AEGON 18&U Junior County Cup - Boys Group 4B, Easton College, Norwich 4th - 6th March, 2011
Teams in Group 4B - Norfolk, Northumberland, Suffolk & Derbyshire
Derbyshire Team (in alphabetical order and LTA rating):-
Curtis Clarke 6.1
Jacob East 6.2
Mark Eastall 7.1
Philip Gardiner 6.2
Jonathon Hughes 7.1
Jamie Praditngam 7.2
James Riley 6.1
Ben Rushby 7.2
Mandeep Singh Sangha 7.1
Harry Winter 5.2
Non- Travelling Reserve:-
Will Chick 7.2
The 18 and under Boys Team made the long cross-country journey to East Anglia to compete in Group 4B at Easton College, Norwich. With a change in the competitive age group qualification coming into force during 2010, three of the boys in the 2010 team, for whom it would have been their final year competing, were able to qualify for selection this year, Chris Simpson, Sam Ashcroft and Harry Winter. However, Chris had earlier this year taken up a University place in America, Sam at Oxford University, was unable to take the necessary time off his studies, were both unable to take up the invitation to be included in the squad. Harry Winter, though studying at Birmingham University and now playing for their tennis team now, made himself available for selection. Mark Eastall, Philip Gardiner, Ben Rushby and Jamie Praditngam were included in the team for the first time with a view to looking to the future.
The host county, Norfolk, were the opposition on the opening day, Friday and a better start could not have been hoped for, with winning the opening first five singles matches. Mandeep Singh Sangha, Philip Gardiner and Jacob East all had convincing victories, especially Philip, dropping only a game in each set in an impressive showing in his first appearance at Junior County Cup. James Riley had a much closer match winning 7 - 6, 7 - 5 as did Curtis Clarke winning 6 - 1, 6 - 4, but playing in the number one singles position, Harry Winter lost a close match in three sets 3 -6, 6 - 3, 2 - 6.
Jonathon Hughes and Mandeep Singh Sangha took the first doubles match to be played 6 -2, 6 -3, but the remaining two doubles matches, Jacob East and Ben Rushby, Curtis Clarke and Harry Winter were both lost. Possibly a little complacency had crept in and the team had lost their focus after obtaining a match winning position after the completion of the singles matches of 5 - 1. Nonetheless, a first day victory of 6 - 3 was a credit to the team aligned with some good individual performances.
Suffolk, who had been narrowly beaten by Northumberland, 5 - 4 on the first day were the opponents on Saturday and a more difficult match was expected. Mandeep Singh Sangha once again provided a platform for the day, again winning with another convincing display the opening singles match 6 -3, 6 - 2, but Philip Gardiner after an almost faultless match the previous day, lost a tight three set match, 6 - 3, 6 - 7, 4 - 6. After a difficult start, Jacob East came through to win after dropping the first set, 3 - 6, 6 - 1, 6 - 1, his opponent retiring hurt at 4 - 1 down in the final set. The next three singles matches were all lost, James Riley losing out in another three set match after taking the first set 6 - 0 and Curtis Clarke also in two closely contested sets. Once again Jonathon Hughes and Mandeep Singh Sangha took the third doubles pairing match, but both the other doubles matches were lost, although keenly contested. Curtis Clarke and Harry Winter losing out in a close third set championship tiebreak set 12 - 10. The final match score of 6 - 3, being a reverse of the previous day. On reflection, this was a day of missed opportunities, which if taken would have produced a very different final result, there had been four 3 set matches during the day and only one of them won.
The final day arrived and Northumberland, who were now unbeaten after a resounding 8 - 1 victory over Norfolk on the Saturday, were to provide challenging opposition. However, Northumberland with two wins and Suffolk and ourselves with one win each, the promotion issue, on paper, was still very much in the balance at the start of the day. Mark Eastall was given the opportunity to make his debut in the opening singles match and gave a good account of himself, but lost in a close three set match, 4 - 6, 6 - 1, 3 - 6. Mandeep, who was then promoted in the singles in order to facilitate this, once again maintained his unbeaten singles record for the event with a 6 - 2, 6 - 3 victory, followed by Jacob East repeating this feat with a score of 6 - 3, 6 - 3. Possibly the next singles match was to be the turning point of the day, with James Riley involved in a 3 1/4 hour match with Sam Lemberger, for whom this was his third 3 hour match in three days, James eventually losing out 6 - 3, 4 - 6, 6 - 7.Ben Lott and John Thompson, Northumberland's first and second singles players were both too strong for Harry Winter and Curtis Clarke. Jonathon Hughes paired up with Jamie Praditgnam in the third doubles match with a sound 6 - 3, 6 - 1 win, Jonathon also completing a hat-trick of doubles victories. With the match standing at 4 - 3 in favour of Northumberland, just one more doubles match was played before a halt was called when it became clear both promotion and relegation issues had been settled, Northumberland winning overall 5 - 3.
In conclusion, the objective of the weekend was first and foremost to retain the team's position in Group 4B after the narrowest of relegation issues in 2010, this had been achieved. Looking to the future, four of the team were playing for the first time in the 18 and Under competition and it was pleasing the opportunity arose for all to play in 'live' singles and doubles matches, an important point for the players and their future involvement in the years ahead. Finally, I cannot speak too highly of the performances of Mandeep and Jacob for winning all of their three singles and Jonathon for his three doubles victories. Also, the help and support of team coach, Robert Briggs, who prepared and conducted practice sessions both prior to the event and each morning before the start of the three days of competition commencing, together with his on-court and post match analysis for all the players.
Results:-
Derbyshire beat Norfolk 6 - 3
Suffolk beat Derbyshire 6 – 3
Northumberland beat Derbyshire 5 - 3
John G. Briggs
18&U Boys Team Manage