Comforatble Victory for Norfolk 1sts

Norfolk scored a comfortable 11-4 away victory over Lincolnshire, which moved them up into second place in Division 1b of the Inter County Championship and virtually condemned Lincs to Division 2 action next season.

Norfolk got the match off to a flying start, winning all four singles games. Ian Murphy and Jonny Cooper enjoyed easy two set victories, while team captain, Katherine Cooper,came through in three. But it was Michelle Lewin who starred , fighting hard to win her first set 25-23, which gave her the edge to take the second 21-11.

The team then picked up three of the four mens doubles, with Murphy and Grahame Wells winning both their games, having a tough battle against the Lincs first pair before coming out on top in three sets. Justin Gerrard and Jon Atmore, playing up from the second team in the absence of Alex Wyett, shared their two games.

The women found life a bit tougher, with Cooper and Amber Lillingstone and Lewin and Helen Newstead both winning their games against the oppositions second pair, but losing out against their no 1 duo.

Norfolk clinched the maximum three match points, by winning two of the three mixed doubles. Murphy and Katherine Cooper won a three set thriller, while Gerrard and Lillingstone struck top form, putting in, arguably, their best performance for the county with an easy two set victory. Jonny Cooper and Lewin were unlucky to miss out in yet another three setter.

Murphy won all four of his games for the second week running.

* Almost 150 players will descend upon the UEA Sportspark next weekend to play in the Under 15 National Championships and the Under 17 Silver National Finals.

The Championships are, again, over-subscribed, but all the top names will be on show, hoping to impress the coaches as they continue to work towards the 2012 Olympics.

Who knows, there might just be a future Olympic Champion on court at the Sportspark this weekend. Flying the flag for Norfolk will be Charlotte Crosby, Rebecca Heeles, Adam Stubbing and David Farrow.

Play starts at 9.15am on Saturday, running through to 9.00pm, while, on Sunday, the action starts at 9.30am, with the semi-finals and finals scheduled on court from 12.30pm onwards.

Admission to the Championships is free, but the usual 50p Sportspark entrance fee will apply.

* The Under 15B team travelled to Hatfield to play a strong Hertfordshire side in their last match of the season. All the side played well , with every player winning at least one game, but they came away with a tough, but creditable 13-7 loss against an older, more experienced side. All the players in the current B team will still be eligible for next season and will be a threat to any of the top teams in the Shires League.

Representing Norfolk were Mark Robinson, Luke Cox, Andy Carrier, Adam Simmons, Becky Chapman, Holly Bowen, Annie Giles and Louise Thacker.