Oxfordshire’s juniors had a promising start to their County Week campaign at Hadden Hill last week, meeting Berkshire in their first round of matches on Tuesday morning in wet and gusty conditions. County Captain Lauren Jupp (Studley Wood) led by example and won her first match against Berkshire’s Frankee Robertson 2/1. Laura Watkins (Bicester) suffered defeat against Natalie Browne and Claire Reynolds (Chipping Norton) clung on to her narrow lead against Alex Roberts to finish 1 up . Burford’s Abi Laker, one of the stars of the week, started with a 5/3 victory over Lauren Dodd. Gemma Clements (Studley) and Nicole Du Plessis (Frilford) both lost their matches 2/3 whilst in the final game another Frilford player Flora McPhail finished honours even against Katherine Leigh which resulted in an overall halved match.
Match result Oxfordshire 3 ˝ Berkshire 3 ˝ .
In the afternoon the Oxfordshire girls came up against a strong Hampshire team, all with lower handicaps. However, whilst 4 of the Oxfordshire team lost, Chippy’s Claire Reynolds managed a half against Laura Jane Mabley and Abbi Laker had a 2/1 win over Eleanor Gardner and Gemma halved her match against Becky Scott.
Match result Hampshire 5 Oxfordshire 2.
The weather on the final day, Wednesday, was even worse, heavy rain and wind. Oxfordshire played against Hertfordshire in the morning who put out a strong team with the first five players off single figures.
Lauren achieved a good victory over Harriet Kay taking her down the 18th to win 1 up. Claire, Sophie Purcell-Smith (Frilford), Flora and Abi all lost their matches but Gemma Clements had a brilliant game and came in with a half against Hollie Gardner. Nicole, playing in the penultimate match had a tremendous 2/1 win over Emily Chan (5 shot difference in handicap).
Match result Hertfordshire 4 ˝ Oxfordshire 2 ˝.
Oxfordshire’s last match of the series, Wednesday afternoon, was against the overall County Week winners Buckinghamshire. (Play was interrupted by thunder and lightning). Oxfordshire unfortunately lost 5 matches but Abi achieved a half against Victoria Collis and Nicole had a good 3/2 win over Emma Hargreaves but the overall result was a conclusive win for Buckinghamshire 5 ˝ Oxfordshire 1 ˝.
County Week winners Buckinghamshire closely followed by Hertfordshire and Hampshire with Oxfordshire 4th and Berkshire 5th.
Comment: “Loosing Katherine 0’Connor from the Squad because of international duty always meant it was going to be a tough series of matches for Oxfordshire as all our team would have to step up in playing order and compete against girls with lower handicaps. But despite all odds the team put in some brilliant individual performances against strong opposition.”
18 STABLEFORD FOURSOMES COMPETITION (Teams of 4 pairs, only 3 best scores to count)
Winners Berkshire 103 points
2nd Buckinghamshire 94 points
3rd Hampshire 90 points
4th Oxfordshire & Hertfordshire 89 points