Tennis Centre players represent Devon

The tennis tournament, which was hosted at the Tarka Tennis Centre in Barnstable, is split into seven divisions and draws on the top players from around the country to compete over three days. The Devon side, which plays in division five, sent a team of nine to the event, three of whom (Jack Findel-Hawkins, Howard Scott and Oskar Wynne) are members of Exeter Tennis Centre and one an ex-member (Steve Knowles). The other players were David Palmer (Torquay), Justin Krausher (Victoria Park), Ben Tyrell (Torquay), Alfie Flatters (Tiverton) and Dan Jones (Plymouth).

During the competition counties go head to head in singles and three doubles matches with one point available for each match victory. The top side from each group receives a promotion for the following year while the bottom side gets relegated.

This year’s group saw the team face Bedfordshire, Hereford and Worcestershire and the Channel Islands. Devon entered the competition confident of a good result having achieved a promotion the year before.

The first day saw some incredibly close tennis as Devon faced Bedfordshire. The Exeter players put in fantastic performances to achieve Devon’s only victories that day against a strong opponent. Jack and Howard both won their singles matches in straight sets with Oskar and Jack also winning their doubles event. Sadly it wasn’t quite enough as Bedfordshire battled their way to a 6 – 3 victory overall.

Despite this initial defeat scuppering Devon’s chances of promotion the team continued to play exceptional tennis for the remainder of the tournament, beating Hereford and Worcester 5:4 and the Channel Islands 5:1, to finish second in the group.

Team captain Dan Jones commented “The team played incredibly well. Jack and Howard led the way by winning all of their singles matches. Oskar and Ben won two of out three but sadly it was not quite enough to secure a second successive promotion”. 

This result comes after an incredibly successful season for Jack and Howard who both reached the final of the AEGON British Tour event in Swansea earlier this year. Both players will be competing in British Tour Masters tournament in Nottingham at the end of November. The Masters tournament draws on the most successful players from the British Tour in a straight knockout competition.

Exeter’s Director of Tennis Will McNally commented “I am incredibly proud of the performances that our players put in at the Winter County Cup. To see Exeter players performing so well at such a high standard of competition is very rewarding. While it is disappointing that the side were unable to achieve promotion they played well and can take a lot away from the weekend.

It is fantastic to see Jack and Howard make it through to the Masters tournament this month. This is an exceptional achievement and the whole team here at Exeter Tennis Centre will be rooting for them.” 

The next county event will be the Summer County Cup held in late July. This event will post a different challenge, taking place outside on grass.