BVTC Mens 1 v Stoney Stanton top of the table clash!

2024 saw a great year for the men’s first team. Although we were in 3b this is due to the leagues adopting only 1 first and second divisions. This resulted in some first division and second division teams finding themselves in 3 A & B.

Nigel, as captain, pulled the troops together and this year we have a couple of new players who will be with us for a good few years. Besides Mark Blackburn, Nigel Daniels, Steve Wallace, Jamie Wallace and Ben Cullen who have played for many years we also welcomed Ben Wallace back into the squad together with new blood in the form of Tom Rowe, Andy Isaac and Richard Surtees which formed a strong squad.

Unfortunately our first match was rained off and our second match was lost 5-4 due to availability with  second team players standing in to take on one of the strongest teams, Leicestershire. However, Nigel got the new team organised and we won the rest of the matches, many by large margins over the likes of Melton, Hinckley, Wigston, Lutterworth, Ashby Castle, Carisbrooke with Ben Cullen and Tom Rowe briefly topped the player stats table.

And so it came to the final game of the season with Stoney Stanton (a Leicestershire league div 1 side last year) who were 1 point ahead of BVTC – so who ever won got promoted. With most of the team available (only Andy Isaac out of the country) we had some of the squad on the bench plus enthusiastic spectators  from both clubs. Stoney Stanton had only lost 1 match all season too.

In the first round Tom and Jamie lost to the opposing 2nd pair in a great hard hitting game. Richard Surtees and Mark were 6/5 and a break up against their 1st pair but lost whilst Steve and Ben Wallace managed to beat the 3rd pair 8-4. Ben Wallace unfortunately broke a string and without a replacement racket struggled for the rest of the night with a different racket.

2-1 down after the first round.

In the second round Richard and Mark won against the 2nd pair and Tom and Jamie beat the 3rd pair. After being all square at 5 all Steve and Ben dropped a serve against the 1st pair to lose the set.

3 all at the end of the second round.

In the 3rd round Richard and Mark beat the 3rd pair and Steve and Ben lost badly to the 2nd pair. It came down to the last set of the last match. This set went down to a tie break. With BVTC serving at 2-3, a lucky net cord enabled Stoney Stanton to take the lead which proved decisive and the tie break went to Stoney Stanton for promotion.

All the players felt guilty to let down the players on the bench but it was a fantastic effort with great tennis and a great team spirit. Fortunately, we were able to find the Nags Head bar very quickly where we all drowned our sorrows and girded our loins for next year.

Huge thanks to Nigel for organising and to the whole squad for giving their all ( let’s hope another club drops out enabling 2 teams to get promoted !!!!).

3 players ended up in the top 10 stats Steve Wallace at 3, Mark Blackburn at 6, Tom Rowe at 7 and Ben Cullen just outside at 11.

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who turned out for the first team this season.

BVTC1 v Stoney Stanton 4-5

BVTC1 v Melton 9-0

BVTC 1 v Newtown Linford 9-0

BVTC 1 v Leics D 4-5

BVTC 1 v Lutterworth II 6-3

BVTC 1 v Hinckley 1 7-2

BVTC 1 v Ashby Castle 6-3

BVTC 1 v Carisbrooke  9-0

BVTC 1 v Wigston 9-0

Photo L-R: Nigel Daniels, Ben Wallace, Tom Rowe, Jamie Wallace, Steve Wallace, Ben Cullen, Richard Surtees, Mark Blackburn