Warwickshire's Streak Ends in Dramatic Showdown with Surrey as Women’s Side Eyes Promotion Despite Injuries

Written by Sally Jones, Warwickshire Tennis President

Warwickshire Mens Summer County Team

The Home Counties favourites bounced back from a surprise 1-3 deficit overnight to win the remaining 5 rubbers and take the crunch match 6-3. Torrential downpours meant that the sides ended up playing truncated matches featuring 4-game sets on Astroturf courts. In the opening rounds, all three if the Bears' pairs fought back from a set down against higher-ranked opposition to record unlikely victories,  before light stopped play. Max Stewart and Mason Recci countered the explosive serving of the Surrey second pair James Beaven and Mark Whitehouse to sneak through a second set tiebreak with canny strategy and exquisite volleys before coming through the Championship tiebreak 10-8. It was a similar story for Warwickshire firsts Warwick Boat Club coach Cameron Malik from Stratford-upon-Avon and Solihull’s Luca Pow, who trailed by a set and a break to rising stars Jay Johnson-Hauldren and Maximillian Relic, even saving a match point before they out-hustled them to take the Championship tiebreak 11-9. Once again, Warwickshire thirds Jake Hersey and Birmingham’s Oliver Plaskett proved giant-killers, narrowly snatching the second set against the previously unbeaten first pair Harry Rock and Henry Jefferson. Then, roared on by the Bears’ vociferous band of fans, played near-faultless tennis to take the Championship tiebreak 10-6. The next day, Surrey arrived, oozing determination and despite gallant counter-punching from the Midlanders, Whitehouse and Beaven squeaked through a tight Championship tiebre decider against Pow and Malik, while the other two pairs went down fighting in straight sets, Mason Recci suffering a broken finger as he hurled himself against the back netting retrieving a deep smash.

"I'm really proud of how our boys who are mainly coaches and part-timers, fought superbly against the highly-ranked Surrey team, mostly on the circuit or playing full-time at American universities," said Gavin Henderson, Warwick Boat Club tennis manager. "Surrey's now top of the leaderboard but the Bears could still take the title if we win big against our last two opponents Northants and South Wales. Morale is really high so don't write us off just yet!"

Injury-hit Warwickshire women bidding to win promotion from Group 4 at Cheltenham pulled off a narrow 5-4 victory over a gritty Lincolnshire side that was strengthened by the presence of former British international Jade Windley partnering her sister Charlotte. The Windleys won all three of their rubbers in straight sets but both the top Warwickshire pairs, Edgbaston Archery coach Holly Reid and Leamington’s Lucie Butler plus Sutton Coldfield coach Giorgie Jones and the consistent Mary Hoggard from Birmingham beat the other two Lincolnshire pairings. Needing just one more rubber for victory, the scratch partnership of captain Lianne Candappa (Warwick) and Rugby’s Elizabeth Massie thrashed the Lincolnshire thirds for the loss of just four games. Although the Bears have won all three matches so far and currently lead the group, injuries to stalwarts Lois Porter, Grace Gamble and the experienced Hazel Coop have meant a rapid rejig of the pairings for the crucial matches against unbeaten East of Scotland and Norfolk. Former British number 1 Louise Kilshaw, 47, will return for one day, along with doubles specialist Marina Beckinsale. One more win should assure the Midlanders of promotion to Group 3 but with key players missing, they now face two of the strongest sides and are grateful for the healthy rubbers tally they amassed through emphatic victories over Essex and North Wales on the first two days.

Results: LTA Summer County Cup

Eastbourne: Men’s Group 1

Day 3 Warwickshire lost to Surrey 3-6

Day 2  beat East of Scotland 6-3

Day 1 Beat North of Scotland 6-3

East Gloucester Club, Cheltenham, Women Group 4 

Day 3 Warwickshire beat Lincolnshire 5-4

Day 2 Beat North Wales 7-2

Day 1 Beat Essex 7-2