With Wimbledon come and gone and the London Olympics just around the corner it was time for the mighty Kent mens team to fire it up for our annual battle down on the courts of Devonshire park in County Cup’s top division.
Photo courtesy of James Jordan Photography
The Kent Squad
1.Andy Burgoyne(captain)
2. Robert Searle (vice captain)
3. Jim May
4.Nick Cavaday
5.Lewis Burton
6.Matthew Short
7.Alastair Filmer
8. Sean Thornley
9.Francis Sargeant
10.Paul Cook
Day 1 vs Cheshire
Newly promoted Cheshire were eager to cement their status as a division 1 team and with a combination of experience and youth would prove to be a test that we must pass to have any chance of threatening the trophy this year. We lined up with Cavaday/Thornley, May/Sargeant and the old school partnership of Burgoyne/Searle. Round 1 saw new boy Francis Sargeant start brightly with Jim May, but finally taking a loss in straight sets. Meanwhile Cavaday and Thornley smashed their way through to level at one rubber each. So to Captain Burgoyne and back from injury Robert Searle, could they be as good as they once were? The jury was out on that one, but they were too tough to beat in round one as they gave Kent the lead in three sets, 2-1 Kent. Round 2 had an easy win for Sargent and May, but no other wins for Kent with Cavaday and Thornley going down in straight sets and Burgs and Searle losing a tight three setter leaving the tie even at three a piece.
2012 saw a new rule at County Cup allowing every team to use a substitute and so Robbie Searle was rested for round three to be replaced by the mighty Alastair Filmer. It was very, very tight, but as the sun set on day one it was a 6-3 win for the Garden of England’s men and a solid start to the campaign.
Day 2 vs Hertfordshire
Defending champions Herts had been unbeaten for a while now and had blocked any chances of Kent regaining the title in recent years, but, Kent had a strong team on the park and the mood was different in the camp with Captain Burgs resting himself after day 1 and patrolling the sidelines. Kent’s team for the day was Lewis Burton/Sean Thornley, Nick Cavaday/Matthew Short and Jim May/Rob Searle. Kent got off to a great start and with hope in the air it was looking good early on, but momentum switched and somehow Kent found themselves 2-1 down at lunch after a hero’s win from Searle and May, leaving no doubt that Mr Searle was back near his best and a match for any full time player. Round 2 saw Kent draw even with May and Searle doing it again with an incredible performance and with an injury to Cavaday, Captain Burgoyne joined Short at second pair to form a strong partnership and take the win. Thornley and Burton lost a tight match leaving us needing two from three in the last round. The crowds grew as word got round Devonshire Park that the Champions were in trouble, and trouble it was for Herts with the forehand of Matt Short putting holes through any opponent that stood in his way and Burton and Thornley pumped up to the max the moment of victory closed in. Burgs and Short first to win 4-3, Searle and May lose in three sets – a cliff-hanger at 4 rubbers apiece, down to Burton/Thornley in front of the biggest crowd of the week, BOOOOOOM Kent wins 5-4. A brilliant day that left Kent in pole position.
Day 3 vs Norfolk
After a great win the day before concentration was required to compete against a tough crew from Norfolk. With Searle resting a sore leg Kent lined up with May/Thornley at 1, Burton/Short at 2 and Burgoyne/Filmer at 3. Round one consisted of two easy wins, one for Kent from Burgoyne and Filmer and one for the Norfolk first pair who looked very strong. The battle of the round was Thorley and May, 4 all in the third set and 0-30 on the Norfolk serve, the moment of truth and on this occasion the truth was not sweet for Kent as Norfolk took the lead 2-1. Round two was identical to round one with two easy matches going either way leaving Burgoyne and Filmer in the frey. Filmer serves for the match at 5-4 in the third, the second moment of truth? Painful for Kent as it slips away 7-6 in the third putting Kent on the brink of defeat. Round three saw Kent win two out of three, but it was not enough and Kent went down 5-4, a very sore loss after the heights of Tuesday’s win.
Day 4 vs Surrey
Local rivals were Surrey un-beaten and with Hertfordshire slaying every other team this was not only a must win for Kent to stay in contention, but a must win easily match! A new partnership of Burgoyne/Thornley came in at third pair, Short and May at two and Burton and Searle as the flagship pair for the day.
Round 1 went Kent’s way with Burgoyne and Thornley gelling straight away toughing out a three set win and Burton and Searle doing the same in what looked like the Searle show with Robbie ‘the pearl’ Searle right back to his best making what looked like every return, volley and groundstroke that he went for, a great spectacle. Short was also on fire, but it was not enough on this occasion and Kent were 2-1 up at lunch. Round two went Surrey’s way with only Burgoyne and Thornley getting the win. Jim May looking as if he was fading was subbed for Nick Cavaday as Kent were looking for a minimum of two to get the win while needing three to even have an outside chance of the title. Searle and Burton fired it up with a win, while Burgoyne and Thornley took their first loss of the day leaving the tie at 4-4. Although with only really pride on the line for both sides as the overall result would not change the championship, the crowds at Eastbourne saw the thriller of the week as Cavaday and Short fought for the white horse of Kent. Kent did see match point come and go in an eventual 7-6 in the third loss that gave Surrey the 5-4 win on the day. A great match, but the title dream was definitely over for Kent.
Day 5 vs Derbyshire
In Theory Kent could be relegated if they did not win 2 rubbers against Derby and with injuries all over the camp we started with a weary looking Burgoyne/Searle, Filmer/Short and May/Thornley. Round 1 saw Kent get the two rubbers needed with the only loss going to Burgoyne and Searle. The highlight of the day for Kent was the debut of Paul Cook in place of the injured Burgoyne. Paul inspired by partner Searle won his debut match to become Kent’s only undefeated player of the week and declared his wish to make the squad next year and help Kent to the title once more.
With Kent 4-2 up Derby conceded the remaining rubbers as the results no longer effected any of the teams final positions.
Overall it was an up and down week for the team with us ending up third, but a battle cry was heard all over Eastbourne and all the teams know that Kent are back to their best and will be looking for that title again in 2013. This year saw three new players make their summer debut in Short, Sargeant and Cook and the return of the mighty Robert Searle from what could have been a tennis ending injury in 2010 and right now the future looks bright for the men’s team. A usual we had the most support, so a huge thanks to those who travelled down to watch us in battle.
Come on ‘The Garden’!
Captain Burgoyne