Oundle School hosted the first stage of the third N/national School Girls' Tournament, the senior (U18) category. The standard of girls' fives continues to improve, and the day saw some excellent singles and doubles played in front of schoolfriends, parents and sports coaches, who all remarked on the ability and determination displayed by the girls during a long and tough day.
Thanks go to Oundle for providing excellent facilities and refreshments and also to Rugby School staff and parents for bringing a large group of very enthusiastic girls, some of whom were younger and quite new to the game, and all of whom helped the day go very well.
In the singles, Tessa Mills (Eastbourne College), the defending champion, won her group and then held off a challenge from Bryony Choy (Oundle) in the semi-final. In the other half of the draw, Francesca Ruffell (Rugby) came through and faced another local girl, Susie Burrows (Oundle) but also came through to the final. The singles final was a remarkably high-quality game and, before a packed gallery, the score remained very close for some time, both girls winning long fought rallies and dsiplaying great tenacity, shot-making and fitness. But gradually the power of Tessa's serve and her accurate shots into the left-hand nick got the better of Francesca, and Tessa won the game to become n/national singles champion for the third time.
In the doubles, Tessa Mills and Isabella Why from Eastbourne reached the final where they met the Rugby first pair, Francesca Ruffell and Hannah Hawksley, who last year won the U16 doubles. Perhaps spurred on by Francesca's close match in the singles final, the Rugby girls put on a very impressive display of hard-hitting and intelligent doubles, dominating the rallies and resisting the attempts by the Eastbourne pair to take control. The Rugby pair proved too good, and deservedly took the doubles title and the gold medals.
Oundle School did not go away empty-handed, as Susie Burrows and Bryony Choy won the plate (bronze medals) against Rugby's second pair, and Bryony Choy also won the singles plate.
On Sunday 29 April, the second stage of the tournament takes place at Marlborough College, with U16, U14 and U13 doubles and singles.
RESULTS
SINGLES
Group A: Tessa Mills (Eastbourne College) 44, Susie Burrows (Oundle School) 39, Hannah Hawkesley (Rugby School) 29, Milly Richards (Rugby School) 17, Milly Browne (Rugby School) 10.
Group B: Francesca Ruffell (Rugby School) 44, Bryony Choy (Oundle School) 40, Isabella Why (Eastbourne College) 30, Eliza Talbot-Williams (Rugby School) 30, Kate Broad (Rugby School) 11.
Semi-finals: T. Mills bt B. Choy 11-0, F. Ruffell bt S. Burrows 11-1
Final: T. Mills bt F. Ruffell 11-6
Plate: B. Choy
DOUBLES
Oundle bt Rugby III 11-3, Rugby I bt Oundle 11-7, Eastbourne bt Rugby II 11-4, Rugby II bt Rugby III 11-5
Final: Rugby I bt Eastbourne 15-2
Plate Final: Oundle bt Rugby II 15-4