Team: Mason Recci, Luke Hammond, Oliver Nolan, Max Stewart, Richard Partridge, Oliver Plaskett, Cameron Malik, Tom Wride (2 days) Simon Ferguson (3 days)

Monday West of Scotland - 5-4 win 1. Hammond & Recci 2. Nolan & Stewart 3. Partridge & Plaskett Wride & Malik came in for Partridge & Plasket for the 3rd round

Very tough match and turned out to be the decisive match for who would top the division. Recci & Hammond put on an unbelievable performance winning all 3 rubbers. The Scottish number 1 pair played all 15 matches together over the course of the week and this remained their only defeat. Support was fantastic, from people both on and off the court, and could be heard across the venue. Our no 2 & 3 pairs won a rubber each to seal victory.

Tuesday Lancashire - 6-3 win 1. Hammond & Recci 2. Nolan & Stewart 3. Partridge & Plaskett Malik came in for Hammond in the 3rd Round

This is where our depth in squad came up trumps with both Nolan & Stewart and Partridge & Plaskett winning all 3 rubbers. Hammond & Recci, emotionally drained from the effort of Mondays victories, struggled throughout the day.

Wednesday Durham & Cleveland - 8-1 win 1. Nolan & Stewart 2. Plaskett & Recci 3. Hammond & Malik Partridge came in for Recci in rounds 2&3

Changes had to be made to the Recci & Hammond pairing after yesterdays struggles. I made the decision to pair Hammond with Malik who were amazing winning all 3 matches. Plasket & Partridge came back together winning 2 from 2 and Nolan & Stewart won 2 from 3.

Thursday Wiltshire - 8-1 win 1. Nolan & Stewart 2. Hammond & Malik 3. Ferguson & Recci Plasket & Partridge came in for Nolan & Stewart in round 3

Hammond & Malik won 3 from 3 again. Ferguson came into the team fresh adding his experience and partnering with Recci to win 2 from 3. Nolan & Stewart won 2 from 2. The rested partridge & Plaskett came in for Stewart & Nolan winning 1 from 1 and guaranteeing promotion for the team. After 4 rounds in the heat, and so far being undefeated, the team had certainly earned a drink or two to celebrate.

Friday Hereford & Worcester - 6-3 win 1. Hammond & Malik 2. Partridge & Plaskett 3. Ferguson & Stewart Recci came in for Plaskett in rounds 2 & 3 Nolan came in for Stewart in rounds 2 & 3 Hammond & Malik won 2 from 3. Ferguson & Stewart/Nolan (round 3) won 3 from 3. Partridge & Plaskett/ Recci (round 3) won 1 from 3.

Summing up the week… we were a complete team with no weaknesses which the results below show. All squad members bringing home great results compared to other counties where they often have an outstanding couple of players where as we had all players selected averaging a high win %.

Ferguson - 5 wins from 6 - 83% (cool & calm ) Partridge - 8 wins from 11 - 72% (big serving ) Stewart – 10/13 - 76% (Duracell battery ) Hammond – 11/14 - 78% (big shot player ) Malik - 8/11 - 72% (Experienced & simple) Recci - 6/12 - 50% ( huge player 1st day) Nolan – 9/12 - 75% (steady tennis to calm Max down) Plaskett – 8/11 - 72% (inspirational on & off court) Wride 0/1 - 0% (great squad member experience to youngsters)

Player of the week for efforts on & off court goes to Luke Hammond!

Going forward we have established some new pairings & have various options to come in when results don’t go our way for one reason or another. Team spirit was there to see all week on and off the court and I’m very much looking forward to winter county cup & preparing for next summer in group 4 👍🎾🐻

Cheers Gavin Henderson