Tennis: Girls in line for crack at semi-finals

by Jackie Thorley

NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME School whitewashed the South Staffs champions in the Aegon Team Tennis Championships to move a step closer to a place in the national finals.

The under-15 girls' team recorded a 6-0 victory over Wolverhampton High in the second round of the regional play-offs and will now face either Edgbaston or Solihull, with a semi-final slot at stake.

Basford Tennis Club player Amy Ellis spearheaded the singles to capture a 6-4 win against Alice White, while Hannah Parker notched up a 6-0 victory over Victoria Hale.

Lucy Pollen beat Olivia Austin 6-3 and Sophie Wright defeated Michaela Shorthouse 6-1 to steer Newcastle to an unassailable 4-0 lead. Ellis and Parker saw off White and Hale 6-4 in the doubles, while Pollen and Wright completed business with a 6-3 win against Austin and Shorthouse.

"We have a good side and I'm expecting a competitive match in the next round," said Newcastle High PE teacher Jeanette Pointon.

"We have to wait for the result of the other tie, but I know Edgbaston have a decent team and I'm sure Solihull will have too. But if we win it, we're in the regional semi-final."

The players must overcome two more hurdles if they are to equal the success of their school's under-15 side that reached the final four years ago.

Meanwhile, Newcastle's Year Eight girls went out 6-0 to a strong Nottingham High team, while Stafford Grammar's Year 10 boys drew 3-3 with Thomas Telford School but lost on a games count-back. The teams were representing Staffs in the competition after capturing county titles during the summer.