The final weekend of the women’s British League is underway at the Doncaster Dome.
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News & Interviews
Liz May back in the Premier Division
Formby talk about their promotion to Division 1
Preview Article
The preview article, can be found here
Audio Interviews
Audio interview with Sophie Neil
Video Interviews
Round Ten Report
Ormesby reasserted their true dominance with a 5-1 thrashing of second placed Draycott.
The mouthwatering spectacle proved to be one sided, with Karina Le Fevre and Sarah Berge supplying the goods with two wins each. It was another sign of their utter dominance throughout the year, with Maria Tsaptsinos’ defeat to Alice Loveridge just their second dropped set of the season. Karina Le Fevre, playing at number one, ended the season unbeaten, a truly outstanding effort.
Meanwhile, Burton Uxbridge performed a dramatic escape as they avoided relegation at the bitter end. After defeat to Halton they needed to catch a point up on them, and did so with a 3-3 draw to Knighton Park. Another superb double from Sophie Neil was the catalyst before Kate Hughes sealed safety with one win after Halton had lost 4-2 to YHL. It means Burton stayed up by a solitary set.
The surviving Premier Division teams can expect a challenge from Fusion WAGS, who sent a note to their competitors of next year with a 5-1 win over the league’s runners up Thorntons.
Without question, the most spectacular conclusion was that in Divison 2, as the four teams battling for promotion faced off. In the end, the two teams that held first and second spot, Draycott and Formby, were promoted, yet that tells just half a tale. Both Pink Pong and Leeds held leads against their rivals, and threatened to invade the promtion party, and whilst the maths eventually got the better of Leeds, they took Formby to the wire when Rebecca George defeated Zoe Cheesman. It meant Gemma Grant had to defeat Nicole Finn or Formby and Pink Pong would have to be seperated on games difference. Thankfully for Formby, and the referees, Grant won 3-1 and the celebrations commenced.
Greenhouse snatched promotion at the very death as they stole the pockets of the disappointed St. Andrews. Greenhouse defeated Cardiff 5-1, and, with St Andrews losing to Division 3 champions Fusion Ladies, Greenhouse leapfrogged their rivals.
York Garden Angels won the battle for the Division 4 championship with a 4-2 victory over Draycott 3. The two teams were tied on points going into the match, with Draycott having a superior sets difference, however, York Garden Angels came out on top with Linellis Kazimieraityte and Silvia Trenti winning both.
Finally, Halton 3 gained promotion from Division 5 after all three teams going for the final spot drew. Halton themselves drew with promotion chasing Stantek, whilst Sutton drew with York Garden Angels 2.
Round Nine Report
Ormesby clinched their third successive title in emphatic fashion with a 6-0 thumping of YHL. Utterly dominant throughout the year, it was always a case of when rather than if, and they waster little time taking the match as they eased to the eighth 6-0 win of the season.
It was Karina Le Fevre who clinched the crucial set, fitting giving her Ormesby upbringing and near impeccable record in their colours. It might well be their third title on the bounce, but this year’s crop are without question the best. One dropped set is a remarkable achivement, one that may well never be replicated if they can maintain it against Draycott, who beat relegated Knighton Park 6-0.
Halton triumphed in the huge relegation match after winning 4-2 against Burton.
In one of the true British League classics, Halton relinquished the lead twice after wins for Gillian Edwards and Janay Gibson over Isobely Ashley and Kate Hughes respectively were cancelled out by two wins from Sophie Neil over Jasmin Ould and Edwards. However, Gibson came to the fore with a pulsating 12-10 in the fifth victory over Ashley before Ould, needing victory, did so in the fifth over Hughes.
The result puts Halton one place and one point above Burton, who are now in the relegation zone.
Thorntons TT secured promotion back to the Premier Division despite going down 5-1 to Drumchapel. Fusion WAGS’ victory over AICES has given Thorntons an unassailable sets advantage, securing their return after a brief hiatus.
Four teams going into the final round of Division 2 with promtion still a possibility. A fourth successive win for Leeds, this time over Halton, puts them in the mix, whilst Formby’s draw with Draycott means nobody is guaranteed promotion.
Greenhouse gave themselves hope of promotion after beating previously unbeaten Fusion Ladies 4-2. Zahna Hall was the star and with St Andrews drawing 3-3 with Cliffdale, they are just a point ahead of Greenhouse.
Draycott 3 and York Garden Angels face off in the last round of Division 4 neck and neck after Draycott relinquished their lead after drawing with Fusion New Stars, whilst Draycott 3 beat Byng Hall B 5-1. Both teams are already promoted.
York Garden Angels 2 secured the Division 5 crown with a 4-2 victory over Halton 3. Sandy Nash was the match winner with two victories.
Round Eight Report
And as Draycott could only manage a 4-2 victory over YHL, sets difference now means a win is enough. It could have been worse for Draycott after Yolanda King had levelled the match after stunning Emma Vickers and Alice Loveridge. However, Loveridge and Natalie Slater beat Rachel Trevorrow and Victoria Smith respectively to secure victory. Meanwhile, Knighton Park and Halton TTC could not be separated as they drew 3-3. The result does little for either side, who both remain in the bottom two heading into the final day. Gillian Edwards and Rosemary Rainton picked up two wins apiece for their respective sides. Fusion WAGS moved to within one point of the Division 1 championship following a 4-2 win over Byng Hall A. Lois Peake was the difference between the two sides as she secured two victories, with Amy Blagbrough and Sarah Short chipping in with one each.
Meanwhile the season defining match between Thorntons and AICES went the way of the former as they won 5-1. The pair, who both had aspirations of promotion, faced off joint on points needing a win to cement their position in second place. It was Thorntons who came out on top, aided by their Premier Division experience to come out on top, with Lisa Radford and Liz May winning two apiece.
The landscape of Division 2 looks slightly more transparent after Formby defeated Pink Pong South West 5-1. With the two teams tied on sets and games, Formby were the better on the big occasion, with Emily Bolton and Gemma Grant both picking up two wins. That victory now means Formby are tied at the top with Draycott, who beat Halton 5-1. Inta Zdanovska was at the double once more for Draycott. Fusion Ladies were crowned Division 3 Champions following their 6-0 win over Sycamore. Another convincing display handed them an unassailable five point lead after St Andrews could only draw 3-3 with Greenhouse. York Garden Angels and Draycott 3 shall battle it out tomorrow for the tight to be Division 4 champions after both securing promotion. They beat BATTS and Fusion New Stars respectively to clinch glory, and will face off tomorrow afternoon. Finally, York Garden Angels 2 and Halton TTC 3 head into tomorrow knowing one win shall clinch promotion. They overcame Halton TTC 4 and 3 respectively to put them within a victory of promotion.
Round Seven Report
Draycott remain valiant in their pursuit to chase them down, and secure another victory of their own as they defeated Burton 5-1, yet another dropped set only edges them further away from the league leaders, with Isobel Ashley coming from behind to beat Natalie Slater. Meanwhile, YHL moved up to third as they secured an important 5-1 victory over Knighton Park. Victoria Smith recovered from her two defeats in the morning by picking up a double against Knighton, who draw closer to their almost inevitable relegation.
Fusion WAGS returned to winning ways in Division 1 with a 4-2 win over Ulster. They were forced to come from behind as Hannah Lynch-Dawson and Erin Thompson had given Ulster the lead, but two victories for Lois Peake saw them on their way, with Amy Blagbrough and Sarah Short chipping in with a win each. There were also 4-2 wins for Thorntons and AICES, who face off in the next round of fixtures in what could well prove to be a promotion match, with both tied on ten points each gunning for second place. Division 2 is, without question, the must watch division in the hall with three teams all tied on ten points. Draycott 2, Formby and Pink Pong South West are all tied on 10 points, with sets ratio, as is the case with the two latter, game ratio, the only way to separate the sides. It comes after Draycott were to latest to fall victim to Leeds Ladies, with Joanna Roberts once again the star.
Fusion Ladies show no signs of relinquishing their spot at the top of Division 3 following their 5-1 victory over Cardiff, two wins apiece for Sarah Horsnall and Natasha Walsh aided their course, with Sally Cimiotti registering one. York Garden Angels and Draycott 3 continue their chase for Division 4 glory after registering further victories. They beat Greenhouse 2 and Batts respectively to keep their gap at the top of the division intact. Finally, Halton 3 moved to within a point of York Garden Angels with a 4-2 victory against Byng Hall C. Beth Farnworth and Kate Roberts won two each, whilst York could only draw with Stantek after surrendering the lead on three occasions.
Round Six Report Ormesby and Draycott raced to quick victories as they set out their stalls for the remainder of the weekend. The two teams demolished Knighton Park and Halton TTC 6-0 respectively, wrapping up their matches within 90 minutes. Draycott were first over the line, showing their superior class as they cruised to victory over Halton, who are without Nicole Hall. Alice Loveridge was impressive on her first appearance of the season, having missed the last weekend due to the European Championships.
Hot on their trail were Ormesby, who dismantled Knighton Park in a similar fashion with few games dropped. The trio of Sarah Berge, Maria Tsaptsinos and Chloe Whyte were quickly into the groove, looking comfortable as they maintained their near impeccable record of just one dropped set. The match of the round was unquestionably the one between YHL and Burton Uxbridge, which ended 3-3. Whilst the game was a spectacle filled with heightened drama, the result does little for either side as they both look to fight off relegation and push higher up the league. Sophie Neil put in a superb to defeat both Yolanda King and Vicky Smith, but Rachel Trevorrow’s double, salvaged a point for YHL, defeating Isobel Ashley in the final set of the match after Kate Hughes had excellently defeated Smith.
In Division 1, Fusion Wags dropped their first point of the season as they drew with bottom side Drumchapel. The previously unbeaten Nividita Sunil was defeated twice, first by Lynda Flaws and then Lucy Elliott, however Lois Peake saved Fusion with two victories. Yet they peculiarly extended their lead at the top of the league after Thorntons TT lost 4-2 to Ulster, who played brilliantly to earn the two points, with Hannah Lynch-Dawson winning twice.
Division 2 league leaders Draycott East Midlands 2 made their intentions clear with a 6-0 thumping of Cippenham Ladies. The result moved them to outright leaders of the league after Pink Pong South West succumbed to a surprising defeat to Leeds Ladies, with Joanna Roberts picking up two victories whilst Rebecca George and the returning Nicole Finn won one each. Fusion Ladies defeated Cliffdale Chandlers 4-2 to put them top of Division 3. Fusion raced into a 4-0 lead, with Sarah Horsnall winning twice, before Alex Lee and Jane Ellis scored two consolation sets for Chandlers. That victory gives Fusion a two point cushion at the top of the league after St Andrews TTC were shocked by Cardiff City Ladies, going down 5-1. York Garden Angles got off to a winning start in Division 4 with a 4-2 victory over Byng Hall B, with two victories apiece for Linellis Kazimieraityte and Silvia Trenti forcing their side over the line. They remain a point clear at the top of the division after Draycott East Midlands 3 defeated Greenhouse 2 6-0. Finally, York Garden Angles got off to a flying start in Division 5 as they defeated Byng Hall C 6-0. Jessica Monis was particularly impressive on her way to two victories, not dropping a single game in the process.