out of the 6 matches being 3 sets long and lasting over 2 hours each. Given and Ranah thrashed Yorkshire’s second pair 6-1 6-1 to give the win to Middlesex. Unfortunately they could not convert the otherdoubles and Middlesex completed Day 1 with a 5-4 win over Yorkshire.
On Day 2, playing against Hertfordshire, Given and Yemisi started off the day with 2 long tough matches and 2 wins for Middlesex, and again after the singles Middlesex were leading 4-2 and needed at least one doubles win to seal the match. The girls won 2 doubles and ended Day 2 with a 6-3 win and top of the table.
On the final day, Middlesex played 2018 champions Kent. Whilst in a strong position as all the matches were close, Middlesex needed a win to assure themselves of the 2019 title.
Yemisi, Given, Scarlett and Andrea produced strong wins, however Ranah and Camilla had very tough opponents and again it was 4-2 after the singles.
Yemisi and Essence produced a strong 6-2 6-1 doubles win to secure the titlefor Middlesex.
Well played Girls.
Team: Camilla Gretschel, Andrea Pineda, Scarlett Hutchinson, Mayela Bassega,Ranah Akua Stoiber, Given Roach, Yemisi Ifederu, Essence Martins
The Boys were competing in Group 2A in Newport, led by Otto Buchholdt andShola Roper hoping to lead the boys into promotion.
The Team, despite being hampered by 2 injuries the day before the competition,are lucky to have great depth in Middlesex with Thomas Drayton and William Mclennaghan stepping up to join the team. They produced two very strong wins 7-2 against South Wales and 9-0 against Suffolk to set up a promotional play off againstEssex on Day 3.
In a tense and competitive start to the tie, Middlesex fought to a 3-1 lead against Essex before being pegged back 3-3 ahead of the doubles. In two competitive doubles, Essex edged the rubbers 3-6 6-3 10-3 and 6-4 7-5 to take the tie 5-3 and secure the promotion ahead of second placed Middlesex.
Team: Luke Quaynor, Louis Quaynor, Thomas Drayton, William Mclennaghan, Mark Miscevic, Esah Hayat, Mattias Southcombe, Ali Hassanhabib
“I am extremely pleased with the way the team performed, their camaraderie and spirit on and around the courts, and the way the players act and behave off the court. They are all a real credit to the county and something which we strive to achieve with every team moving forwards.
Our boys fought very hard in Newport, Wales but were not able to overcome a strong Essex teamin the final playoff match for group one.
Otto and Shola are working extremely hard with the players to close this gap, as our goal must be to have both teams in Group One and players challenging to get into the men’s and women’s teams.”
Andrew Lewandowski, Performance Manager
