GIRLS’ UNDER 16
FINAL 2006
Tettenhall Tigers beat Tameside 25:21 16:25 25:15
25:23
English Institute of Sport, Sheffield
Sunday 23rd April 2006
“Britain’s Olympic prospects are on show,” has
been an announcer’s stock phrase for a number of years but it was encouraging
to a veteran like me to see this match and believe the hype might actually be
true. Not just because the 2012 Games are coming to London, but because a group
aged sixteen and younger really looked the part as Tettenhall triumphed in a
match that was exciting, well contested and of a high standard.
The number of people preferring a Sunday morning
lie in to an early morning volleyball match meant that this started with
spectator numbers down by about 50% on yesterday’s crowds at the start but the
noise made by the bands of supporters that had travelled from the West Midlands
and the North-west delivered 500% more decibels. Especially pleasing to the
organisers and sponsors will have been the fact that folk did not, in fact, lie
in too long but streamed into the Arena in such numbers that during a timeout
in the middle of the second set, the stand at the end of the venue had to be
opened up as little space remained in the main areas of seating.
Latecomers missed an absorbing opening set.
Initially it seemed as if Tettenhall were rather nervous while Tameside
concentrated on playing the basics well. Very soon, however, Tigers’ taller
players imposed themselves on play and took their side to a 6:3 lead. Tameside
were not flustered and drew level at six all and from that point until 19:19
there was nothing to choose between the sides. There had been much excellent
serving, super recoveries and thoughtful play but Tameside seemed to become
over-concerned with defence as a spell of serving by Katie Beardsmore put them
under pressure.
They made no such error in the second, however,
despite Tigers’ greater use of the tall Katie Beardsmore as a setter in the Ben
Pipes mould. Tameside raced to a 1:6 lead and, although their opponents closed
to 6:8, held their nerve and slowly opened up a bigger and bigger gap in the
score. Tigers slowly got back on top in the third. Initially they matched their
northern rivals but from five all, they opened up a small lead to 13:9 before
exerting even more pressure to win the set comfortably.
Tigers maintained this momentum in the fourth and
seemed to have mastered their opponents when they took a long rally with a
block by Josie Atkinson for 8:2. However, a time out restored Tameside
determination and they slowly closed to 11:9 when Abi Murray began a spell of
inspired serving that both enthused her team mates and worried the recipients
and at 12:15 the mood turned to joy.
Premature, unfortunately. The next serve went into the net and very soon
it was fifteen all. Everything to play for and both teams gave their all. Then
an ace from Rachel Colley that followed two difficult serves crushed the
fighting Tameside spirit. It was 20:18 and Tigers raced to match point. Nerves?
Of course. Tameside pride? Aplenty. Five match points were saved before Josie
Atkinson smashed through the middle.
Tettenhall’s Vicky Wilson was chosen as Most
Valuable Player and I heard not a murmur of disagreement. She had played
outstandingly well, egged her team on when heads looked like dropping and
always posed a threat. The award was
thoroughly deserved. Mention must be made also of Tameside’s Faye Kennedy who
came to Sheffield after forfeiting a skiing trip so determined was she that he
team would do well. Well was not, in the end, good enough but she has the
consolation that, with a dozen others, she will have caught the Olympic
selectors’ eye.
Tigers had brought a troupe of cheerleaders to
lead their supporters and they both carried out this role in a joyful and
sensible manner and also entertained everyone else. Tameside support had been
orchestrated by a guy wearing a bear outfit covered by a gigantic replica red
team shirt. The girls went on to scrag
the man at the end and stole his head. They enjoyed it. He enjoyed it. We all
enjoyed it. Later they made up in a photo call. An appropriate end to a
wonderful match but no consolation to the losers who had come so far and so
close only to become runners-up.
Tettenhall Tigers:
Starting six: Josie Atkinson
(captain), Katie Beardsmore, Rachel Colley, Bethany Kendrick, Georgina Wheatley
and Vicky Wilson.
Libero: Ellie DeRosa.
Other players: Kelly Dean and
Isobel Finch.
Coach: Nick Shaffrey.
Tameside:
Starting six: Sarah Hallam,
Faye Kennedy (captain), Laura Larkin, Abi Murray, Rebekah Siddall and Kate
Taylor.
Libero: -
Other players: Lauren Birtles,
Ellie Connor and Jenny Smith.
Coach: Richard Jump.
Acknowledgements:
EVA web site and results service.