As captain I decided to take the team to Taunton by train to build team moral and ensure we arrived in good time to practice the day before the competition.
On the first day we were drawn to play South Wales, (the strongest team on paper). We knew this was going to be a crucial match and all the player were highly motivated for what lied ahead. We felt it was vital to get off to a good start and pick up rubbers lower down the order as the South Wales top 2 players were very strong. Unfortunately we were 2-2 after the first 2 singles with Josh Wilson and James Morris winning great matches but Josh L and Jack went down fighting. Both Sam and Will put up strong resistance at numbers 1 & 2 respectively but eventually went down in straight sets. The doubles was almost inevitable with our third pair winning and the top two losing. 6-3 was the overall score but everyone did there best!
Day 2 saw Somerset as our opponents and a tough match in prospect. This appeared to be an even bigger challenge when out number 1 player woke up wit a crook neck and couldn’t move. A quick chat between Sam and I (get on with it and toughen up!) and some healing gel got him ready to play despite his clear discomfort. We made some changes to the team bringing Chad in at number 6. Chad and Josh W got us off to a flying start and we didn’t look back. Wins also for James and Will saw us take a commanding 4-1 lead. Incredibly Sam went on unable to serve over 50 mph and with limited movement but some how in what can only be described as pulling a rabbit out of a hat won 64 63.
This meant we had won the match and I decide to pull Sam out of the doubles to rest him for the final days play. All 3 doubles pairs won (James & Josh L, Ben & Josh W and Will & Jack) making the final score 8-1.
Day 3 was a relegation match against Durham & Cleveland. We had to win to guarantee survival in the division but if South Wales slipped up we could also still get promotion.
It was all a bit of an anti climax. We were 5-0 up by lunch time and South Wales had done the same to Somerset! Durham & Cleveland decided to concede the remaining matches and head off on there 7 hour journey home.
Overall the team performed well and all did the county proud with fantastic team spirit shown throughout the whole weekend. It’s a shame we didn’t get promoted but I assure you we will be trying even harder next year!
The 3 players that stood out for me over the event were Chad Richard, who played 2 singles matches after not playing the first day and thrashed his opponents with two really good performances. Josh Wilson who as the youngest member of the team showed great grit in some of his matches and was unbeaten all weekend and James Morris who also went unbeaten all weekend with 5 wins from 5.
Finally, a special fair well to Sam and Ben who will be too old to compete next year. Both have contributed a great deal to the team over the years and they will be sorely missed.
Come on Cambs!!!!
Hamid Hejazi (team captain)