Division 3
Gosling Tennis Centre, Welwyn Garden City
Team: Ollie Palmer, Sam Tullett, Jasper Richardson, Rhodri Atkinson, Aaron Osmond, Kai Peters, Zach Webb and Will Barrett.
Captains: Nick Edwards & Mark Willis
Day 1, TEAM GLOS VS SUFFOLK:
An early 9.30 AM Start for the 4 5 and 6 singles players, Aaron Osmond, Rhodri Atkinson and Kai Peters. County Cup U18 debuts for all 3 players. There were clear signs of nerves early on, Rhodri and Aaron losing their first sets 6-2 and 6-3 respectively, despite playing some inspired tennis. Kai raced to a 5-1 lead then his level dropped before eventually taking the hard fought set 7-5. The first set took it out of Kai. Losing 6-1 in the third amongst a mass of tough deuce games. Rhodri showed good fighting spirit saving 4 match points but losing 6-2 6-2 to a brilliant performance from his opponent. Credit to Aaron despite his straight loss, he was the only one to convert a break point out of the 43 the team had on the day, playing big points brilliantly as usual. (1/43 break points won, very high percentage ;)
Oliver Palmer lost an extremely tight no.1 singles 7-6 6-4 against the British equivalent of John Isner. The only break coming in the very last game of the match. Ollie played a superb match overall but breakpoint opportunities were scarce throughout. Sam Tullet struggled through a knee injury but battled hard, losing a close 6-3 6-3 battle, one break per set. In the 3 singles Jaspar Richardson struggled on the slow courts narrowly losing 7-6 6-4 to a great performance from his opponent.
Will Barrett and Zach Webb were subbed in for the doubles and despite some moments of flare tennis, all 3 doubles matches were lost in straight sets.
Day 2, TEAM GLOS VS LEICESTERSHIRE
Zach Webb made his singles county cup debut on day 2. Zach played an excellent first set winning it 6-2. However after a hard battle Zach was broken in the very last game of the third set to lose out a tight, highly competitive match 6-4 in the third. At 5 Kai Peters again started with too many errors going down 5-1, he fought back on serve to 4-4 then was broken after some inspired returns from his opponent. The second set the level raised however Kai failed to capitalise on break and game point opportunities losing out 6-4 6-3, only 1 break in the second set.
Aaron Osmond played an extremely high level throughout the match, playing an inspired 2nd set but eventually losing out 6-3 in the third vs a much older opponent, although it was a brilliant performance from Aaron. However positive things were coming. Oliver Palmer played some intelligent tennis, his fitness supreme over his opponent to edge the no.1 singles 6-3 in the third. Sam Tullett was out hit in the first set losing it 6-3 with one break to a superb server. Despite leading 3-0 in the second set Sam was ousted 6-4 but the match was very high quality. Rhodri Atkinson lost a tight first set but let 3-1 40-15 in the second but a solid performance from his opponent meant he lost 6-4.
Some brilliant doubles was played by Leicestershire winning the 1 and 3 pair but some great volleys meant Sam Tullett and Zach Webb won 10-7 in the champs tiebreak. Finally capitalising on break point opportunities.
Day 3: TEAM GLOS V NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Aaron Osmond kicked off the day with a superb performance at #4 winning 6-0 6-2, playing some brilliant aggressive tennis along the way. After a questionable first set losing it comfortably Kai remained on serve throughout the second. After breaking his opponents serve when serving for the match, the second set went to a tie break, after leading 3-0 up some tight points meant Kai narrowly lost out 7-6 in the second set.
Zach Webb fought hard after losing the first set to bring it back level but after a tough 3 setter the previous day fatigue got the better of him losing 6-4 in the third set despite having some chances to be up. Rhodri Atkinson produced an inspired performance at #3 winning 6-2 6-1, extremely clinical performance against a tricky opponent. Sam Tullett still struggling through injury lost convincingly to a brilliant display of backhands from his opponent.
In the #1 singles Oliver Palmer took on an ATP ranked player. Ollie narrowly lost the first set 6-4 and broke serve when receiving to stay in the match at 4-5 in the second. Ollie then went on the have a set point at 6-5 up but eventually lost in a second set tiebreak despite an excellent performance from Ollie against a world class opponent. Rhodri and Zach split the first 2 sets of the #3 doubles winning the second set tiebreak 7-0 but losing out in the championship tiebreak 10-6. A tough campaign for TEAM GLOS but bring on 2017!