Jemima is ready to make step up
Sporting all-rounder Jemima Potter is poised to fill the breach in the ranks of the county's junior girls after an impressive return to tournament action.
Earls Barton girl Potter will not be 13 until the summer but already she is being touted as one of a handful of natural replacements for next year's 18s Northants squad, when the likes of Cassandra Dix Sophie Walker, Harriet Leach and Ellie Hall will disappear off the radar.
Niggling setbacks over the last 12 months, primarily a tendon issue in a wrist, have curtailed on-court duties for the Wellingborough School pupil whose range of activities also include international rounders and county hockey.
However, tennis remains her first love and she bounced back to winning form in eye-catching fashion in the recent Portcullis Spring Open Tournament, a Grade Four event in Oxford.
There, she chalked up three wins defeating Emma Towers 6-0, 6-1 and Rebecca Carman 6-2, 7-5 before repeating the latter scoreline in the final against Eleanor Yuill.
Potter's coach Richard Ward has been overseeing her progress for the last three years since the Northampton club member stepped out of the mini green category.
He said: "The great thing is that Jemima is back playing tournaments.
"She is planning to play in a Grade Three event in Warwick over Easter and is training for the 14 & under girls county cup in May when our girls are playing at King's Park. She is very talented.
"Girls grow at a faster rate at that age.
"But hopefully her growth spurt is behind her and we can look forward to a good year on the tennis court with her.
"At the moment she trains in the week with two squads at Corby and at Cherry Orchard on a Saturday.
"She has quite an aggressive, adult type of game. I have played mixed league matches with her and I expect her to be playing in Division One this year alongside Ellie Hall and Katie Kelsall who we also have at Northampton."
Meanwhile, Great Oakley junior Joe Tyler is gaining valuable experience in the 14&U category, despite having another year left at 12s.
His latest 'toe in the water' saw him emerge with one win and a loss in a MatchPlay event at Corby.
Tyler and Haworth are off to Nottingham and Sutton for two Grade Two events, with a Grade Three at Maidenhead sandwiched in between, all over the Easter holidays.
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Weather for Kettering
Monday 13 February 2012
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