BROMSGROVE youngster Josie Ward played a key part in helping Herefordshire & Worcestershire girls under-12s reach the County Cup finals.
Ward was part of the four-strong team, captained by Bromsgrove TC club-mate Luke Pettit and with Malvern’s Lucy Sanders as vice-captain, to win all four matches in their qualifiers in Wrexham.
Ward joined Pershore’s Caoimhe Guppy, Elmley Castle’s Bethany Pye and Stourbridge’s Sophia Jenkins-Howard in the team to book their finals place this weekend in Bolton.
Ward and Guppy held their nerve a thrilling shoot-out decider in the qualifying final against South Wales, saving match points on the way to winning 12-10 in fantastic style.
Despite Pye and Guppy falling just short in the singles, Ward had kept Hereford & Worcs in the tie to win 5-4 4-2 and then take the doubles 5-3 5-3.
The Two Counties had begun confidently after all the girls picked up strong wins in defeating Staffordshire and North Wales, both by 4-0 scorelines.
Then Ward and Guppy showed great battling qualities in the deciding doubles against Warwickshire in the semi-finals before winning 5-3 4-2 for a 3-1 verdict.
Ward had won her singles 4-2 4-2 against a tough player, Guppy rushed through 4-2 4-1 but Jenkins-Howard went down 10-4 in a match tie-break.
