Under 17s Draw with Cumbria in tight Shires League match

The Under 17 team recently played their first Shires match of this season, and the first one at the new Centre.  And it proved to be a really competitive afternoon, played under the guidance of substitute managers Norma and Mike Waterfield.The team was: Annie Karn, Ellie Roberts, Hannah Charlton, Megan Porter, Robyn Luckley and Sarah Wilson; Amit Chaudhari, David Murray, Gyan Chadda, Jonathan Elsdon and Philip Pahatouridis.

 The results from the first set of four mixed matches did not bode too well for the rest of the match.  Three of the games were lost in two ends, although Annie and David got close in theirs.  Hannah and Amit fought hard in their game, coming back from the loss of the first end to eventually win with a 22-20 decider. 

 The eight singles then turned the match right round, with good wins from Annie, Hannah, Sarah, Philip, Amit and David: and Jonathan got very close in three ends.  So going into the level doubles, Northumberland had a 7-5 lead.  Cumbria took the first two boys doubles after close three-enders: but Northumberland kept their advantage by winning the first two girls doubles with the pairings of Annie & Sarah and Megan & Robyn: that left it 9-7 with just the reverse doubles to be played.  Surely we could win two of those!  Amit and Philip took one in a steady two-ender but Jonathan and Gyan found the going tough against the top Cumbria pair.  It would all be down to the girls!  Megan & Robyn put in a great effort against the top Cumbria pair before losing 21-23, 17-21.  But it was the Cumbrian second pair who sprung a big surprise, pushing Annie & Sarah all the way and snatching a win 20-22, 20-22.  It could not have been much closer.

 That left the score 10-all and the match was drawn.  In the detail, Cumbria had taken 25 ends to Northumberland’s 24: the points score was reversed and we took that with a staggeringly close 907 to 903.

 Well done to the team – and let’s work a bit harder on the doubles with two away matches coming up against the 2nd teams of Yorkshire and Lancashire.