Successful Summer County Week for the Hampshire & IOW County Teams!
This year’s Summer County Cup was held from Monday 18th – Friday 22nd July and our Men were in Group 5 at East Dorset LTC.
The Men came 2nd in Group 5 and gained promotion to Group 4 for next year.
Men’s Report from Julian Godfrey, Men’s Captain:
The Team was: Henry Bowden, Louis Bowden, James Chaudry, Dean Cooper Kirby, Ryan Golesworthy, Josh Goodall, Liam Hignett, George Houghton, George Russell
Day 1 vs Cumbria
The team was: 1 – Goodall + L Bowden, 2 – Hignett + Golesworthy, 3 – Chaudry + Russell
Subs – H Bowden + Cooper Kirby
We won 7/2, the first time for a few years! Great to see Louis step up to that level with ease, and George Russell to win two in his first match along with Henry winning one.
Day 2 vs Devon
Devon were one of the favourites to go up.
The team was: 1 – Hignett + Golesworthy, 2 – Goodall + L Bowden, 3 – Chaudry + Russell
Subs – H Bowden + Cooper Kirby
This was a huge day, with the win yesterday this would set us up to possibly go up as Devon were a strong side. We went 2 – 1 down where our 3rds lost to their thirds but remarkably Chaudry and Russell beat their 2nds which meant we squeaked a 5/4 win.
Day 3 vs Lancs
This was the big match as both of us were now favourites to go up.
The team was: 1 – Hignett + Golesworthy, 2 – Goodall + L Bowden, 3 – Chaudry + Russell
Subs – H Bowden + Cooper Kirby
Lancs came out like a train, bullying us from the start, and we weren’t ready for it. We slowly got better and finished nearly turning it around. We ended up losing 5/4 nearly sneaking it at the end.
This now meant we needed to win the next 2 matches with a good rubber count to go up.
Day 4 vs Avon
The team was: 1 – Hignett + Golesworthy, 2 – Bowden + Bowden, 3 – Russell + Cooper Kirby
Subs – Goodall + Houghton
We won 7/2, good work from all, especially Henry and Louis winning two rubbers.
Day 5 vs North Wales
We need to win 6/3 or more to go up.
The team was: 1 – Goodall + Houghton, 2 – Hignett + Golesworthy, 3 – Chaudry + L Bowden
Subs – H Bowden + Russell
We saved the best for the last day, within 3 hours we were 5/1 up and had gone up due to the other teams’ rubber count. Great job!
This was a strong Group 5 and we got through it. We have the makings of a very good County side while Josh is fit and healthy. We have George, Liam, Ryan and James still competing and the younger ones making headway in the adult game. If we can keep them together, we have a chance of getting up the groups.
It was a great week all round. Everyone took responsibility for their role in the team, Ryan and Liam are now our number one pair, Josh and George (being injured!) had to survive the 15 matches and special praise to Louis who at 17 walked into playing that level with determined ease. It was also great to see George, Henry and Dean step up to the County Week level so quickly.
