Dispointing End to Norfolks Season

The county first team had a somewhat disappointing end to the season, losing their final match 11-4 away to the Nottinghamshire second string, having beaten them 12-3 in their opening home match of the campaign.

The match started well enough with Ian Murphy and Katherine Cooper comfortably winning their singles in two straight sets and Michelle Lewin showing showing true grit and determination to take her match in three 18-21, 21-16, 21-19. Jonathan Cooper just missed out, losing 23-21 in the third against an up and coming young Notts star.

But it all went horribly wrong in the doubles. Murphy and Grahame Wells had two tough three setters, but struggled to find the edge against powerful and hard hitting opposition, while Jonathan Cooper and Alex Wyett simply found the going too tough.

The women fared little better with Katherine Cooper and Amber Lillingstone winning in three sets against the Notts second pair but coming unstuck against their first duo. Lewin and Helen Newstead fought hard but had nothing to show for their efforts, with their opponents showing just that little extra class and consistency in their play.

Throughout the season the mixed doubles has been Norfolks strength, but it didnt go according to plan this time with all three pairs going under in very close games, which were great to watch, but tough to lose.

However, despite their defeat, Norfolk still finished the season in second place behind

Premiership bound Warwickshire, which was a very creditable performance, bearing in mind that many were expecting them to be involved in an end of the season "dog fight".

* Nottinghamshire also showed their class and superiority at junior level when they recently beat the county Under 13, 15 and 17 teams 17-3, 20-0 and 19-1 respectively.