The boys’ team left for Sheffield, the venue for Division 3b, in high spirits after gaining promotion from division 4 last year. We were looking to make it back to back promotions.
The first day saw a tough match-up against a strong South Wales side; the singles was a marathon affair with three of the six matches going to three sets. Fortunately, or maybe just through sheer willpower, we won all three of them. James Ison, Ryan Parmar and Chris Egan-Morriss came through tight matches, Chris’s in particular was a crucial win 6-4 in the third set. Joe Cook made a great singles debut with a comfortable win at no. 6. We went into the doubles with a 4-2 lead, and with the strong pair of Ison and Egan-Morriss at no. 2 winning comfortably 6-0 6-2, the win was secured. A 5-4 win shows how closely matched the two sides were, and what a hero Egan-Morriss was securing that win for Leicestershire.
Northumberland was the weakest side on paper, and day two saw a clinical display from the whole of the Leicestershire team, notably Rob Leck, who won his singles 6-0 6-0. Impressive tennis from Thorold at no. 1 and Parmar at no. 5 gave us a 5-1 lead going into the doubles. Solid, if unspectacular, performances in the doubles led to us taking the tie 7-2. A commendable display from Mason Laywood in his debut match partnering Thorold was the highlight of the Day 2 doubles.
Onto Day 3, and a winner-takes-all decider against Nottinghamshire - an East Midlands derby to savour! The teams looked very evenly matched on paper, and tensions were high. A good start saw Cook and Parmar go a set up before the momentum left us: Ison lost to a strong opponent at no. 4, and Cook narrowly went down 6-3 in the final set. Crucially, Parmar gathered himself, after going 2-0 down in the final set, to storm to victory 6-2.
Nottinghamshire led 2-1 after the first round, which meant that Leck and Egan-Morriss had their work cut out; nerves were jangling. Leck played a solid match to win 6-4, 6-4, bringing the tally to 2-2. Egan-Morriss, despite chances against a highly rated opponent, went down 7-6 6-2. Nottinghamshire now led 3-2, and the pressure was on Thorold at no. 1! An impressive performance saw him take the first set comfortably 6-2, before a turnaround meant he had to come back from 3-0 down to win 6-4 in the second set, bringing us to 3 all after the singles.
Into the doubles with everything to play for, and what a fantastic atmosphere - exactly what County Cup is all about! Doubles pairings of Ison/Egan-Morriss, Thorold/Laywood and Parmar/Leck came out flying, all pairs taking the first set. Leck and Parmar were especially impressive, winning 6-1, 6-4, giving us a 4-3 lead. The balcony were showing signs of nerves as Nottinghamshire’s first pair drew level at one set all in their match against Thorold and Laywood, before the big moment when a break handed our pair the victory and sealed a 5-3 win and promotion. As icing on the cake, Ison and Egan-Morriss went onto win their third set tie break 16-14.
What a weekend! The boys were a credit to the County, and we are certainly heading in the right direction: we are all looking forward to the challenge of Division 2 next year.
Fantastic support, fantastic effort!
By Tom Kisiel - 18 & Under Boys' Captain