Dorset’s U12s endured a challenging time at the regional leg of the Aegon County Cup after coming up against some top class opposition.
The squad, made up from; Ben Samuel, Luke Chappell, Douglas Trimmer and Thomas Powell, were draw with Kent and Buckinghamshire in Group A of the overall Boys group F of the Aegon County Cup.
The three-team group played their matches at the West Worthing Tennis and Squash Club and Dorset took on Buckinghamshire in their opening tie. Powell and Samuel faced tough tasks in their singles matches against Benjamin Smith and Jack Chapman respectively, despite some spirited resistance and smart tennis they were unable to stop their opponents, Powell was beaten 4-0, 4-2 and Samuel went down 4-2, 4-1.
In the third singles match Chappell was able to keep the tie alive after coming from a set down to win 1-4, 4-2, 1-0(5) against Dylan Smith. Chappell then combined with Powell for the doubles, but the pair were unable to rescue the tie after being beaten by Chapman and Mathew Blood 5-4(3), 4-0.
Up next was Kent, who had earlier whitewashed Buckinghamshire, in a match that Dorset had to win to keep alive their hopes of progression. Unfortunately for the team, Kent were in top form and despite the best efforts of the Dorset players, defeat in all three singles matches left the tie out of the grasp. Samuel was beaten 4-0, 4-0 by Anton Matusevich, Chappell by the same score to Michael Owen and Douglas Trimmer went down 4-2, 4-2 to Harvey Conway. However, Dorset did show their fighting spirit by winning the doubles match of the tie. Trimmer and Samuel beat Conway and Martin Thomas 4-2, 2-4, 1-0(4).
In the 5th and 6th place play-off, Dorset took on Sussex in what turned out to be remarkable close match. So close, in fact, that the two teams couldn’t be separated after the four matches of the tie. Powell was beaten by Harvey Kilsby 1-4, 4-1, 1-0(5) and Trimmer lost 4-1, 5-3 to Matthew Spencer. Chappell then struck back with a 2-4, 4-0, 1-0(7) win over Callum Thoms before Powell and Samuel combined to win the doubles match against Kilsby and Thoms 4-2, 5-4(5). The match finished with both teams having won 2 rubbers, 5 sets and twenty five games each.
Click Here for more information on Dorset’s group at the Aegon County Cup
By Harry Lund