Super Steph helps Sussex to glory

Steph Trill was a key part of the Sussex team which clinched the Women’s 35 Inter-County Championships 2014 at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne.

Trill was joined by new captain Julie Hanger (from Horsham), Brighton pair Julie Hobbs and Helen Mitchell, Kate Bloomfield (Henfield), and Jenny Hughes (Eastbourne), who like Trill plays at Hampden Park Tennis Club in Eastbourne.

Sussex began with a 5-0 victory over Hereford & Worcester, in which they only dropped one set across the two singles and three doubles rubbers. Trill was a 7-5, 6-4 winner over Jo Shepherd in the number one singles.

Sussex then beat Leicestershire 4-1 the following day. Trill came from behind to edge out Anne Meredith 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 (match tie-break). Sussex won the other singles match and two of the doubles rubbers in straight sets, but lost the remaining doubles.

Sussex lost 3-2 in their final match against Lancashire, who won both of the singles and one doubles match. Trill was involved in another tight singles battle, but this time was pipped 6-3, 5-7, 4-10 by Gillian Brown.

That meant Sussex, Leicestershire and Lancashire all finished with four points from their three matches, although Sussex won 11 of their 15 rubbers whereas the other two only won eight. Sussex also won seven more sets than Leicestershire and Lancashire, and had a better percentage of sets and games won.