Cumbria 2nd Team Match Reports
Cumbria 2 got off to a fantastic start in their first season back in the English Senior Championships today against Northumberland 3. The team came back from 2-4 down to win in the final mixed match, 6-5 with a superb performance from Matt Davis and Emily Wood.
It capped off an outstanding performance from super sub Emily Wood who was thrown right into the deep end playing all 3 events, after she was standing in as cover to Emma Metcalf who had been called up to the 1st team on the same day. Emily not only had to play all 3 events, she also won all 3 of her events helping the team to a narrow victory.
Mens Singles got us underway with each team sharing the points. Charlie Kemp just lost out in 2 ends, but Corey Stewart was too strong to win in 2 ends. The same happened in the Ladies singles, each team winning one putting the tie at 2-2 after a long slog by Emily winning in 3 ends. Mens doubles up next, and although a good fight back from Graham Robinson and Corey Stewart they narrowly went down in 3 ends. It was a similar result in the other men's event with brothers Tom and Matt Davis losing out in 2 ends. This put the tie at 2-4 in favour of Northumberland 3.
However, all was not lost, after a dominant performance from Bekah Briggs and Natalie Troughear winning in 2 sets, this brought it back to 3-4, and then another outstanding effort by Esme Williamson and Emily showing their determination and resilience to win 24-22 in the 3rd end making the draw 4-4 and all to play for in the mixed.
First on court was Bekah and Tom, and despite taking the first end they unfortunately narrowly lost the next two with the 3rd being 20-22 meaning the team went 4-5 down, but Graham and Natalie showing what they were made of and comfortably outplayed their opponents and won in 2 straight forward sets. This put the tie at 5-5, and with the last game going on court. Matt and Emily managed to get us over the line winning in 2 close ends, 19 and 17, which meant that the team put the points on the board with their first victory.
Thank you to all the players who played and give up their time and those who travelled over to support the team.
The newly formed Cumbria 2 showing off their new shirts kindly provided and sponsored by T J Kemp Construction Ltd. (missing from the team photo was Emma Metcalf)
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Cumbria 2 were off on the road for their 2nd round of matches on Saturday 17th January, this time an early set off to York Railway Institute for a 10:30am start. They were looking to continue where they left off in the last round with a victory. With some very last minute changes (night before) due to an injury, the team had to change its dynamics a little from the first game.
Up first was Staffordshire 3. Charlie Kemp getting the team off to a good start, winning in 3 ends 21-14, 13-21, 21-16, using his speed to good use around the court. Unfortunately stand in sub Seb Lippiatt (playing for Corey Stewart) lost out 21-12, 21-14 in his first county game for Cumbria but some positives to take from his game. Emma Metcalf was up first for the ladies, using her experience and skills, she managed to win in 3 ends, 21-16, 15-21, 21-15 putting us 2-1 up, with Esme Williamson at 2nd ladies singles, out playing her opponent and wining in 2 ends, 21-16, 21-17 to give us a good lead going into the doubles, 3-1.
Doubles was a split bag, both mens pairs of Graham Robinson and stand in Rob Jefferson (playing for an injured Tom Davis), and Matt Davis and Seb losing in 2 ends, to make the tie 3-3. Luckily the ladies were there to carry us closer to the line, with Bekah Briggs playing with Emma winning in 2 comfortable ends, and then Esme playing with late substitute Louise Jackson (playing for injured Emily Wood) narrowly losing 19-21 in the first, only to come back strong to win the 2nd and 3rd, 21-8, 21-11, with the tie now 5-3 and only needing 1 of the 3 mixed games to take the win.
Up first was Graham and Emma, narrowly losing out the first 23-25, but won the 2nd 21-17 but were unable to get us over the line losing the 3rd end 16-21 in a tough game. Rob and Bekah up next, proved too strong and won in 2 games, 21-14, 21-12 to give us the extra game to make it 6-4 with 1 left to play.
Matt was up next with county stalwart Louise and took the first end 21-15, but lost the 2nd end 12-21, then fought back well in the 3rd end only to narrow lose out 18-21, meaning the final score was 6-5 to Cumbria 2 and made it 2 from 2 after their win at Tyneside back in November.
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Lincolnshire 2 were up next, and we all knew this was going to be a tough match.
Charlie got us off to another flying start, up against an ex England player in his day from what i was told by Charlie, winning 21-14, 21-17. This put us in the same position as the previous match, 1 played and 1-0 up in the match, however it was going to last that way for long. Seb came up with some good winning shots and had settled more in this game, but his opponent proved too strong, losing out 14-21, 17-21. Emma was up next at 1st ladies singles and narrowly lost out in 2 ends, 19-21, 17-21. Esme at 2nd ladies came out all guns blazing, winning 21-12, however her opponent stepped it up a gear and won 21-9 in the 2nd, and then in the 3rd end Esme narrowly lost out 17-21, to put the tie 1-3 in favour of Lincolnshire 2.
Doubles was up next. Graham and Rob lost out 14-21 and then a close 2nd end 21-23 putting the score 1-4. Matt and Seb had a good battle at 2nd mens, improving on their previous game and had some good rallies, however were unfortunate to lose out 18-21, 19-21 in a game that could have gone either way.
Ladies doubles was much the same. Emma with Bekah, and Esme and Louise, both losing out in 2 ends to stronger pairs. This put the match win out of reach for Cumbria 2, 1-7, so any results in our favour from here were extra points for the team when it comes to the tables. (each game won counts as a point).
Onto the mixed, Graham and Emma lost 14-21, won 21-14 then narrowly missed out in the 3nd end, 21-23. Rob and Bekah once again coming out all guns blazing, the Abbeytown partnership proving too strong for their opponents, and they once again won in 2 sets, 21-15, 21-17 to claim an extra point for us, making the match score 2-8 with 1 to play.
Matt and Louise playing our last match of the day, took the first end 21-19, but lost out 15-21, 11-21 in the 2nd and 3rd, meaning we were unable to claim another point on the board.
This result means that we lost the 2nd match of the day, 2-9, but lots of positives to take from the day and was good that we were able to give people their county debut for Cumbria too.
Cumbria 2 currently sit in 4th place out of 6 teams, but only 2 games/points behind 2nd and 3rd place, which funnily enough are the 2 teams we play next at Mansfield on 21st March.
Click here for the BE Tournament Software - Match Scoresheet