The 12 and Under County Cup
After a good performance last year with the team coming 7th in the national finals the team had high hopes of performing well this year. In the regional round we faced strong opposition from Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire at Kings Park venue in Northants. The team consisted of Ben Brewster, Charley Gregory, Daniel Bird, Alex Griffiths and Zak Sammons.
The team performed very well on the first day in Northampton defeating Nottinghamshire 4-0 and Leicestershire 3 matches to 1 with an excellent comeback from Ben and Charley winning the decisive doubles rubber. On day 2 we defeated both Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire 4-0 with good wins from Zak, Daniel and Alex meaning we won the event and qualified for Bolton.
We arrived in Bolton for the national finals with the news that we were drawn in a box with Derbyshire, Middlesex and Hertfordshire. We knew the box would be tough but believed we had a good opportunity to progress further. We started the day well with a very good win over Hertfordshire 3-1 through wins from Ben and Charley in the singles and then Ben and Charley combined to win a closely fought doubles in the match shoot out 10-7. This meant we went on to play against Middlesex and again we won 2 singles matches but unfortunately lost at number 2 when Charley was up in the match tie break but sprained his ankle so had to withdraw from the whole weekend. This meant we were 2-1 up going into the doubles. Ben and Alex were selected to play and worked extremely well together in claiming a vital win to take us to 3-1.
So we entered day 2 a man down but still believed we could defeat Derbyshire. Ben at number 1 showed great spirit in coming from a set down to win in a match tie break. Both Dan and then Zak fought hard but unfortunately both lost at 2 & 3. This took us to the doubles where the winning combination the previous day of Ben and Alex were selected to play. They competed well but unfortuantely lost to Derbyshire which mean we lost the match 3-1 and played against the East of Scotland for 3rd and 4th place. The oppositon were very strong here winning at both number 1 and 2. However Alex kept Warwickshire in the match with an excellent performance winning in straight sets at number 3. This again took us to the doubles but unfortunately after winning an axcellent seocnd set we lost the match tie break 10-2 and therefore losing the match 3-1.
The boys performed very well over the weekend and showed great team spirit. It was a pleasure to work with the team and a great achievement to finish 4th nationally.
The 10 and Under County Cup
I was very luck to select a boys team from around 12 players who came to a trial at the University of Warwick. I knew the boys very well from working with them last year in winning the under 9 regional event. I selected the following team based on the trial, Tom Whitwell, Harry Lazell, Will Smith and Tommy Craig.
The regional event was held in Lincolnshire against Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Licolnshire and Nottinghamshire. On day one we lined up against Leicestshire first off and went 2-1 up though wins from Harry and Tom Whitwell. That left us 2-1 with the doubles to play and Harry and Will played exceptionally well together winning in straight sets to claim the match 3-1. We then came up against a strong Nottimghamshire team and started well with wins from Will, Tom and Harry meaning we went 3-0 and after the doubles we won 4-0. This put us in a great position going into day 2.
The first match on the second day was against a tough Lincolnshire side. Again we went 2-1 up with wins from Tom and Tommy which took us to the doubles. This time Tom and Will played together and performed well in winning the match 3-1 for us. It then came down to a crunch match against Northamptonshire to win the event. Again Tom and Tommy won their sungles 2-1 but unfortuntely Will and Tom lost the doubles and then the match tie break 10-7. This meant we had won 3 matches but lost 1. Fortunately for us Northamptonshire also lost a tight match with Nottinghamshire which meant the winning team would be decided by the number of matches won throughout the weekend. This worked in our favour because we won our first three matches convincingly whilst Northants matches were a lot closer. This meant we won the regionals and were off to Bolton!!!
Again we were drawn in a tough group alongside Essex, Hertfordshire and Avon. Are first match pitched us up against Essex with Tom and Harry gaining big wins at number 2&3 taking us 2-1 up in the doubles. The doubles was a tough encounter going to 3 sets with us eventually losing it 10-8 in the match tie break and then unfortuantely losing the shootout 10-8!!! After a tough loss for the team we knew we had to pick our heads up and fight hard in the next match against Hertfordshire. We got off to a slow start losing the first three singles matches but won the doubles through Will and Tom meaning we lost the match 3-1. The doubles win was crucial though as it gave us confidence going into the second day.
We came against Avon full of confidence after the doubles the night before and saw Tom Whitell play the match of his life winning 4-1 4-1 at number 2 and Harry also winning in convincing style. Harry and Tom then played the doubles and carried their form through winnin 4-0 5-3 playing superbly together ensuring we won the match 3-1. This ensured we played for 5th and 6th against South Wales. Again we went 2-1 after the singles and Tommy and Tom secured the victory for us in the doubles winning in straight sets meaning we finished 5th nationally.
The boys showed great spirit and determination over the weekend. I was very proud in how they fought back to win both matches on the Sunday after being unlucky on the Saturday. Harry can play in the under 10 again next year while Will, Tom and Tommy I am sure will be pushing for places in the under 12 team next year.
The 9 and Under County Cup
Trials
The time came again for the trials of the 9 and under county cup, many children came to get in the main team but only four boys and four girls could be selected for the team. Matt Thomas had the difficult decision of choosing the team but I knew that he will choose the best team possible. We got split into boys and girls and played points for an hour and at the end we played some doubles this helped Matt choose the team. In the end the team was me, Charlie, Joe, Luca, Amelia, Lucy, Sophie and Mary.
Warm up
We had to arrive at Shrewsbury at quarter to nine Joe, Luca and Mary were there on time but me, Lucy, Amelia, Sophie were all there at nine o’clock and Charlie followed. Our warm up was about 30 minutes long and I was starting to get hot because it was really warm inside the centre. Matt arranged for us to go in the cafe at ten to ten for a meeting to know who will be playing in which order. I was number 1 Charlie 2 and Joe 3 and in the girls was Amelia 1, Lucy 2 and Sophie 3 all the boys were straight on.
First match
We were playing Staffordshire first they had some good players but luckily we won all our matches so we were 3-0 up. Staffordshire girls had a good number one but Amelia didn’t give up but she just lost. Both Charlie and Joe won comfortably. We were five one up so that meant that we couldn’t lose the tie. Matt arranged for another meeting to see who we will be playing with in our doubles. I was playing with Luca in the boy’s doubles, Lucy and Charlie and Sophie and Mary were playing with each other in the girl’s doubles. Luca and I won our doubles in 3 set’s with a nervy first set we took the 2nd and 3rd set easily. Six one up we were in a great position Charlie and Lucy won their mixed doubles easily seven one up. After a very close third set our girls came through we won that tie 8 matches to 1.
Second Match
Matt arranged for another meeting to see which order we were playing in and who we will be playing. We were playing North Wales I didn’t know anyone from the team but I’m sure that they are not bad. I was playing at number one, Charlie two and Luca three, in the girls Amelia one, Lucy two and Mary three. I was playing this tall boy I didn’t start the match well but after saving 3 set points I won the first set and the last set was much simpler. Charlie was playing at two and won very comfortably and Luca also won in straight sets. Matt made another meeting in doubles I was playing with Lucy in the mixed doubles Charlie played with Joe and then Sophie played with Mary. Again we won all three doubles matches to win the tie 8 matches to 1 again.
Third match
Matt arranged for another meeting to see who will be playing in which order we will be playing in I was number 1, Charlie 2 and Joe at 3. I was playing a nice player after a slow start I came through in two sets, Charley also won his match easily and our Joe played well to win. Our number 3 played good tennis and our team were talking about being in the final and saying what an achievement Lucy played strong despite losing the second set she came through in three sets. Mary and Sophie also played and both won in straight sets. Matt arranged for another meeting and I was resting because I had a tough match next but Matt still chose a good team. Our doubles went well after that was finished it was time for the final against Shropshire who were equally as good as us.
The final
Matt called us foe the final meeting for the team I was playing at number 1, Charlie 2 and Luca 3 and in the girls it was Amelia 1, Lucy 2 and Mary 3, me and Charlie were on first. I was playing Roan who was one of the best players here today. The first set had many tight and long rally’s but Roan won it 7-4 the second set was even better after some great rally’s and saving three set points Roan just won it 9-7 what a match. Charlie had a tough match but he played well and won it in straight sets 7-3 7-0 we were back in the final. Luca had a tough match but he still won the first set 7-2 but in the second set Shropshire came back and got it back to 1 set all. But after an enthralling last set Luca came through 12-10 what a close match. 2-1 up ‘get in!’ now it was time for the girls Amelia was first she won well, then it was Lucy she played a great match to win with some great winners making the score 4-1to us. Now we just need Mary to win then we have won it. Luckily for us we did win and our team were jumping up and down in joy. We finsihed off with some good doubles wins to win the match 7-2.
The event ran really well and we had a great day. The team bonded really well together and it was great to have all of our parents supporting the team. County Cup is a great experience and we all look forward to representing Warwickshire again in the future.