Disapointing start for Norfolk

Norfolks Inter County Championship season got off to a disappointing start, with the first team losing 9-6 to Warwickshire II and the seconds going down to the Cambridgeshire first team 11-4. Captain Ian Murphy and Alex Wyett had a good match for the first team, with Murphy winning his singles and then teaming up with Wyett to take both doubles. Eric Plane and Tim Hudson-Church had no joy in their level doubles but picked up their mixed doubles, Plane partnering Linda Sawyer and Hudson-Church teaming up with Katherine Cooper for two victories, which gave Norfolk a "losing point".

Katherine Cooper, who still plays for Norfolk despite studying at Nottingham University, won her singles, but, partnered by Amber Lillingstone drew a blank in the ladies doubles, which also brought no success for Linda Sawyer and Ann Jenkins, who has joined the county from Derbyshire.

The second team got their match off to a promising start, with victories in the singles for Jonathan Cooper and Tanya Harrison, but, thereafter the match went steadily downhill for them with just two level doubles victories coming from captain Justin Gerrard and Christian Nielsen and Michelle Lewin and Katie Scotter, who prefers to continue to play for Norfolk, despite studying at Cambridge.Jonathan Plunkett and James Ruthen lost both their level doubles as did Tanya Harrison and junior squad member, Sarah Lewin, who was making her senior debut.

An even bigger challenge faces the two teams in a fortnights time, with difficult away matches against Notts.

* Sixteen year old Daniel Evans from Great Yarmouth won the singles event at the British Colleges Sports Eastern Region Tournament held at Cambridge Regional College. Competitors from over ten colleges entered the event, with Daniel battling his way to a three-way final and then beating both his opponents to win the tournament. He now moves on to the national final, which will be held at Loughborough in March.

* Two junior moderates tournaments, excluding county squad members, are coming up shortly. The Under 14s will take place on November 13 at Norwich Blyth Jex and the Under 16s will be on December 4. Entry forms are available from Sally Piff on 01603 414919.

Under 11s & 13s events are being held at Lynnsport, Kings Lynn on November 27.