U17 match report
Devon v Cornwall U17 Match
04/02/2007
Devon 16 - Cornwall 20
Team:
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There’s nothing quite like a match against Cornwall. From the moment the teams arrived and were starting a warm up the shouting and noise began.
A quick team talk before the match started and they were off. The Cornish contingent took to sitting strategically behind the courts and shouting very loudly for their players. The Devon team responded in good voices. Charlotte did a particularly good job of out shouting a lot of the Cornwall team.
Jamie won his singles in three games against D. Andrews and we took four of the Ladies singles too…in this match Leanne deciding to win in two straight games. Three more games were won by Jamie and Ellis who were always in control of their doubles games. Charlotte and Kat proved themselves again to be a formidable and focused pair, winning their three games. Leanne and Sarah picked up two, and Chloe (playing in spite of an injury she had picked up in the week) and Tanya won their one.
A brief break before the mixed games began and Devon were 14-16 down. A team huddle – the first of its kind this season - a refocusing on the importance of the coming games, and then a cunning organisational move. The noise and cheering from the Cornwall team was beginning to affect some of the Devon players games so all the mixed games went on at the same time. Jamie, Charlotte, Ellis and Leanne won their matches quickly and at 16 all the pressure really rose. James Bentley (playing his first match for Devon U17) and Sarah were unlucky not to pinch their match.
The final result shows how close the match was. Although it was a loss a lot can be learnt from the match and for a number of the players it was good to see them play under real pressure.
I personally hope this is the closest match over and done with….otherwise I won’t have any fingernails left!
Emily Macaulay
Assistant Coach
Devon U17