The site at Eastbourne for a second year was going through renovation, again reducing the format from five to three matches per tie.
Group 5
Nottinghamshire
Lincolnshire
Staffordshire
South of Scotland
The Team
No.1 Singles - Jamie Drummond 4th year
Jamie returned to the team after a year off
No.2 Singles - Jason Revill 8th consequtive year.
Each year Jason has filled the singles position in the team.
No.1 Doubles - Justin Revill 5th year
The last two campaigns Justin has moved into the doubles position after the first three playing singles.
No.1 Doubles - John Beaumont 2nd year
No longer a rookie, second time round John looked a seasoned veteran!
The group this year was tough, with each opponent strengthening their team from previous years.
The first day victory over Staffordshire was far closer than the 3-0 scoreline, all three matches could have gone either way.
Lincolnshire also won, 3-0 over a much improved Scottish team, in a tense affair that finished just as rain halted play for the day.
The second day saw both group matches played on adjacent courts. With rain forecast for the final day, all four counties had one eye on the other court knowing the results would likely determine the final standings.
The day started with no.2 singles, all four counties hopeful after close matches on day one. Both matches lived up to the billing going to third set tiebreak. Lincolnshire lost their first match of the week to Staffordshire, whilst Jason kept Nottinghamshire unbeaten to put them one runner ahead in the table.
Next the doubles round saw Lincolnshire lose after a strong start. Justin and John came back from a slow start to win the tie for Nottinghamshire against a resilient South of Scotland team.
Despite being the only unbeaten team, the final round at no.1 singles was important to bolster the rubber count in case rain held off on day three. Both courts followed the same pattern; close tense affairs settled by third set tiebreaks. Jamie maintained Nottinghamshire’a unbeaten record, Lincolnshire keeping the group alive with a 10-8 tiebreak victory.
Day three saw Nottinghamshire needing just one rubber or rain to secure the title. The team were disappointed the rain came, taking away the opportunity to cement their unbeaten victory.
Next year we move back up to group four and back to the longer format of five rounds of matches. The team will need a least one more player as six matches over three days takes it toll.
Anyone interested in representing Nottinghamshire, with the lure of the ATP/WTA venue and courts, please contact the county office.
Jason Revill
Nottinghamshire
Men’s Over 35s captain.