10U Boys County Cup - National Final Report

Written by Karan Tumber, Captain

10U Boys County Cup National Final Team

North Area National Finals

Result – 4th Place

Captain- Karan Tumber

Assistant- Funsho Ajibade

• Naishe Matamisa

• Dylan Tailor

• Daniel Martin

• Flynn Knight

• Dylan Panesar

Results

Vs Lancashire 2 - 4

VS Yorkshire 0 - 6

VS Cheshire 2 - 4

VS North of Scotland 3 - 3, won shoot out

To view the results, please click here

Captains Report

Saturday:

Going into the weekend Lancashire and Cheshire were favourites on paper but this is county cup, anything can happen. The boys fought extremely hard against a Lancashire team, all ranked higher than our 5 boys. We gave a true account but failing short in the big moments.

Possibly a factor in that, was because we started 1 round later than the Lancashire boys, so they’d had a match warm up before we faced off, to get accustomed to the courts, balls and atmosphere, definitely played a part as we lost 3 out of 4 first sets 4-0 :( However, the boys dug deep and came back stronger in their 2nd sets. With Daniel Martin forcing a 2nd set tiebreak in his singles battling for just shy of 1 hour 0-4 3(5)-4. Winning at no.4 singles Flynn knight got the first rubber of the weekend on the board 4-0 4-1. Second by Naishe and Dylan Tailor via a championship tiebreak in their doubles 1-4 4-3(9) 10-8 winning the 2nd set tiebreaker 11-9. Extreme fight out there from all players involved. 

Cheshire a well organised unit, were energetic and loud from the first moment they walked into the building. With our boys having had a match to settle, got stuck into this fixture. Dylan Panesar put the 1st number on the board with a 1hour brutal battle winning 2-4 4-1 13-11 in the match tiebreak, having saved 2 match points. Knight, Martin and Matamisa fell just short in their efforts. Flynn missing out with a 4-2 2-4 5-10 match tiebreaker and Matamisa also falling via the match tiebreak 2-4 4-1 8-10 having battled for 1hour and 1hr15mins respectively. Martin forced a second set tiebreak against their number 2 but also was short of the finish line. Onto doubles and our Knight/Panesar domination was up and running with a convincing win 4-2 4-2 at number 1 pair. With martin and tailor playing vs number 2 in a tight contest with 1 break of serve in it 3(4)-4 2-4. 

If 1 of these matches against both pairs had flipped, we’d have been in a Shootout vs both. An extremely tight opening 2 rounds. Onto Sunday.

Sunday:

North of Scotland also having lost 2/2 yesterday were a team that had the bit between their teeth on day 2. Dylan Panesar came out and felt the Scottish fury first hand in an extremely nail-biting affair, lots of incredible shot making managed to get the win 4-0 2-4 11-9. With the

2nd rubber coming with Naishe at number 1 after a close first dominating the 2nd 4-3(4) 4-0. Flynn and Dylan Panesar taking us to 3 wins and guaranteeing the shootout with a 4-3(1) 4-1. Dylan Tailor and Naishe playing number 2 pair lost out with a tense 4-0 2-4 8-10 result. Then there was a Shootout to decide the tie. 1 pair from both doubles teams to face off in a doubles tiebreak to 10 to settle the result. Partnership we relied on to win the shootout against south wales from regionals - Knight and Matamisa. With a quick turn around Matamisa had to regain his thoughts having just lost in his doubles and both boys exhibited the true values of what it means to fight for your county. I honestly believe it was a team effort with every player and parent supporting from the balcony they helped carry the boys over the line taking it 10-7.

Yorkshire were the strongest team there and ultimately took home the Championship title. Flynn playing at line 3 against a GB representative gave a hard-fought battle falling just short 2-4 3(5)-4 in his singles. But it was a clear display of the strength of this Yorkshire side. Our other singles were wrapped up with a Yorkshire win too. Being 0-4 down after singles was demoralising for the boys, however, they picked themselves up and left it all out there in doubles. Knight/Panesar 4-3(3) 3(5)-4 8-10 loss to an undefeated Yorkshire pair at number 1 was a brilliant display, I’m sure both boys will be looking forward to meeting those 2 again soon. Matamisa/Martin playing at 2 against a player with the highest ranking out of all the players there at county cup, fell on 2 tiebreakers 3(2)-4 3(0)-4. 

I can’t question the display of fight and heart the boys displayed this weekend. They really harnessed the values of what it means to represent your county, to compete at a highest level. Our boys were incredible and hopefully feel inspired for next year. Our young bears did

us proud and will come back stronger next year!

Karan Tumber