Cambridgeshire Boys team of Harry Wendelken, James Murphy, Michael Catt and Isaac Rowles travelled to Bolton Arena on Friday 15th June to play in the Aegon County Cup National Finals. The boys had come through a tough qualifying group having beaten both Essex and Norfolk in a tie break shoot out!
The competition sees the Counties divided into 8 Groups in the qualifying stages and then the winner of each Group progresses to the finals. Cambridgeshire initially had Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Bedfordshire in their qualifying group. Each match then consists of 3 singles matches and l doubles match and if the match is tied at 2 rubbers each then a tiebreak doubles shoot out match is played. Each match is the best of three short sets with the third set a tie-break to 10 points.
In the National Finals Cambridgeshire were drawn against the East of Scotland. First on court was Harry Wendelken against Sammy Ralston. Harry played a very solid match and worked the points well. The first set went to a tie-break which Harry won 7-2. Having got the upper hand he then cruised through the second set 4-1 to get Cambridgeshire off to a good start. Next up was James Murphy against Calum Bowmaker. James looked a little nervous and his opponent took advantage of this winning the first set 4/1, but James fought back in the second set to take a 3 -1 lead but was unable to capitalise on this and lost the set 5-3.
Michael Catt playing at number 3 again was a little nervous to start with and lost the first set 4-1 but then fought back to take the second 4-0 and then just held his nerve in the match tie-break. Having lead 8-4 in the tie –break he was pegged back to 8 points all but then won the next 2 points to give Cambs a 2- 1 match lead.
In the doubles Wendelken and Murphy paired up against Bowmaker and Ralston. They lost the first set 2-4, played beautifully in the second to take this 4-0 but unfortunately made too many mistakes in the tie –break and lost this 7-10.
The same four players then played the tie-break shoot out but again made too many unforced errors and the Scots won 10-6. This was a shame as it was a match that perhaps Cambridgeshire might have won.
In the second match Cambridgeshire played Hampshire and I of W. Harry Wendelken played well but his opponent Ryan Goldsworthy was too consistent for him and won 4-0, 4-1.Likewise James Murphy was not strong enough for Cameron Clarke and lost 1-4, 2-4.
This meant Michael Catt had to win his match to keep the tie alive. Michael got off to a good start against Outek Dinapala and took the first set 4-1. He then lost his way and lost the second set 4-0 and Outek then led 6-1 in the tie break but Michael fought back to 6 all, lost the next two points to trail 8-6 but then won four points in a row to take the tie-break 10-8.
Harry played with Isaac Rowles in the doubles and initially they took the first 2 games but then lost the next 4 to trail 2-4. In the second set they lost 3 deuce points – they play sudden death deuce and lost the set 1-4.
In the last match against Avon all the boys played well and beat their opponents in straight set. Harry beat Freddie Middleton 4-0, 4-2, James beat James Thomas4-2, 5-4; Michael beat Jonathon Sedcole 5-4, 4-1 and then Harry and Isaac beat Middleton and Billy 4-2, 4-0 so the boys ended on a high.
It was a great experience for them all and a special mention for Harry Wendelken for his effort as he really held the team together and for Michael Catt who won all his singles. Captain Sue Rich – said ‘It was a great team effort for the boys to get to Bolton and with a little luck they could have made the semifinals.’