Captains Report: 18U County Cup: Division 1 Bath

Day 1- Kent vs Lancashire
At 6 for Kent was ‘Big Bird’ James Wilson against a strong opponent in former top 10 junior Connor Bunting. Not a lot to say on this one, James got it in, Bunting didn’t! 1-0 Kent, all gifts welcome. So to our number 5, team talisman, Luke ‘Peter Kaye’ Bateup. A man who looks forward to County Cup more than anyone else on planet Kent. To be honest, he was not favourite against the Lancs number 5, but this is County Cup and this is Luke Bateup, at a set all and a break down in the third it looked unlikely, but back came Bates game after game and after a celebration that belonged to a lottery winner it was 2-0 Kent. Out comes Francis ‘Dino’ Sargeant to the songs of Lionel Ritchie from the gallery, however it was ‘Hello’ to the scoreboard for Lancs, 2-1. At 3 for Kent was the tallest player in the tournament at 6’6 Mikey Saleau or ‘The Ginger Del Potro’ as he is affectionately called by the team. Was the tide turning? Mikey couldn’t find his range and his opponent couldn’t miss, 2-2. With the match getting tight it was time for Kent’s Nelson Mandela look alike Lewis Whiteley to hit the court and although it was a bit scrappy at times the momentum was back Kent’s way as Lewis outclassed his opponent and put Kent back in the lead 3-2. With Kent just in the lead we released the weapon of mass destruction that is Lewis ‘Luigi’ Burton. Although Luigi struggled to find in form on the returning games, he served much too well for the Lancs number 1 and showed his class to take the straight sets win while still only in second gear, 4-2 Kent. To the doubles it goes with James Wilson and Robert ‘Razor’ Ratcliffe at 3 and Whiteley and Saleau at second pair the battle begun to find just one more rubber to secure the win. But look as they might, they found nothing and we found ourselves at 4-4. ‘Luigi’ and ‘Dino’ to decide Kent’s fate against a tricky Lancs first pair. The balcony was electric as we looked on, the Kent support singing ‘Come On Kent (OHHH RAAAA!)’ and with a combination of Burton’s brutal serving and returning and Sargeant’s touch at the net it was a 5-4 win for the Kent boys.

Day 2- Kent vs Surrey
Wilson again starting us off against semi Kent player, representing Surrey Will Juggins. A tight one, with Wilson having break point after break point. There was nothing in it for the first two sets, but then ‘Big Bird’ broke through and put us in the lead, 1-0. Meanwhile yesterday’s hero Bateup hit the court in what was one of the most one sided matches ever seen in County Cup, sadly for us, not one sided in our direction as Bateup did well to get one game, Hard luck Bates, 1-1. ‘François Dino’ restored the balance with a fantastic performance, 2-1 up. Saleau in again at 3 again couldn’t find his rhythm and it was 2-2. ‘Freeeeeeeeeee, Nelson Mandela’ was sung from the rooftops as Whiteley was pitted against top 200 in the world junior Alex Wilton. Whiteley never a big one for the rankings showed the surrey number 2 exactly who was boss with big forehand after big forehand, with a few aces too, just to keep him quiet! Too Easy, 3-2 Kent. And to Luigi, facing the apparently injured Surrey number 1. Beware the wounded animal, the Surrey Number 1 on fire takes the first set and Luigi looked disturbed. But this brought out the beast within, with more fight than Mike Tyson, he pulled it back and like a great champion when the chance came in the third, he struck and gave Kent a 4-2 lead, Phew, what a match! Same doubles line up as yesterday and the same result, arrrggghhh 4-4 and it’s all down to the Sargeant and Burton partnership. In one of the best doubles matches of the weekend, Kent squeezed out the win with more memorable points than we have time to mention, however we can’t forget the Sargeant no look half volley pass up the line, stop it Dino, it’s not fair! Kent win 5-4

Day 3- Kent vs Middlesex
As fate would have it although we were undefeated we could both be champions, runners up or be relegated depending on results today and with an atmosphere like a cup final it was to be a day of great drama. At 6 the ever faithful James Wilson took to the courts, legs looking stiff, but heart ready for the fight. A tough start with a combination of his opponent’s great play and some uncharacteristic errors Wilson found himself a set down and 5-1 down, surely it’s over? Back comes Wilson 5-5, 6-5 up set points for Kent.........He can’t take them and it’s a tie break, at 13-14 after both players having chances ‘Big Bird’ subsides with a forehand error, 1-0 Middlesex. Come on Bateup, let’s see it! A good performance from Luke, but no joy, 2-0 Middlesex. Come on boys we need to get on the scoreboard! ‘Dino, give us wave, Dino, Dino give us a wave!’ sang the Kent faithful. Could Francis with his 1980’s Lionel Ritchie haircut get us going. A fantastic match with great play on both sides took us to a set a piece. Meanwhile Mikey Saleau looking to bounce back from back to back defeats on days one and two had a dangerous look about him, with a fist pump and a deluge of big shots and net raids he got us on the scoreboard 1-2. Back to ‘Dino’ 4-1 up in the decider and looking strong there was a twist of fate as a miss hit lob went over Sargeant’s head he played what could only be called a miracle backhand smash which landed back his opponents baseline to which his opponent called out ‘Jesus’. Although I’m not a religious man, perhaps it was divine intervention that followed as the Middlesex number 4 caught fire and somehow stole away the match, 3-1 Middlesex. Could Whiteley continue his great run of form on the singles court? To put it simply, yes, an incredible performance under the greatest of pressure. It took three sets, but with the heart of a lion it was a Kent win 2-3. To the top tie ‘Luigi’ v Oliver Golding, maybe a must win for Kent. This was a spectacle of great tennis, to and fro with the supporters getting louder and louder. At a set all it was poised for a great finish and it came to the moment that perhaps turned the whole weekend. Golding, who’s behaviour was nothing less than disgraceful snapped, picked up a ball and fired it at the Kent supporters on the balcony, just missing ‘Razor’ Ratcliffe. I looked round at the Ref and he had not seen it. If he had, he would have had no choice but to default Golding and give Kent the match. Golding rode his luck and pulled out the win to give Middlesex a 4-2 lead. Needing all three doubles was a big ask but with two new pairs for Kent at 2&3, could we do it? At 3 Wilson and Saleau got off to a fast start and took the first set. At 1 it was tight, but ‘Dino’ and ‘Luigi’ looking the better pair. At 2 Whiteley ,and, in his debut for the weekend Simon ‘Jonas’ Briggs were up against it and were battered in the first set. Meanwhile Wilson and Saleau struggle, but then take the win in the match tie break, 3-4. Whiteley and Briggs fought, but couldn’t stem the tide and Middlesex took the win and then gave us the other doubles. Middlesex win 5-4 and are Champions with Kent as runners up and remaining in division 1.

Going in to the weekend perhaps we would have taken runners up, but having been there it was disappointing that we couldn’t take the win.

The sad part in 18’s County Cup is saying goodbye to the players in their last year, so to ‘Luigi’, ‘Wilsoni’, ‘Jonas’ and ‘Razor’ we bid a fond farewell and thank you for all your efforts both this year and in previous years. It was a great weekend with many memories for all and as always both ‘Captain Burgs’ and ‘Captain Bogeyman Filmer’ are very proud of the Kent team. So sing up loud and sing up proud-‘Come On Kent- OHHH RAAA’

Well done to all our boys, what a weekend!!!