NETTS Ladies Win British Title

NETTS went in to the second and final weekend of the Women’s British League in Wolverhampton just two points ahead of nearest rival Drumchapel Glasgow II and without the services of their number one player Lucy Wang, whom was unbeaten during the first stage in Division 5B.

The remaining ladies Gracie Edwards, Maria Boulton and Nikki Davison made a statement in their first game that they were not going to let Lucy’s absence put them off their stride with a 5-1 win against Kingfisher (Reading). The NETTS ladies followed this up with another 5-1 win against Sutton At Hone and a 6-0 triumph over Ormesby 2 (Middlesborough). This final match of the Saturday however was closer than the 6-0 scoreline suggests, as it included two five set victories for NETTS including for Boulton 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7 and for Davison 6-11, 6-11-4, 11-8 and 13-11, despite being 10-6 down in the fifth end!

The improving Junior Players of the Glenburn Irish Ladies II were in top form against the Earls Colne Recreation Club based team however and the first match of Sunday morning saw NETTS fall to their first defeat of the competition, 5-1, with Boulton picking up the only win for NETTS.

That result meant NETTS needed a draw against Drumchapel in the final round to be sure of the title without relying on countback, and they duly managed a 3-3 scoreline clinched when Gracie Edwards put them 3-1 ahead by defeating Alisa Khalid 3-2 (11-8, 6-11, 14-12, 6-11, 11-7). That result also saw Edwards top the player averages with 17/20 for 85%. Maria Boulton finished on 12/18 67%, Davison on 10/16 62.5%.

NETTS also won the overall “Team of the Weekend” accolade, following in the footsteps of the 2009/10 team (inlcuding Davison), whom won Divison 3 in the 09/10 season.

Well done ladies from all at the club