Norfolk back to winning ways

After a disappointing start to the season, Norfolk bounced back with two good 11-4 victories over Bedfordshire and Staffs III in the Inter-County Championships. In the first teams match, the singles were shared with Ian Murphy and Eric Plane both winning in three sets, while Katherine Cooper and Michelle Lewin had nothing to show for their efforts. But Norfolk took control of the match in the level doubles, with six of the eight games going their way. Murphy and Alex Wyett and Cooper and Gillian Cox won both their matches, while Plane and Tim Hudson-Church and Lewin and Amber Lillingstone shared.

With the match score standing at 8-4, Norfolk needed two of the mixed doubles to secure the maximum three points, but they won all three to complete a good afternoons work.

It was a similar story for the second team. Jonathan Cooper and Jon Plunkett both won their singles, but Tanya Harrison and Katie Scotter missed out. But it was, again, the level doubles which secured the home sides victory, with team captain, Justin Gerrard and Christian Nielsen, Harrison and Linda Sawyer and Scotter and Sarah Williams, making a welcome return to the county squad after a seven years absence, winning their two games and Plunkett and James Ruthen sharing. The three match points were secured by taking two of the three mixed doubles.

Ian Murphy won all four of his games for the first team and Linda Sawyer did not drop a set for the seconds, but, overall it was an excellent team performance, with all seventeen players contributing to Norfolks success.

* The acclaimed Middlesex Open produced two notable doubles performances from Norfolks Ian Murphy and Katherine Cooper and Suffolks Toni Sturgeon. Murphy and Sturgeon reached the final of the mixed doubles, while Sturgeon teamed up with Cooper to get to the final of the womens event, but the winners medals just eluded them.

* The Under 13s & 15s played Cambridgeshire in the Shires League at St Neots. Against somewhat inexperienced opposition, Norfolk ran out comfortable winners, 19-1 and 20-0 respectively. Representing the Under 13s were Holly Bowen, Rebecca Chapman, Serena Verney, Lucy OMara Copeman, Luke Cox, Mark Robinson, Ashley Robb and Joshua Ring, while Rebecca Heeles, Charlotte Crosby, Emma Davies, Stephanie Rowland, Chris Piff, Kurtis Lefevre, John Carrier and Lee Robinson played for the Under 15 team.