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www.kentnews.co.uk for all the news and sport WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY 7, 2010 sports I 69
INJURY plagued defender Nick
Davis could make a long-awaited
appearance for Tonbridge Angels
before the end of the season after
having a minor operation on his
troubled Achilles.
The experienced centre-back signed for
the Angels at the end of last season from
Kent rivals Ramsgate, but an Achilles
injury picked up before pre-season means
Davis hasn't kicked a ball in anger since
making the switch to Longmead.
The defender had cortisone injections and
continued physiotherapy in a bid to get to
the root of the problem, but his efforts
proved fruitless until he was introduced to
the England team's doctor.
Cleared up
He diagnosed the problem and Davis
had a small operation and is hopeful of get-
ting back out on the pitch before the end of
the season.
Boss Tommy Warrilow said: "Nick went to
see the England doctor and he seems to have
got to the bottom of it and it seems to have
cleared up.
"It's going to take him some time to get
back but he wants to try and make himself
available before the end of the season. I've
been disappointed for him and I know he has
been fed up sitting on the sidelines."
The Angels boss was also quick to deny
Davis had been paid by the club whilst out
injured, but did say even if he is unable to
play again this season, he will sign him for
Tonbridge again next season.
"The lad has not cost this club one penny,"
he said. "He has spent a fortune of his own
money trying to sort this out and he's now
had an operation and hopefully this time he
has had the right diagnosis.
"Hopefully he returns for us this year
because he is a good player,but I wouldn't hes-
itate in re-signing him next season if he isn't."
By GLENN PEARSON
Defender hopes to be
fit in the Nick of time
Davis aims for Angels debut before end of season
TWO under-18 sides recog-
nised as the best in the busi-
ness meet in one of women's
basketball's showpiece occa-
sions today, with both dreaming
of cup glory.
Sevenoaks Suns and Haringey
Angels are already locked in a
tussle to secure the EBL South
league title and this afternoon go
head-to-head in the Nottingham
Wildcats Arena seeking to rub-
ber-stamp their credentials as
queens of the court.
Manchester Mystics have dom-
inated the competition in recent
times, taking home the trophy in
four of the last five years, but
today's all-south affair promises to
be something special.
Angels broke the Mystics'
stranglehold to win in 2008, but
the Suns hold the under-16
National Cup and a large part of
that team will line up in
Nottingham this afternoon.
Head coach Len Busch has
stressed to his side the impor-
tance of enjoying the occasion
and promised the Suns would be
fully prepared for the big stage.
"Everybody's excited about it,"
he said. "Most of the girls played
in the under-16 cup final last
year, but this will be the
biggest game they've played in.
"Pressure is all part of it � the
day before, the morning of the
game, the warm-up � it all con-
tributes to the occasion. I've
just told the girls to take in the
experience."
The final is one of four games
which make up the Women's
Day of Basketball, with the
under-16 cup final and National
Trophy final preceding the finale
� the women's all-star game, in
which the Suns' Renee Busch
will line up for England against a
`Rest of the World' side.
Femi Hamilton, meanwhile, will
collect the under-16 player of the
year award to complete a special
day for Sevenoaks, although
Busch knows they must be at
theirbesttobringhomethespoils.
He said: "We've played them
[Angels] in big games before,
they've got quite a bit of talent
and if they're firing on all cylin-
ders they're a match for anyone."
Sevenoaks Suns v
Haringey Angels
PEMBURY are the New Age Kurling
champions of Tunbridge Wells, after seeing off
the challenge of nine other schools in last
month's championships, held at the Skinners
Kent Academy.
The sport is a version of curling that can be
played on any smooth surface, allowing play-
ers to get a feel of the traditional winter game
without having to find an ice rink.
Pembury fielded three sides and their `B'
squad ran out winners after victory over St
Mark's A in the final.
St John's, St Peter's, Southborough, St
Jame's Junior,Horsmonden,St Matthew's and
Broadwater all took part in the event, organ-
ised by the Tunbridge Wells School Sports
Partnership.
In the Weald championships Frittenden
were dominant, with their `A' team beating
their `B' team in the final.
The teams qualified for the final after seeing
off competition from Headcorn, John Mayne,
High Halden, Sissinghurst, Benenden, St
Michaels, Lamberhurst, Goudhurst &
Kilndown, Sandhurst and Cranbrook in the
event, which was held at Homewood School in
Tenterden.
TONBRIDGE Athletic Club's superb cross-
country season continues after the team
returned from the South of England
Championships last weekend with a big
medals haul.
They won two team titles at the event in
north London, plus two silver team medals
and two individual medals.
While Tonbridge traditionally dominate the
Kent county scene, the regional champi-
onships are a significantly higher standard.
The biggest surprise of the day was the vic-
tory for the under-20 women's team, who won
the title by just three points from Shaftesbury
Barnet. Grace Nicholls set them up after fin-
ishing third overall and was backed up by
Catherine Symons (20th), Jess Owen (29th)
and Petra Pavlovic in (41st) to earn the team
victory.
Mark Hookway, one of Tonbridge's cross-
country managers, was delighted with all the
results, but was particularly pleased with the
strength of the older age groups.
He said: "Bit by bit we are making progress
and holding on to a few of the older ones. It
was nice for the under-20 women, some of
them have been at the club since they were 11
and this was their first major medal."
No less dramatic was the under-13 boys'
team victory. Although the squad lost three
members to illness the day before the champi-
onships, they remained one of the favourites
for the title until George Duggan lost one of
his spiked shoes 1500-metres from the finish.
Despite struggling on the terrain he came
home second, helping win the team title along
with Stuart Brown (18th), Euan Nicholls
(27th) and Miles Weatherseed (31st).
There were also silver medals for the boys
under-15s and under-17s, with the latter's B
team coming fourth.
SUCCESS: (l-r) Tonbridge under-13 boys,
Miles Weatherseed, Stuart Brown, George
Duggan and Euan Nicholls
BIG DAY: Femi Hamilton (left) and her Suns team-mates face a tough test against Haringey
Kurling champions
smooth operators
Cross-country
medals haul
for under-13s
TIP-OFF 1PM AT NOTTINGHAM WILDCATS ARENA
Suns set
for their
biggest
court test
to date
Suns set
for their
biggest
court test
to date
RECOVERY: Nick Davis (pictured playing for Ramsgate) could make his Tonbridge Angels
debut before the end of the season after a successful operation on his Achilles heel injury
Picture: NICK DUNGAN
Picture:TONBRIDGEAC
Picture:DAVESTEWART

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