With each of the four regional winners advancing to the National Finals at Bolton Arena next month, Bedford Girls’ School won the Midlands Finals in Tipton, West Midlands, in dramatic fashion.

Entering the tournament as number two seeds, matches consisted of four singles and two doubles rubbers, each played over a single set.

Maddie Axford, Alessia Milazzo, Breeanne Peer-Bonsu and Alexa Wilson made the perfect start, easing to a 6-0 whitewash of Wolverhampton Girls’ High School in the semi-final.

Knocking out number one seeds King’s High Warwick, Southwell Minster School waited in the final.

After six enthralling matches and the scores level at 3-3, the final was decided by a championship tiebreak.

Maddie Axford and Alexa Wilson raced into a 9-2 lead, needing just one more point to make the National Finals, but Southwell set up a tense finish by winning six successive points. Bedford Girls’ School weren’t to be denied, however, prevailing 10-8.

Jane Axford, Head of Sport at Bedford Girls’ School, said: “The girls faced tough opposition at the Midlands Finals but they did brilliantly to keep their cool in the final.

“This will serve them well at the National Finals, where they will be full of confidence.”