Over the weekend, the U18 boys, Mike, and I traveled to Nottingham for the County Cup. It was a fantastic event, and the boys did Somerset proud both on and off the court. Their behavior was exemplary, and their commitment to the team was outstanding.

Despite stepping in last minute, Mike and I were incredibly impressed with how well the team performed.

Every player gave their all and competed with great determination. The competition was fiercely close—had we won the final doubles match on Day 2 (which we narrowly lost 10-8 in a third-set tiebreak), we would have won the group. On the flip side, had we lost just two more rubbers over the weekend, we would have been relegated. That’s how tight the standings were.

Going into Day 3, every team had both the chance to win the group and the risk of finishing at the bottom. It was an intense battle, but our team showed incredible resilience, fighting for every point with great spirit and support for one another.

A special mention must go to Josh Craze and Charlie Ruffell, who were outstanding throughout the weekend—winning all six of their matches without dropping a set.

Overall, the weekend was a huge success, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team’s performance and attitude.

Chris Chapman