Team: 1 Matthew Gedney, 2 Ryan Scaman, 3 William Cheer, 4 Hugo Hunt, 5 Max Jones
Manager: Terry Hunt
This year’s event was held at Boston Tennis Club, firstly a big thank you from all the team to Boston where the event ran smoothly and the club’s excellent facilities made the whole experience more enjoyable for all.
Lincolnshire fielded the youngest team for many years which saw 3 National U12’s taking their place in the line-up, (along with Max U13) Matthew Gedney being the only true U14 player in the team so the task was always going to be challenging.
First up were Sussex, we started on Saturday with doubles, Matthew and Ryan lost 6-0, 6-4 and William and Hugo Lost 6-3, 6-3. On Sunday we played singles but unfortunately Matthew, Ryan, William and Hugo all lost to a strong Sussex team. (Sussex went on to win the group)
Also on the Sunday we had to play our second group match against another strong team, Cumbria. Matthew saved 2 match points and went on to win our first rubber of the weekend 1-6, 7-6, 6-2, Ryan, William and Hugo all put in a great performance but unfortunately Cumbria were too big and strong for them so we found ourselves 3-1 down after the singles, we needed both doubles to force a shootout, but again Cumbria were too strong for our boys, Matthew and Ryan, Hugo and Max both lost.
Final day and it was Staffordshire up next for 5th or 6th place. Hugo and William started us off in great style both winning their first singles matches in U14 county tennis, this was quickly followed by Ryan who also picked up his first singles win too, finally it was left to the old man of the team, Matthew who put in a tremendous effort winning 7-6, 6-4 carrying a wrist injury from the beginning. Matthew wasn’t fit for the doubles so it was left to the young guns to try and get their first doubles victories too and they did, Max and William won at 2 with a great effort, 10-8 in the 3rd set tie break, while Ryan and Hugo finished off their first pair with a 6-1, 6-3 victory to beat Staffordshire 6-0 and take 5th place in the group.
I would like to thank Matthew who was fantastic this year, he acted as my deputy and sat on court with the players at the change of ends giving advice and encouraging them, he was a great role model for the young team having represented the U14’s while still being under U12 himself, this was his final year and we wish him luck with the U18’s and beyond.
All the boys were a pleasure to be with and Lincolnshire can be proud of their attitude and effort over the entire weekend. Well done to all and good luck to Ryan, William and Hugo in this year’s U12 event.
Terry Hunt - U14 boys AGM