Devon was edged out in a dramatic final against Somerset at the regional stage of the AEGON 10U Inter County Competition. With a team boasting the talents of Joel While, Bradley Phillips and Freddie James, Devon were expected to do well in their quest to reach the national finals in Bolton. All the boys did their county proud and should consider themselves very unfortunate not to have won.
On the first day Devon swept aside an under strength Cornish side, with all three boys winning their singles and one doubles matches easily and then faced a strong Somerset side. Each of the boys put in a sterling effort in tight singles matches and fought their way to victory. Freddie James outlasted the tricky Thomas Tribe 4-2, 4-2, Bradley Phillips dug deep to grind out a 4-2, 0-4 (10-7) win over Robbie Davies, despite being 5-1 down in the deciding championship tiebreak. Joel While capped off an accomplished display by beating Somerset rival Ed Shattock 4-2, 4-0. The fantastic singles performances meant the doubles was a dead rubber and that Devon had topped their group.
In the semi-finals the Devon lads continued where they’d left off the day before, brushing aside the Channel Islands with consummate ease, 4-0. The result meant the boys were in the final, where they faced the Somerset side they had beaten comfortably the day before. Unlike the previous day where matches took place on indoor courts, this time the matches were outside with gusty winds adding to the tension.
First on court were Joel and Freddie, playing the same opponents they had played previous. Both boys looked understandably nervous in their first sets and started shakily. But Freddie fought back from 3-1 down to force a tiebreak, at the same time Joel had also battled to a tiebreak in his first set. The tension for all watching was unbearable, but both boys held their nerve with great composure and maturity. Freddie winning his tiebreak 10-8, and Joel winning his with a little more ease 7-2. Both the first sets seemed decisive, as both boys turned on the style in the second sets winning them 4-0.
Next on court was Bradley Phillips. Bradley played with great composure and a positive attitude throughout his match against Robbie Davies, but sadly for the Devon boy, Somerset’s Robbie hit a hot streak and played unstoppable tennis, winning through 4-2, 4-0. The score line sounds convincing but the games were all very tight with Robbie winning six out of six sudden death deuce games. Never the less, Bradley had performed admirably and with his fair play had done his county proud.
So Devon took a 2-1 lead heading into the doubles. This time Freddie and Joel were paired together against Robbie and Ed. In a tight first set the Devon boys were edged out 4-2 with again the difference being a couple of sudden death points. In the second set the Devon boys turned on the style and showed just what they can do winning it 4-0. So it came down to a championship tiebreak, and despite going 3-0 up the boys crashed to a 10-6 defeat.
With points even a doubles championship tiebreak had to be played. The boys again started well going 4-0 up. But as the gusty winds increased, nerves started to get the better of the Devon pair and many double faults gifted their Somerset opponents a 9-6 lead. However, as they had done throughout the weekend both boys dug deep and kept fighting, saving all three match points in a row. They then saved a fourth at 10-9 making it 10-10, and the Devon players were just two points away from the trip to Bolton.
Frustratingly a miss-hit shot from Somerset's Shattock landed plum on the baseline when it had looked to have been heading out, it was a cruel way to bring up a fifth match point for Somerset. This time they converted it.
Coach Pete Odgers said, "The result was very harsh on the boys who, over the course of two days have beaten Somerset 5-1 in singles rubbers and won more sets and games in the final than their opponents. Nevertheless, they can all hold their heads up high knowing they fought until the end and conducted themselves in a positive manner throughout. I'm sure this will spur each of the boys onto greater success in future county cups."