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22 January 20 - by England Squash
Five English counties share the spoils at the Junior Inter County finals 2019/20
Tim Vail, JICC Tournament Director reports
Hampshire, Surrey, Yorkshire, Lancashire and Sussex shared the spoils at the 2019/2020 Junior Inter County Championships finals in Nottingham at the weekend.
The atmosphere was electric with every county cheering on their players across the ten age groups at three Nottinghamshire venues.
GU11 Final: Hampshire bt Yorkshire 3-0
All three of Hampshire players were in the top 10 of the country and this proved too strong for Yorkshire. Fearne had chances against Hattie and took the first but couldn’t keep up with Hattie’s good depth and volleying with Hattie winning 3-1. The match was over as Phoebe had won 3-0. However, Isabelle Flower started superbly against Sophie Vail to take the first but couldn’t keep it up as Sophie won 3-1.
BU11 Final: Surrey bt Hampshire 2-1
3rd string Joe Colton bt Oliver Flett 11-8 in the 5th. Great little contest. Both showing good court coverage with Joe just holding his nerve to build a lead in the 5th and keeping it to secure victory.
1st sting was 1 v 2 in the country. Jake found his range better with winning drives, finished off with crisp drops. At the end of the first, Jake Johnston hurt his hamstring, took an injury time out, came back on to win the game with a volley drop. Within three points of the second, it was obvious he couldn’t carry on and conceded the match. All down to the 2nd string. Gabriel Chak was very consistent with his depth to the back and showed lovely touch at the front to take a 2-0. Seb fought back well to take the third but couldn’t keep that pressure up in the fourth. Surrey victorious.
GU13 Final: Lancashire bt Sussex 3-0
Lancashire were strong on paper and it proved that way on court. They went 2-0 up without dropping a game, but in the third match Reka managed to take a game against Miriam Mulla but couldn’t quite edge in front in the fourth.
Bu13 Final: Surrey bt Kent 4-1
Both had strong line-ups with England No.2 Dylan Roberts at 1st string for Kent. Surrey were more consistent than Kent throughout, winning the first two matches 3-1 and 3-0. Dylan pulled one back for Kent against Ronnie Hickling. By the time the 2nd strings went on, Zachary Woolvern had already won which meant the last match was a dead rubber. At one-game all, Jude stopped v Jake Johnston.
Gu15 Final: Hampshire bt Yorkshire 3-0
Hampshire had England No.1 Amelie Haworth with the next three all in the top 10 in the country. This was going to be a hard task for Yorkshire. Keiko at No.5, got a game but the rest were all 3-0.
BU15 Final: Sussex bt Surrey 5-0
Sussex had England No.1 Jonah Bryant in their team plus the next three in the top 20, so Surrey were always going to be up against it. Surrey tried valiantly and two of the matches went down to the final game with both losing 3-2, whilst another took one game.
GU17 Final: Yorkshire bt Sussex 4-1
British Junior champion Torrie Malik put Sussex in the driving seat in the first tie of the GU17, overcoming England No.5 Amy Royle of Yorkshire 11-3, 11-6, 11-4. Second string Yorkshire’s Layla Johnson, the England No.9 quickly levelled, overpowering Sussex’s Mille Owton in straight games 11-4, 11-6, 11-4 before Yorkshire’s Erin Tamplin powered past Emily Winton 11-7, 11-5, 11-3.
Fourth string Ophelia Watson made light work of Olivia Wiles with a convincing three-nil victory 11-3, 11-2, 11-4 to seal Yorkshire’s fate and keep the title firmly in Yorkshire hands once again.
In the dead rubber, Yorkshire’s Lexie Ogram proceeded to finish the final off in style, winning 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 against Yorkshire’s Poppy Wiles.
BU17 Final: Surrey bt North Wales 3-2
This was always going to be a close one on paper. As in previous rounds, Surrey have won their matches at 3,4 & 5. This time proved no different. Their strength in depth showing through here.
GU19 Final: Lancashire bt Buckinghamshire 2-1
Third string started with Lancashire going 2-0 up. She then lost the next game and failed to fully recover from that with Buckinghamshire going one up. Saran at 1st string was too strong for Chloe Foster. Down to the last match, Lancashire's Kara won 3-0.
BU19 Final: Hampshire bt Sussex 2-1
Sussex No.1 Perry Malik got injured in the semi-final so could not play in the final. Sussex put out their strongest side after that with Franklyn Smith and Jonah Bryant coming in for them. Jonah was very up for it against a very nervous Toby Ponting. The difference in height made no difference as Jonah’s court coverage was excellent and kept making Toby play more shots. Along with some great nicks and touch from Jonah, he won 3-0. Jared was always supposed to win the no.1 string but Noah battled hard, had opportunities but found the tin too often when it mattered but did manage to take one game. All down to the second strings. Last time they played, Franklyn won 3-0. Again this time, he went 2-0 up only for Alfie to fight back to take the third. He kept the momentum going in the fourth but both got a bit edgy towards the end. In the fifth, Franklyn started the better only for Alfie to stage a great fightback. Frankie then hit some errors on cross court lifts and boasts which gave Alfie the boost he needed to finish it off and take the title for Hampshire.
England Squash would like to thank all the referees for being at the event along with Tim Vail, Tina Fuselli and Julie Chappell for running the events at the different clubs; and to the clubs for letting us use their great facilities.
