Suffolk men win division 4 and move up to Division 3 with a commanding weekend, this men's team is now on an 18 match winning streak in both winter and summer competitions. This is the most successful men's team suffolk has ever seen in its history and the team gets hungrier for success every year!
Its a young team with 6 players between 16-23 yrs old being led by Jez Cowley who played his 17th year for the Suffolk men's team and he is only 29 himself!
Day 1 saw an impressive start for Suffolk against Hereford and worcester with Paul Midgley, Matt Hough, Matt Kirby and Myles Orton all winning with ease to give Suffolk a commanding 4-0 lead which when its a race to 5 rubbers to win the match is almost impossible to lose because Suffolk historically are very strong at doubles. Indeed we entered the doubles round 4-2 up and sealed the match with Cowley and Hough and Kirby and Orton winning their matches with ease to secure a 6-3 victory.
Day 2 saw Suffolk take another 4-0 lead against a Bucks side who themselves had thrown in some juniors but our class and dominance shone through with Matt Hough having the only tough match but his hunger to win far superior and an imprsseive final set display winning it 6-2. Paul Midgley, Matt Kirby and Myles Orton all won their matches again as is becoming habit, the fact they are winning with comfort shows just how good they are because the opposition were no mugs but these guys really do show signs of being top class players. Suffolks captain Jez Cowley popped up with a victory at number 1 to seal a 5-1 lead and the tie and with some niggling and tired bodies Suffolk conceded 2 doubles runners in order to preserve fitness for the promotion deciding match on the final day. Our 3rd pair did go on and play and Elliot Street made his first apperance of the weekend with an impressive final set victory with Paul Midgley to secure a 6-3 win again.
The final day was always gonna prove to be our toughest match and Paul Midgley will concede he wasn't at his best but his hunger and his will to win for the team saw him beat a tough older opponent 7-5 6-4 in what was a gritty display. Matt Hough too had a tight first set (worth noting Captain Cowley was concerned early on when both Suffolk players were a break down early in the first set!) but he turned it around and found his stride to win 7-5 6-0 in a powerful display. Matt Kirby's opponent pulled out before going on court which saw us take a 3-0 lead with Myles Orton and Ben Smith going on to try and secure victory. Ben unfortunately got injured in his match which meant the tie went to 3-1 and Cowley and Orton were both in tough tight matches. Myles had a great start and came out the blocks well playing some fantastic tennis and took the first set 6-4 and with Cowley putting in a typical tenacious display he also took the first set 6-4 which left Suffolk looking good......Myles had a tight second set and held on with some superb counter-tennis and his class came through in the tie-break as he sealed Suffolk's 4-1 lead winning 6-4 7-6. Our third pair doubles went on with Matt Hough and Elliott Street playing together in a tactical line up designed to secure our 5th and final rubber. However this was not required as Cowley won his 2nd set 6-3 to seal promotion and secure the match 5-1.
Cowley says 'I have played in many Suffolk teams but this current one is such a tight unit both on and off the court that when the extra effort and fight is needed we find it because we don't just play for ourselves we play for each other and win and lose as a team. Im excited where this team is going and believe we still have more to offer. Congratulations to Matt Hough, Ben Smith, Matt Kirby, Myles Orton, Paul Midgley and Elliot Street for a fantastic weekend and many thanks for making it a huge success on and off the court.'