LTA Summer County Cup - Norfolk win promotion

Norfolk Men claimed promotion from Group Four of the Summer County Cup on a dramatic final day at The Metropolitan Police Sports Ground in East Moseley, Surrey. Locked in a three-way tie for second place, Norfolk clinched promotion on overall rubbers.

The week began with an encouraging 5-4 loss to a strong Middlesex team. Norfolk took an early 2-1 lead, but Middlesex fought back to level the tie at 3-all. In the final round the eventual group winners proved too strong and claimed two rubbers to decide the match.

British number four Richard Bloomfield came into the line-up for Tuesday’s clash with promotion rivals Hereford and Worcester. Bloomfield and partner Nicky Crawley dismissed the opposition’s second pair in straight sets whilst Daniel and Jonathan Wynne clinched a third set tiebreak to give Norfolk the early momentum and claim a 2-1 advantage. The second round proved to be decisive as Norfolk reached an unassailable 5-1 lead to seal victory with three matches left in the day. Matthew Green and Captain Chris Parker won an important rubber to round off a 6-3 win to kick-start Norfolk’s promotion campaign.

With an injury to Matthew Green before play began, Ryon Martin was drafted into the line-up on a difficult day three. West of Scotland, also in contention for a promotion place, were dominant as Bloomfield and Parker picked up Norfolk’s only two rubbers of the day. The crushing 7-2 loss severely dented promotion hopes as rivals Hereford and Worcester picked up a 7-2 win against Cornwall.

Thursday’s opponents were relegation-threatened Cornwall, in need of a win to boost their survival chances. Matthew Green, battling with a leg injury, returned to partner Crawley in a re-shuffled team. Norfolk raced ahead to a 3-0 lead after Parker and Jonathan Wynne edged a tight match against the Cornwall third pairing. Bloomfield and Daniel Wynne brushed aside the opposing first pair as Norfolk further stamped their authority on the tie in the second round. Cornwall achieved a consolation rubber from the last round but an emphatic 8-1 win gave Norfolk an outside chance of achieving promotion.

Norfolk began the final day against Leicestershire as third favourites to secure the remaining promotion spot as they trailed West of Scotland by one rubber and Hereford and Worcester by four rubbers. Hereford and Worcester could clinch promotion if they overturned already-promoted Middlesex. Norfolk knew they would need to better West of Scotland’s result against Cornwall by two rubbers and rely on Middlesex to beat Hereford and Worcester. With an unaltered team, Norfolk got the start they needed as Bloomfield and Daniel Wynne claimed a quick victory and Parker and Jonathan Wynne rounded off a dream first round as Norfolk raced to a 3-0 lead. Results from elsewhere were taking shape as Middlesex battled to a 2-1 lead and West of Scotland dropped an early rubber to Cornwall.

Norfolk maintained their momentum as Crawley and Green rescued a three set epic to give their side a 6-0 lead. Middlesex were now one rubber away from defeating Hereford and Worcester and West of Scotland had let another rubber slip as they led Cornwall 4-2.

The final round was full of drama in all three ties. Cornwall ended the hopes of the West of Scotland as they took another rubber leaving the final score at 6-3. Hereford and Worcester levelled their tie with Middlesex at 4-4 and stood one match away from promotion. Middlesex replied by claiming the deciding rubber to seal a 5-4 win. Norfolk took an 8-0 lead as Bloomfield and Daniel Wynne won in straight sets and Parker and Jonathan Wynne dug out a victory against the Leicestershire first pair. The conclusion would be tense as Crawley and Green were forced into a third set. Matt Green would eventually hold his nerve to serve out the match and give Norfolk a whitewash 9-0 victory to seal promotion by a single rubber over Hereford and Worcester.

Chris Parker will now lead his team into group three in 2009.