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Leeds University 2nds 10 - 0 University of York 1sts
The University of York’s women’s tennis first team travelled to South Leeds Stadium yesterday hoping to open their BUCS cup campaign with a victory. The team of Maria Hunt (captain), Danielle Spears, Caroline Brown and Ellie Arkle encountered tough competition in the form of Leeds University 2nds, who are currently top of the BUCS league. The team were looking to build on their successful first term and begin 2010 with a victory despite missing star player and new addition to the team this year Cat Hanrahan; the top-seeded fresher is unbeaten in singles all season.
We are thirsty for sweet revenge when we meet Leeds again
York were full of determination and started off well with two tightly contested doubles matches reflected in the performance from both partnerships rather than the scores, which were 0-8 and 3-8 defeats respectively.
In singles, Hunt faced a very consistent opponent who she had already met earlier in the season, yet wasn’t able to wear down yesterday, conceding in straight sets. Spears endured a lengthy match against a very similarly matched player, and after two and a half hours was beaten 6-7 (7-9) 3-6.
Brown played some inspiring tennis in her match against a promising talent for the Leeds team, eventually losing 2-6 4-6. Having been called up to play last minute, Arkle coped extremely well in her singles, playing with great spirit against a very strong opponent.
Hunt said about the match: “It was always going to be tough because we didn’t field our strongest team but as usual there was a great team effort.”
It is evident that the worst defeat of the season so far has not left the women’s firsts completely disheartened. Hunt stressed that “as a team we are thirsty for sweet revenge when we meet Leeds again in a few weeks.”
Now York’s women’s firsts can concentrate on progressing up the league in their remaining matches of the season. They resume their BUCS league matches next week with an away match against Sheffield.
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