Norfolk girls take East squash title

Norfolk's junior squash under-16 girls team are first winners of the East Anglia Inter-Counties Squash League and the Brian Fielding Memorial Trophy.

They clinched the title at the Ipswich Sports Club in the very last game of the seven-month competition.

Norfolk went into the final round in second place, trailing Hertfordshire by 11 points, but finished one ahead on 44, with Suffolk third on 33 points.

Hannah Morris (East Anglia club), at No 1, beat her Suffolk opponent 3-0 and then put in a battling performance before losing 3-0 to England No 3 player Jemma Ockwell.

Sam Skelton (Fakenham), at No 2, recorded 3-2 and 3-0 wins; No 3 Emma Baker (Oasis) won both her matches 3-0; and newcomer Sara Ward (Broadland) won one match 3-0 and was pipped 3-2 in the other on a tie-break.

That left Herts needing just six games against Suffolk to draw and seven to win, and they picked up five via their top two players. Suffolk then won the No 3 and 4 clashes 3-0 to hand Norfolk victory.

The Brian Fielding Memorial Trophy was named after the Cambridgeshire England squash organiser and coach who started the league last year with Norfolk's Gary Baker, two weeks before Brian tragically died from cancer.

Baker said: “The East Anglia leagues were set up to encourage girls to play squash for fun, while having competitive games against other girls from other counties. It is not win at all costs, but about participation, enjoyment, and the girls taking the next step in their squash development.

“All of the girls have supported one another and the county well throughout the season, even when the results have not been positive”