East Region Inter County Mini Red Girls Report
The Northants 8U Girls team travelled to Hills Road, Cambridge for the Inter-County competition. Representing the county were Arianna, Allegra, Emily, Macey, Amayah and Pola.
With nine counties competing, Northants were drawn into a group alongside Cambridgeshire, Essex and Buckinghamshire.
Northants vs Essex
The girls were ready from the first ball and produced some excellent performances. Arianna and Pola secured impressive wins at positions 1 and 6, while the remaining matches were incredibly competitive and could easily have gone either way. Several narrow losses, including 9-10 and 7-10 scorelines, meant Northants were edged out 4-2 by Essex.
Northants vs Cambridgeshire
A similar story followed against Cambridgeshire. Amayah and Emily both secured excellent victories, while Allegra was unfortunate to narrowly lose 9-10. Once again, the standard was very high and just a few points here and there could have changed the outcome. Northants lost 4-2, but the girls continued to show great determination and resilience.
Northants vs Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire had already defeated both Essex and Cambridgeshire, but that did not faze the Northants girls. They produced their strongest performance of the group stage, cutting down on errors and fighting for every ball. Arianna, Allegra, Emily and Amayah all secured victories, while Pola and Macey were narrowly beaten by strong opponents. The reward was a fantastic 4-2 victory and Northants’ first team win of the day.
Finishing third in the group meant Northants moved into the play-off section for positions 5–9, with three more matches to come.
Northants vs Suffolk
Confidence was growing with every round and it showed against Suffolk. Pola was unlucky to miss out on a win in a close 8-10 match, but every other Northants player secured victories. Macey also recorded her first win of the day, a result that reflected her hard work and determination. Northants ran out convincing 5-1 winners.
Northants vs Oxfordshire
The girls brought great energy to the court once again. Macey narrowly lost 8-10 to a tricky opponent, while Arianna faced a powerful and experienced player, battling hard before losing 5-10. The remaining girls all produced strong performances to secure another excellent 4-2 victory for Northants.
Northants vs Norfolk
The final match of the day demonstrated the depth throughout the squad. Pola and Amayah fought hard but came up against strong opponents. Macey, Allegra and Emily all secured victories, while Arianna was involved in a thrilling final match that she narrowly lost 9-10, with just one point deciding the outcome. The match ended in a 3-3 draw.
Overall Summary
The standard across all counties was extremely close, and on another day several of the results could easily have gone in Northants’ favour. Considering Northants were unable to field a girls’ team last year, the progress shown this season has been remarkable. Defeating Buckinghamshire, who went on to finish second overall, demonstrated that this team can compete with the strongest counties!
There is plenty to be excited about for the future, with both Pola and Amayah still eligible to represent the county next year.
Northants finished the day in an excellent 6th place overall. Every player should be incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication and teamwork throughout the event. Most importantly, the girls played with great spirit, supported each other brilliantly and enjoyed plenty of smiles along the way.
Laura Mineards, Captain
