Fitzwimarc extinguish the Flames to reach the Peter Gibbs Cup final
Catch up on what happened as Phoenix Flames met Fitzwimarc in the first Peter Gibbs Cup semi final!
Phoenix Flames hosted Fitzwimarc in the semi final of the Peter Gibbs Cup at Thorpe Hall on Sunday. Both sides had progressed comfortably from their quarter final ties, with Phoenix beating Fitz Seconds 8-1 and Fitzwimarc defeating Hawkwell 7-2.
Both teams were forced into one change from those teams that triumphed in the quarters. Natalie Smith replaced Sarah Hall for Fitzwimarc, while John Marshall came in for Greg Roffey for Phoenix Flames.
The home side got off to a great start as Farnaz Siddiq (-2) and Holly Hoswell-Sims (-5) came through to beat Natalie Smith (-13) and Pam Lee (-7) in three games. It looked as though it might be 2-0 as John Marshall (+2) and Jay Clark (-4) took the opening game against Zak Pryor (-7) and Harris Foster-Carter (-5). However, the Fitz pair responded well to win 21-13, 21-13 and level up the overall score at 1-1.
After two long matches to begin the semi final, the next two were much more straightforward. Natalie and Chloe Baker (-6) and Zak and Paul Chaplin (-8) both triumphed in straight games to put Fitz 3-1 up at the end of the level doubles.
Harris and Pam then faced Jay and Holly and avenged their defeat to them in the Ekco tournament the other week with a straight games win, 21-18, 21-12. This meant Paul and Chloe could seal a place in the final for Fitzwimarc with victory over John and Farnaz, and they did so with another straight game victory.
Danny Peach (-3) and Carly Horsler (-2) started well for Phoenix in the seventh rubber as they beat Zak and Natalie 21-17. However, the Fitz pairing took control and turned things around to win the third 21-17 and make it 6-1 overall.
Despite victory now being out of reach, Phoenix responded well and Jay and Holly saw off Chloe and Paul in straight games. Before Danny and Carly also did the same against Harris and Pam to better reflect a close contest between the two teams, with the final score 6-3 to Fitzwimarc. They will play either Phoenix Flames Seconds or reigning champions Riverside in the final in April.
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