Bears boss 'proud' of major breakthrough

WARWICKSHIRE Men produced a string of outstanding performances to achieve an impressive runners-up finish behind reigning champions Surrey in the elite Group 1 of County Week at Eastbourne.

- By SALLY JONES

The Bears, who had reached the top division for the first time since 2010 after languishing in Group 5 just six years ago, were tied with Surrey on three wins apiece but trailing by three rubbers at the start of the final match.

After losing to the powerful Surrey team 3-6 on the rain-affected third day, which reduced the latter matches to truncated four-game sets on soggy Astroturf, Warwickshire had scored a battling 6-3 victory over fifth-placed Northamptonshire to remain - mathematically at least - in the hunt for the coveted title.

But when Surrey, who included world-ranked doubles specialists Mark Whitehouse and James Beaven, thrashed South Wales 8-1 on the final day, it put the championship out of reach and the Bears’ final fixture was abandoned when they were leading South Wales 4-2.

The scratch pairing of the two Warwick Boat Club coaches, Cameron Malik and Mason Recci, won both their rubbers in straight sets against strong Welsh opposition.