Black Country joy as girls claim win
Black Country Under-16 Girls performed admirably on their way to securing a place in the national quarter-finals.
The combined team, with players from Tettenhall Tigers, Redhill-Stourbridge and Cleobury, travelled to Manchester to take on Tameside, Wigan and Wirral.
Tameside are the most successful junior women's club in the country with a raft of national championships to their name. This did not deter the Black Country girls who attacked the Manchester defence with powerful hitting, consistent serves and solid defensive play.
Black Country claimed an impressive victory as they pulled off a shock victory, winning 25-19, 25-17.
That result did not distract the girls who went on to keep their nerve and see out two other matches against Wigan and Wirrall, claiming two victories by two sets to one.
The girls now train for their next clash that sees them travel to Kettering in March.
Tettenhall Tigers women's team put up a valiant fight against a vastly-experienced Cleobury in the Division One West Midlands Regional League, but fell to a 3-0 defeat.
The Tettenhall side, with an average age of just 15, were able to put pressure on the Cleobury team with spells of jump and float serves and dynamic back court play.
Despite making various substitutions to counter Cleobury's hard-hitting attack, the youngsters were unable to secure the points.
Tigers coach Nick Shaffrey said: "The result was a great experience for the team, who will now compete in the regional round of the national under-15 championships at the end of the month."
