The Team was: Arthur Attrill, Sam Bird, Mats Colling, Hayden Cummings, Ryan Golesworthy, Liam Hignett, George Houghton, Daniel Prickett, Paul Scullard
We were missing our US university players and although there may be a chance of going up our aim was to consolidate in Group 3.
Day 1 v Leicestershire
The team was: Doubles:
1 Ryan Golesworthy 1 Golesworthy + Attrill
2 Liam Hignett 2 Hignett + Prickett
3 Sam Bird 3 Bird + Colling
4 Dan Prickett
5 Arthur Attrill
6 Mats Colling
Leicestershire were the strongest team on paper of the group so we knew it was going to be a tough day, especially as we were missing George.
We struggled early on in the singles, but pulled out 2 great wins from Arthur and Liam. So we went into the doubles 4/2 down needing all 3 doubles against a better doubles team.
We came very close ! Liam & Dan and Ryan & Arthur won but Sam & Mats couldn’t quite squeeze it going down 10/8 in the 3rd set tiebreak. We ended with a 5/4 loss.
Now we are playing catch up needing a win against East of Scotland.
Day 2 v East of Scotland
The team was: Doubles:
1 George Houghton 1 Houghton + Golesworthy
2 Ryan Golesworthy 2 Bird + Prickett
3 Liam Hignett 3 Scullard + Colling
4 Sam Bird
5 Dan Prickett
6 Arthur Attrill
George coming in at 1 made a huge difference to the team with everyone bumping down one. We went 5/1 up after singles with everyone now used to the courts and starting to perform well. Again, we seemed very comfortable on the doubles court with Paul & Mats and George & Ryan winning with Sam & Dan just losing a tight one. We ended with a 7/2 win.
We now needed a win against Durham and Cleveland on the last day to guarantee staying, but there was a possibility of going up if we won big in our match and East of Scotland beat Leicestershire.
Day 3 v Durham and Cleveland
The team was: Doubles:
1 George Houghton 1 Houghton + Golesworthy
2 Ryan Golesworthy 2 Hignett + Prickett
3 Liam Hignett 3 Bird + Colling
4 Sam Bird
5 Dan Prickett
6 Mats Colling
Mats, Dan and Sam got us off to a great start playing great tennis against solid opponents winning all in tight matches. Then Liam, Ryan and George showed their class and won fairly convincingly giving us a 6/0 win to stay in Group 3 for next year.
While this was happening East of Scotland were up against Leicestershire giving us the faintest chance of going up. So we went on to play doubles knowing if we got 2 more rubbers we had a chance of going up pending the other match. We got the 2 wins reasonably quickly and then we waited for the other match. That match turned in Leicestershire’s favour and they came out 5/3 winners meaning we stay in Group 3 for next year.
A solid weekend’s tennis is the way I think I saw it. George, Liam and Ryan are easily some of the best players in any group we go into, this allows us to compete with any team. And the back-up of the rest of the team lower down to be able to hold their own against quality county opponents gives the team a reassurance that no one player is holding the team up. A situation that we have had in the past.
I think the most encouraging part of this is that there is now a pool of players to be able to pick from. We have a “team squad”. This creates heathy competition and yet they can all feel part of something bigger.
Special mention to Paul though, who at the age of 56, can hold his own and win a match in group 3 of this prestigious event !
Looking forward to next year.
Julian Godfrey – Men’s Captain
