Cheshire Shine at the 9U County Cup Northern Finals in Nottingham

Cheshire’s 9U teams delivered a fantastic weekend of tennis at the County Cup Northern Finals at Nottingham Tennis Centre, with the boys crowned Northern Champions and the girls securing an excellent third-place finish. Competing against some of the strongest counties in the region, both teams showed outstanding determination, teamwork, and resilience throughout a thrilling day of competition.

Girls’ Team – A Brilliant Third Place Finish

The girls arrived in Nottingham with the same team and captains who had successfully come through the qualifying event. The Northern Finals were played in a round-robin format, with Cheshire facing Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, West of Scotland, and Warwickshire.

The day began perfectly against the host county, Nottinghamshire. The Cheshire girls were superb from the very first point, dominating the singles matches and racing into a 4–0 lead while dropping only two games across the four ties. They carried that momentum into the doubles, where both pairs secured victories to complete an emphatic 6–0 win.

Next up was a tough encounter with tournament favourites Yorkshire. Despite the scoreline, the girls battled hard in every match and showed great determination throughout the singles and doubles. Yorkshire proved just too strong on the day, winning the tie 6–0, and they would go on to claim the overall title while dropping only two rubbers across the entire event.

Determined to bounce back, Cheshire regrouped brilliantly for their match against West of Scotland. Strong singles performances gave the team a 3–1 lead heading into the doubles. Both pairs then took control from the start, winning 4–1 in the first pair and 4–0 in the second pair to secure an impressive 5–1 victory.

The final match of the day against Warwickshire had huge significance, with the runners-up position still up for grabs. Cheshire picked up an important win at number three singles but trailed 1–3 heading into the doubles. The second pair produced a brilliant win in a tight contest to narrow the gap to 2–3, but Warwickshire edged the number one doubles to take the match 4–2.

The girls finished 3rd overall, a fantastic achievement against very strong opposition and a testament to the effort, teamwork, and determination shown by the entire squad.

Boys’ Team – Northern Champions

After dominating the qualifying stages, the Cheshire boys arrived at the Northern Finals full of confidence. They knew they would face strong competition from West of Scotland, South Wales, Lancashire, and Leicestershire. The team remained unchanged from the qualifying event, with Tony and Toby leading the group once again.

Cheshire got off to a strong start against Leicestershire, racing into a 4–0 lead after the singles matches. While the score suggested a comfortable win, many of the matches were tightly contested. In the doubles, Cheshire narrowly lost a tie-break at number one but responded with a convincing win at number two to secure a 5–1 victory.

Next came Lancashire, always a tough opponent. Cheshire rose to the challenge superbly, taking a 3–1 lead after the singles. The doubles proved just as dramatic, with Cheshire edging the number one pair in a tie-break before the number two pair also secured victory, sealing another impressive 5–1 win.

The third match against West of Scotland proved to be the toughest contest of the day. The teams were evenly matched throughout, with the singles ending 2–2 after Cheshire secured wins at numbers two and three. The doubles also split one apiece, meaning the tie would be decided by a shootout.

The shootout is a 10-point doubles tie-break featuring one player from each doubles pair. The Cheshire coaches selected Oliver and Albert, who produced a superb performance under pressure. Playing with confidence and composure, they dominated the shootout to win 10–3 and secure a crucial victory for Cheshire.

The final match of the weekend saw Cheshire face South Wales with the title on the line. Victory would crown Cheshire champions. Riding the momentum from the dramatic shootout win, the boys delivered a fantastic performance in the singles, winning all four matches to take a commanding 4–0 lead.

The doubles provided more excitement. Cheshire edged a thrilling tie-break in the number one doubles 8–6 in a real nail-biter. Although South Wales claimed the number two doubles, Cheshire sealed the overall tie 5–1.

With that victory, Cheshire finished top of the group and were crowned 9U County Cup Northern Champions.

“It was quite a weekend for the boy’s 9U Cheshire County Cup team, who played at Nottingham on Sunday. As soon as the competition started, it was clear the standard was high across the five teams. Our lads battled all the way through, taking the tightest match of the day against West Scotland to a shootout. The Cheshire team prevailed, making us champions of the North area, which includes the North of England, Scotland, and Wales.  The team showed fantastic spirit and well deserved their hard-fought victory.” - Amanda Twigg, 9U County Performance Lead

“Both teams should be incredibly proud of what they achieved this weekend. The girls finishing third and the boys becoming Northern Champions is a fantastic reflection of the strength and future of junior tennis in Cheshire. A big thank you to all the players for their commitment, effort, and team spirit, and to the coaches for their hard work and support in helping the players develop and compete at such a high level.” - Simon Thornewill, County Performance Lead

What a great weekend for Cheshire Junior Tennis! Congratulations to all players, captains, and parents who contributed to a brilliant day in Nottingham.