10U Boys County Cup Report

Having the Lionel Cox event just last week really felt like a benefit to the boys I think. The team spirit was good and of course the awareness of doubles strategy was also fresh in the mind!

Although the results 0-6 v Notts, Yorks and Lincs, 1-5 v Leics suggest Northants were not really competitive in the group. The truth is there were a number of very close, hard fought matches on day 2 against Leics and Lincs, even if Notts and Yorks really were too strong on day 1.

Freddie was faced with the prospect of facing the countries number 2 and 3 players back to back on day 1 and this opportunity really extended Freddie to new heights. He played some of the best tennis I’ve seen from him. Striking the ball with much more confidence and really stretching the Yorks lad (he even established a 2-1 lead early on)

Momo at 2 is learning to manage the nerves of representing his county against tough opposition really well and gave some very encouraging performances from the outset. In his later matches he began to increase the consistency of his attacking game and his doubles was excellent throughout with improved serving, volleying and returning all to the fore. He and Freddie took some very good number 1 county pairs to tiebreaks. They narrowly lost a third set to Leics and just missed out on extending the Lincs pair to 3 with a tiebreak loss.

For Alfie at number 4 it was his first county event on the full court and what a debut he had! Day 1 was tough, as it was for everyone. On day 2 he got our first (and only) win on the board with a ridiculously tight 3 set win after and hour and a half against Leics. He looked like he might repeat the trick against Lincs but having got himself a set (tiebreak) and two games up he just ran out of steam, just couldn’t quite get it over the line but gave his absolute all.
Leo and William shared the ‘honours’ at number 3. William played with greater consistency than I’ve seen him as he adapted to county level tennis (having only debuted last week!). Leo meanwhile, after playing day 1 in a match he really was outclassed in, came back day 2 to really test the Leics number 3 losing 4-2 4-2 in the end.

As a doubles pair after the Lionel Cox ‘warm-up’ Leo and William were much more on it as a team. They started to communicate really well together and fought really hard for each other and the county. Both matches on day 2 ending in close 4-2 4-2 defeats.

A tough weekend results-wise, but for sure a weekend that all the boys can take great pride in their performances from. Their team attitude and spirit was exemplary in the face of adversity.

Justin Chacksfield