Day 4 of the 56th European Youth Championships was a day full of epic encounters in the Battle for the final positions.
Junior Girls – Ashley Givan, Hannah Lynch-Dawson and Emma Ludlow
Today the Junior Girls had one match in the playoff semi-final for position 33rd-36th. They played Iceland and melted them away with some great performances, Hannah beat TOMASDOTTIR 3-1 after dropping the first set 12-10. Ashley comfortably beat FINNSDOTTIR in straight sets showing no mercy taking the second set without dropping a point, Emma wrapped up victory with a straight sets victory over BJARNADOTTIR. The Junior Girls won 3-0.
Click here for Knock-out sheet, the Junior Girls are through to the Play-offs and are playing for 33rd or 34th against BULGARIA, which is made of Krasimira YOVKOVA (ER: 198), Reyhan MEHMED and Monika TSANEVA. The match is being played tomorrow at 10 o’clock (GMT).
Ireland 3 Iceland 0
Hannah LYNCH-DAWSON beat Sigrun Ebba TOMASDOTTIR 3-1 (10-12, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7)
Ashley GIVAN beat Hrefna FINNSDOTTIR 3-0 (11-8, 11-0, 11-6)
Emma LUDLOW beat Kolfinna BJARNADOTTIR 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-6)
Cadet Boys – Zak Wilson, Alexander Gillen and Owen Cathcart
The Cadet Boys had a day of what could have been, they had one match against Finland but one that could have went either way. KANTONISTOV beat Zak is a dramatic 5 setter which Zak led 2-1, but unfortunately the Finn just saw of Zak taking the fifth 11-9. Alexander played European Number 36 Jan NYBERG but his experience was too much for Alex as he won in straight sets. The Boys were not about to be defeated without a fight, NYBERG was teamed up with FLEMMING, Zak and Alex got off to a great start taking the first 2 sets, it was looking good until the Finns stole the third game 13-11, they also took the fourth and the decider went right down to the wire and again Team Ireland came up on the wrong side of the 11 losing 13-11.
Click here for Round 2 Final Group Standings; the Cadet boys play SAN MARINO in the morning at 8 o’clock (GMT). The Boys are playing for position 38th or 39th. The San Marino team is Federico GIARDI (ER: 242) and Davide MUCCIOLI (ER: 245). Click here for the match sheet.
Finland 3 Ireland 0
Mikhail KANTONISTOV (ER: 113) beat Zak WILSON 3-2 (8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9)
Jan NYBERG (ER: 36) beat Alexander GILLEN 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-4)
NYBERG / Veikka FLEMMING (ER: 104) beat WILSON/GILLEN 3-2 (9-11, 5-11, 13-11, 11-6, 13-11)
Cadet Girls – Katie McGlone, Chloe O’Halloran, Rebecca Finn
The Cadet Girls played 2 matches today, they finished off their Round 2 group with their match against Norway. Rebecca got a 2-0 lead over Rebekka CARLSEN but the Norwegian took three on the trot taking the match 12-10 in the fifth. Katie MCGLONE had a sensational win over European Number 52 Ilka DOVAL, she held nothing back and took the match in straight sets dropping only 19 points along the way. It was 1-1 going into the Doubles, and the Norwegian pair showed their experience and came through in straight sets. Rebecca kept hopes alive as she took the first set against DOVAL but it wasn’t to be and DOVAL took the next three to give Norway a 3-1 victory. That all meant Ireland Cadet Girls would head to the Playoff group 35th to 37th along with Switzerland and Scotland, their first opponents would be Switzerland this evening. LINKE the Swiss Number 1 defeated Chloe in straight sets. Katie continued on from her earlier success and beat BRUNNER 12-10 in the fourth set. It was all to play for going in the doubles, they dropped the first but took the second in an epic 15-13 battle but the Swiss pair came through in the end taking the doubles 3-1. Katie gave LINKE a good match but it wasn’t to be as she lost 11-9 in the fifth.
Click here for Round 2 Final Group Standings; the Cadet Girls play SCOTLAND tomorrow at 2 o’clock (GMT). The Scotland team is Lucy ELLIOT (ER: 124) and Rachel CRAWFORD. Click here for the Playoff Group 35th-37th.
Round 2 – Norway 3 Ireland 1
Rebekka CARLSEN (ER:207) beat Rebecca FINN 3-2 (8-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10)
Katie MCGLONE beat Ilka DOVAL (ER:52) 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-4)
CARLSEN / DOVAL beat FINN / MCGLONE 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-2)
Ilka DOVAL beat Rebecca FINN 3-1 (9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-4)
Playoff Group – 35-37 – Switzerland 3 Ireland 1
Camille-Chloe LINKE (ER:68) beat Chloe O’HALLORAN 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-4)
Katie MCGLONE beat Nicole BRUNNER (ER: 194) 3-1 (11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10)
LINKE / BRUNNER beat MCGLONE / FINN 3-1 (11-7, 13-15, 11-8, 11-7)
Camille-Chloe LINKE beat Katie MCGLONE 3-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9)
For the full draws check out the ETTU Results page.
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