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National Tennis Finals 2007
The National Finals tennis event this year was held at Bath University. Teams qualify by getting through county and regional rounds across the country. with more than 600 teams competing. There is a Year 8 and a Year 10 event and this year the Queenswood girls qualified for the Year 10 finals after winning the Year 8 finals last year. Four teams qualify and play off for the prestigious title of National Champions. It is played in a league format were all teams play each other. The playing format is two doubles matches followed by four singles matches with a team of four players.

Year 10 players Erin D, Holly L and Beth S along with Shona Y and Dominique G (Year 9) and Holly R (Year 8) arrived at Bath Y.M.C.A. on Friday afternoon along with their coach Steve Law and Director of Tennis Pam Hall. The matches started on Saturday morning at 9am sharp. The four teams competing were Millfield School, Newcastle Upon Tyne Church High School, Queenswood School and Sevenoaks School. As is often the case Millfield were favourites on paper. The Queenswood team for the first round match consisted of Erin, Holly L, Dominique and Holly R. Our first opponents were Newcastle Church High School. On paper we were fairly evenly matched though it was to prove that the robust qualities and steady play of the Northern team was just a little too strong for our girls. We’re sure the colder climate and the famous brown ale they feed them up North has something to do with this. Maybe their premiership football players could do with a pint or two on their current form! Queenswood delivered strong performances from Holly Leonard, Holly Reid and Dominique Gilbert in the singles matches. Newcastle won the match 4-2.

Our next opponents were to be the might of Millfield. Just mentioning that word to our players is enough to fire them up, and after the first round loss they certainly had something to prove. We did not start well, with Millfield winning the first three matches. The Queenswood girls had certainly given it their all and it was now down to the remaining three singles to give ourselves a chance of staying in the match. Dominique, Holly L and Erin were next on court. Holly was the first to win her singles match, followed by Dominique and then Erin pulled through in an eventful match.

So…three all, and it now came down to a doubles match tie-break (first to 10 points). Erin and Holly L were performing well as a doubles pair and both came off with singles wins so they were the natural choice for the doubles. The start that they made was positive, energetic and very effective. They went 4-0 up then traded points with their opponents to take it to 9-5. Match point, and the tension was clear for all to see. The courts were set below a balcony and the match had drawn a lot of attention from other teams, parents and coaches. The players know all too well that matches can turn round very quickly in these high pressure situations and first and foremost in their minds must be the thought of being decisive and task-focused. Holly served strongly and traded ground strokes with her baseline opponent convincingly. Erin was quick at the net and kept moving to keep the opponents guessing. A decisive move forward to put away a forehand after a powerful groundstroke from Holly clinched the tie break and the match. Queenswood won the tie 4-3.

The following day our final match was against Sevenoaks. We stood second in our league of four and a win today would guarantee the runners up place. The team for the final day consisted of Erin, Holly L, Dominique and Beth. Shona, one of our top players, was unfortunately still out due to a minor neck injury. The doubles finished one match each and it was on to the singles. Beth, Dominique and Holly all won their matches with conviction and superior play to take it to 4-1 and to clinch the match for Queenswood. Erin Dickinson played a very tough opponent and lost her singles match after fighting hard. Queenswood won the tie 4-2.

The Year 10 event was a big step up for the girls from the Year 8 event last year. With another year in the event for all the current players we will be back next year with only one goal in mind. Well done to all the girls involved.