May 8, 2024

Lionel Cox Report

The 2024 version of the Lionel Cox was a little different to previous years, with the format being changed to a Doubles event. Still held over the first May Bank Holiday weekend, the U10’s and U12’s played at Queenswood again but the U9’s was being hosted at Hills Road this year.

The Saturday started with the U12 boys in action. Both pairs of Beau & Jethro and Louis & James played solid tennis and beat Bedfordshire easily 2-0. Next up were the U10 Girls against a traditionally strong Essex team. Both Alisa & Sofia and Daisy & Kashvi fought hard but went down 2-0.

The U12 Girls started their weekend with a good win over Oxfordshire, the pairings of Megann & Manami plus Anaiya and Isabella winning in straight sets for a 2-0 win. The U10 Boys also started against Oxfordshire, with Adam & Vincent losing their match, however Eli and Hugo rallied from losing the first set to win the second set in a tiebreak and then claim the match tiebreak 10-2 to give Cambs a draw.

The U12 Boys had Northamptonshire up second, and another dominant display from Beau & Jethro and Louis & James saw Cambs finish their day with another 2-0 victory and not dropping a game in 8 sets of tennis. The U12 Girls were similarly ruthless against Bedfordshire with Manami & Megann winning 4-0, 4-0 and Anaiya & Isabella winning 4-0, 4-3. The same pairs went out again for the U12 girls and defeated Norfolk 2-0 meaning the girls had played 3 won 3 and boys played 2 won 2 by the end of Saturday.

The U10 Girls had another tough match against Suffolk. Kashvi and Sofia played very well to win 4-1,4-2. Despite fighting hard and having a few chances, Millie & Daisy lost in 2 close sets meaning it was a 1-1 draw. The U10 Boys faced Buckinghamshire next, with Philip replacing Adam and partnering Vincent. Both Vincent & Philip and Eli & Hugo went to a 3rd set match tiebreak and unfortunately both fell just short meaning Cambs lost 2-0.

In the final round on Saturday, the U10 girls faced Berkshire. Daisy paired up with Alisa this time and narrowly lost 9-11 in a third set match tiebreak. Unfortunately, Berkshire were too good on the day for Kashvi & Sofia as well meaning the Girls lost 2-0 and would be playing for positions 5-8 on Sunday. The U10 Boys faced Northamptonshire in the final match of the day, with Adam & Vincent and Eli & Philip recording solid wins in straight sets to give Cambs a 2-0 victory and joint second place in the group overnight.

The U12 Boys started off on Sunday where they had left off on Saturday, with an impressive 2-0 victory over Essex with wins from Beau & Jethro and Louis & James. The U12 Girls also faced Essex needing a win to top their group. Megann & Manami fought hard but lost 4-1,4-2 whilst Isabella & Anamaya Kumar also lost in a very close 3rd set Match tiebreak 10-7.

After a disappointing Saturday for the U10’s, both teams faced Norfolk first up looking for better performances. The Girls played really well to win 2-0 with Kashvi & Alisa winning a close 3rd set Match tiebreak 11-9. The Boys were slightly more comfortable in recording a 2-0 victory as well. The wins meant both teams went into the 5th / 6th Playoffs.

The U12 Boys still had Bucks to beat to win their group. Yanyi teamed up with Louis and Beau & Jethro continued their strong partnership, with both pairs recording excellent straight sets victories which sent the Boys into their final.

Into the playoffs, and the U10 Girls faced Suffolk again. A very good win from Alisa & Kashvi 4-3,4-1 meant Sofia & Millie only need a set which they did to ensure the U9 Girls finished 5th overall. The U10 Boys faced Essex in their playoff. Adam & Vincent and Eli & Hugo both played very good matches, recording straight sets wins to give the U10 Boys 5th place overall as well.

The U12 Boys faced Berkshire in their final. A superb 4-0,4-0 by Beau and Jethro sent Cambs 1-0. Yanyi & Louis then finished the job with a very good 4-0, 4-3 victory to give the U12 Boys the Gold Medal! The U12 Girls faced Bucks in their 3rd / 4th playoff. Megann & Manami played very well to win 4-0,4-2 and send Cambs 1-0 up. Isabella & Anamaya fought really hard and had plenty sudden death deuces but went down 4-0,4-0 meaning 4th place overall for the girls.

Lionel Cox day 2, the U9s were moved to Hills Road this year due to court space at Queenswood, Sue took the responsibility of running the event and deserves a huge amount of credit for how smoothly and fun the event ran.

Starting with our Cambs Boys

Kevin, Avaughn, Neil & Leon.

Our first match was Hertfordshire who year in year out show great quality and this year was no exception, Avaughn & Kevin got off to a slow start losing the first set to a focused Herts team, they then came back to win the 2nd & 3rd sets finding their feet and growing in confidence as a pair.

Neil & Leon played well from the off, but the Herts boys were just a little strong winning in 2 sets, Neil & Leon’s attitudes were great, drawing the tie.

Next was Oxfordshire, after a team talk with the boys, mostly talking about positioning at the net and movement our boys came alive winning the tie.

Taking the momentum into the next tie, we faced Bucks, the boys then talked about what they learnt from previous matches and created small tactics, like when to both stay back, when to cut across to try and intercept, all of a sudden, all the pieces of the puzzle fell in place 2 wins to put us joint top of league. Then we had a break which may have relaxed our boys a little too much, we played Norfolk and weren’t quite as sharp, still winning the tie, but a closer affair and our focus had to be on point with Leon & Neil winning in 3 sets.

Cambridge narrowly finishing top of Group A with Herts in a close 2nd, Berkshire winning Group B without losing a match.

Cambridgeshire vs Berkshire Final. After talking tactics and giving 100% it was down to the boys, Avaughn & Kevin looked focused from the first point, with great team work and communication, Avaughn hitting 4 aces and Kevin being clinical on his volleys the boys won in straight sets. Neil & Leon were equally as focused, taking the first set playing the set of their lives, this only made the Berkshire boys fight harder taking the next 2 sets and winning the match. Cambs WIN the final on sets, very proud of the boys and their teamwork.

Cambs Girls were Daisy, Allegra, Sarah, Yingnan, Lavanya, having the 5th girl meant we had options to switch pairs if needed.

With the girls first match being Herts, we knew it would take everything to get the result, Daisy & Allegra got off to a slow start not quite finding the range on their ground strokes, but still battling, losing the first set meant a strong team talk was needed, Daisy & Allegra then stepped it up big time winning the next 2 sets and taking the match, Sarah & Lavanya worked hard but the quality of the Herts girls proved to strong, Herts winning the match 2/0, leaving the tie a draw but Herts winning on sets.

All I can say is the girls did not feel sorry for themselves but instead went on a mission to win, win, win.

Daisy & Allegra went on to beat Suffolk, Bucks & Oxfordshire all in straight sets looking unbeatable the longer the day went on, they tactically started playing in different positions depending on if it were a first or 2nd serve, showing a maturity in doubles beyond their years.

Yingnan & Lavanya then paired up and produced a balanced performance being Norfolk in straight sets, then the Yinghan & Sarah combination did the same beating Bucks, they played so well in this match that we kept the pair together and the beat Oxfordshire in style.

We then waited for the Group results and again Cambs finished top of Group A, with Herts in 2nd due to drawing with Oxfordshire.

Essex won Group B to set up an epic final.

Daisy & Allegra took to the show court against an unbeaten Essex pair, what a match it was, Daisy & Allegra stepped up and lead from the off winning comfortably in 2 straight sets.

Yingnan & Lavanya played the final and were solid from the start but the Essex girls took the first set closely, after a chat about making every ball count, the girls went in to the 2nd set with a desire to not miss a ball, they ended up winning the 2nd set which was crucial for the tie, narrowly losing the 3rd set the girls lost but with us winning 3 sets and Essex only 2 Cambs Girls were crowed champions like the boys. So proud of the players and the standards they set for Cambridgeshire.

Overall, Cambs finished in 2nd place with Herts in 1st.