Wilton Ladies Crowned AEGON National Champions 2016

I am delighted to tell everyone that Wilton’s Ladies team successfully defended the title won in 2015 when they became AEGON National Team champions again at the West Hants Club in Bournemouth yesterday.

Our first match was on Friday when we won 4-0 for the loss of only one set against the North divisional winners Thongsbridge from Yorkshire. Our opponents had beaten last year’s National runners up- Holcombe Brook in their division so Wilton were obviously in good form.

Saturday’s play was interrupted by rain which caused many of the matches to be played indoors and meant that our semi final which started at 9 am was still not finished by 7.30 pm. Our opponents were University of Bath in what was the two teams’ fourth match against one another in four years! Charlotte Pearce and Laura Deigman won in straight sets at Nos 4 and 2 but Louise Holtum lost to a supremely steady opponent. Beth Grey then took on Alex Walker in what was arguably the match of the weekend. Beth made one of her trademark comebacks but lost very closely in the 3rd. We were keen to avoid the lottery of a tie break shoot out especially against a team dominated by two very good singles players. Thus we really needed both doubles rubbers to be won. After a very long wait for an indoor court Charlotte and Laura lost a very quick first set. Gradually they clawed their way back They were greatly assisted by the on court coaching and support from Olivia Nicholls (one of the 2015 winners who has been prevented by injury from playing this season). Charlotte and Louise finally did so well to win after a match tie break. We were now favourites with Beth and Aimee playing at No 1 and,as always,they did not disappoint so Wilton were in the final.

We had expected the opposition to be local rivals and regular nemesis, DL Raynes Park who had beaten us again for the divisional title in June. DLRP fielded a very strong team including former high ranking British pros-Katie O’Brien and Mel South. They, however, lost after a shoot out to West Hants who were obviously going to be extremely tough opposition. Their team included three very talented young players who had been part of the National 18 Girls championship winning team and who are thus amongst the very best juniors in the country. Unlike the previous day there were straight sets defeats for Charlotte at 4 and Laura at 2. We so needed two of our stars from 2015 to step up to the plate…they did and how! Just like last year, Aimee went a set down but with massive determination and a willingness to trade hugely long rallies she pulled back to win the 2nd and run away with the 3rd by 6-0. To keep us in with a reasonable chance we then needed Beth to win against Lauryn John-Baptiste. All seemed lost when Beth went 5-2 and 40-15 down in the 3rd. Somehow against all the odds Beth fought back and won. A spectacular performance!!

With British tennis folklore hero Marcus Willis wowing the crowds in the Mens final on the adjacent court we waited to see if our team could produce similar heroics. Louise was brought in for No 2 doubles to make what was to be an entirely untried partnership. It gelled perfectly and with superb doubles play from both Laura and Louise we took the rubber in two very close sets. All eyes then turned to the final match of the day. The Mens final had finished and their players and supporters joined the vociferous home fans to see if Aimee and Beth could deny West Hants a victory. The home players led 5-1 in the first but these Wilton girls do not know the meaning of defeat and turned the set round to take it 7-5. For a while it looked as if the 2nd set would go the same way..but that is not the Wilton way! The second set was lost on a tie break and so it was left to a match tie break. The tennis was of incredibly high standard with phenomenal volleys from both pairs. Finally after a hard hitting ground stroke rally which seemed to go on for ever between Aimee and Lauryn, Beth moved across for the volley interception which gave us a 13-11 victory!

Last year’s final was an exceptional event which I thought could never be equalled but amazingly it was-all thanks to Team Wilton:

LAURA DEIGMAN, AIMEE GIBSON, BETH GREY, LOUISE HOLTUM, CHARLOTTE PEARCE.

Full scores and some pictures at this LTA link;:
https://www.lta.org.uk/news/general-news/2016/september/British-Tennis-Round-up-Aegon-Team-Tennis-winners-crowned/

Best Regards

Terry

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