9U Boys North Area Finals Report

Cambridgeshire 9U Boys travelled to Nottingham Tennis Centre for the North Area Finals on Sunday 21st April. 

The team was:

• Kevin
• Avaughn
• Winston
• Eric
• Leon

Cambs first fixture was against Cheshire.

With Kevin & Avaughn both get off to a fast start with 4-0, 4-1 wins, Winston & Eric had a tougher battle both unfortunately losing 2-4 but could have gone either way, so moving into the doubles with all to play for at 2-2.

Kevin & Avaughn battled out an epic win taking it in the tiebreak, Leon & Winston battled but lost 2-4, so the tie was to be decided with shootout. Kevin & Leon unfortunately could get the win in a good match, Cheshire narrowly winning tie 7-6.

The next fixture was against the favourites Yorkshire and although the children gave their best the results do not go Cambs way:

Kevin 0-4 loss

Avaughn 1-4 loss

Eric 1-4 loss

Leon 1-4 loss

Then unfortunately the Yorkshire boys were also to strong in doubles and so winning the tie 6-0.

Then on to West Scotland who had just beaten Yorkshire, but our boys showed tremendous resilience after the Yorkshire loss, with Kevin winning in style 4-0. Avaughn playing the match of his life winning 7-5 in the match tiebreak. Winston giving his all but unfortunately losing the tiebreak 4-7 but to his credit he was 0-6 down and showed great spirit, Leon then with a 2-4 loss against someone 3 times his size, he played a great match.

So again, leaving it 2-2 going into the doubles, West of Scotland’s number 1 pair came in to the doubles with a point to prove and beat Kevin & Avaughn 4-0, but with 3 sudden death deuce games. Winston & Eric then put on a fantastic display to beat pair 2, 7-4 in tiebreak, again leaving the tie to be settled in a shootout, this time Avaughn & Winston batted but unfortunately lost 6-10 in a very passionate match, the boys showed real grit in this fixture, we were all proud.

The last fixture of the event was Warwickshire, who had beaten West Scotland so we knew they were strong.

Kevin got things off to a great start with a fantastic 4-1 win, then the boys Avaughn losing 2-4, Winston & Eric both losing Tie breaks couldn't quite get us over the line, but it did leave hope for the doubles being 3-1 down.

Winston & Kevin losing in a close tiebreak, then Leon & Eric won their tiebreak, but unfortunately, we lost the tie 2-4, although gave our best.

Overall finishing positions:

1. Yorkshire 

2. West Scotland 

3. Cheshire 

4. Warwickshire 

5. Cambridgeshire 

You can probably see from the matches, how close we were and with the shootouts, so between 1st & 5th was very narrow margins.

To the boys & parents, thank you for giving your all for Cambridgeshire, you made the County very proud.

Paul Hope, 9U Boys National Finals Captain