Cambs boys excelled in the U10 County Cup that was played in Norfolk. Despite the poor conditions on the 2nd day, Cambs came through in what was a tense affair.
It started with a match against the favourites Essex, and Isaac Rowles lost 0-4 1-4 to Jonathon Price before James Murphy went down 1-4 1-4 to Joseph Lampon. It meant that Harry Wendelken had to win to keep Cambs in the tie and he came through an enthralling contest 5-4 (4) 2-4 10-5 in the match tiebreak. At one point, Harry even got his foot stuck in the back fence during the point and managed to win it somehow.
With each tie consisting of 3 singles and 1 doubles, it meant Cambs were 2-1 down with the doubles to play at the end of the day after the singles against Suffolk.
This time Michael Catt played at number 3 and lost a tight match 3-5 4-0 8-10 in the match tiebreak before James Murphy got 3-0 ahead before his opponent retired injured. Harry Wendelken was up next against Travis Ireland and the result never looked in doubt after the 1st game and Harry came through 4-1 4-1 which meant a 2-1 lead.
Back to the doubles against Essex and Harry and James beat Jonathon Price and Samuel King with some enthralling volleying play 4-1 4-1. This meant as the match was tied 2-2, it would be decided by a match tiebreak. Cambs kept their nerve and came out 10-6 winners. A fantastic achievement.
Cambs went in to the Suffolk doubles knowing that a win would put them in the driving seat as Essex and Suffolk were the two strongest counties and they got off to a poor start losing the 1st set 1-4 before coming back strong in the 2nd set to take that 5-3. Another match tiebreak and Cambs came through 10-8 to mean two wins from two to put Cambs top of the table going in to the 2nd day.
With the rain pouring down, it was decided to change the format to one short set on 3 courts and Michael Catt got Cambs of to a great start winning 4-0 against Ben Chapman before James Murphy lost 3-5 after having a match point. Harry then pulled Cambs clear with a 4-0 win over Daniel Long Martinez.
Bedfordshire, who hadn’t won a tie yet were the last to play Cambs and they quickly fell 3-0 down with wins for Isaac Rowles, James Murphy and Harry Wendelken.
In the doubles against Norfolk, Harry Wendelken and Michael Catt lost 2-4 which meant another match tiebreak – Cambs’s 3rd and yet again Harry and James came through with a 10-6 win. The win guaranteed top place in the table and a place in the finals in Bolton where Cambs will be joined by seven other counties who won their region.
Captain Chris Johnson said “Harry was the key as he won some crucial matches, especially a couple of the doubles with James, but it was a team effort and they all contributed. It was a great achievement, and one that we thought was possible but we knew the first day was the important one as both Essex and Suffolk would trouble us and they did. “