Report from Brenda Wilmot - Junior Team Manager

The Eastern Region Junior Team was Harry Waldie 15, Sam Mellen 13, and twins Chris and Gavin Wilmot 12. It was this team that last year won 5 games and came an equal 4th with East Midlands. This year in Division 2 they had their sights on winning all the games – not an easy task. Again, on age average, they were possibly the youngest team there.
On Saturday, in their first game against the London team which included two Chiltern players, they started a bit shaky but quickly picked up. As the game progressed, Harry’s shooting improved with Sam and Chris pointing well to win 13 – 7 in under the hour. Unfortunately, they had a 45mins wait for Sussex to finish their game. In this game, Harry, Sam and Gavin went down 2 – 7 before pulling it together in a most impressive way to win on a deciding last end 13 -12. Two games up with three to go.
In the last game of the morning against the Combined team, again with two Chiltern players, they were coming off a high after winning from behind and went 1 – 9 down but gradually pulled back to 11-10; again an excellent last end to win 13 -10. Three wins from three games: a great morning but not good for the team manager’s nerves!!!
In the afternoon, they played the strong Northern team with Harry, Chris and Gavin to give a Sam a rest. Maybe not the best choice, but they went to 9-7 up when the Northern team ‘subbed’ their weakest player resulting in their first loss 9-13. In the last game of the day with Harry, Chris and Sam against Thames Valley, they all played to their best and won 13 – 9. An excellent first day, winning 4 out of 5 games, and putting themselves in first position. As the games progressed they were showing not only skilful play but great tactics. And despite the appalling weather, they gave their all.
Out on Sunday with the first game against the Combined team, Chris, Sam and Harry were not playing well – pointing was poor and missing shots. Whatever they did it did not work!! A loss of 5 – 13 proved to be the lowest score over the two days. A deep breath and Harry, Sam and Gavin came out and played a much better game against Sussex, only losing in the last end from 10-10. In this game, Gavin did some excellent pointing with support from Sam and Harry’s shooting. In the 3rd game against Thames Valley it was Chris, Sam and Harry who won 13 -9 showing confidence in all aspects of the game with some excellent tactics and play.
After lunch, it was Harry, Sam and Gavin against London, going up to 9 – 0 before London came back. However, the lads dug deep and again won from an exciting last end of 12-12. At this point in the Div.2 Junior competition we were winning. The last game was against the strong Northern team that beat us on Saturday. With Harry, Sam and Chris playing, they went up to 9 – 2 when the Northern team scored 6 on one end to bring the score equal. There followed some excellent play on both sides before we came into the last end at 12 – 12. Unfortunately Northern won but not before some excellent play from our team.
Over the two days our lads went from strength to strength. They were very unlucky not to be top but only by points difference they were third. They won 6 games this year and were so close to winning at least three more. Well done lads – it was a privilege to be your team manager again. Next year – who knows!!!

Brenda Wilmot.