Prudden League – Final Week 14 (28/07/2010)

It took until the final week of the Prudden Tennis League, covering the South Warwickshire and District Area, to reveal the Premier Division Champions, such was the competitive nature of the League in all divisions.  However, for the eighth year in succession Stratford-on-Avon claim the League title, a feat that will not be beaten for decades.  They did so in style with a sixth straight sets 4-0 victory in a brilliant end run-in to the season.  This time it was against their title contenders Evesham in a great 4-0 result for Stratford to end the summer.  Henley-in-Arden finished in third and celebrated their good season with a 4-0 battering of bottom and relegated side Claverdon.  Moreton-in-Marsh came fourth but lost their last match to the side beneath them, Stratford B, 3-1.  Finally, in a sad end for Littleton, they conceded their match 4-0 to Inkberrow and with that are relegated with Claverdon to Division One. 

Champions again, Stratford-on-Avon needed just a draw from their final match to clinch their eighth title in a row, with a head to head decider against contenders Evesham.  This was their closest challenge for eight years and nothing was being taken for granted.  However, with a full strength team and a determination to win the Stratford side made sure the result was never in doubt as they took the match 4-0 in straight sets.  Stratford’s captain Tim Page & Simon West overcame Simon Wall & Dave Hubbard (Evesham) 7-5, 6-4 and then John Clarke & Chris Francis (Evesham) 7-5, 6-2.  Ralf Nielson & Max Berg for Stratford, squeezed past Clarke & Francis 6-4, 7-5 and then overpowered Wall & Hubbard 6-1, 6-1 to take the Premier Division title.

Henley-in-Arden, having enjoyed a good season celebrated with a 4-0 win over relegated Claverdon.  Ben Summers & John Turner (Henley) beat Richard Butler & James Courier (Claverdon) 6-2, 6-2 and beat Nigel Bacon & Pete Thomas (Claverdon) 6-3, 6-2.  Phil Silk & Rich. Butler (Henley) beat Bacon & Thomas 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-6) and then in a battle of the Butlers beat Butler & Courier 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9) in a fitting tight end to the season.

In the final Premier Division match of the week Stratford B in fifth defeated Moreton-in-Marsh in fourth position 3-1.  Nick Harper & Andy Craig (Stratford B) beat Chris Hale & Will Hale (Moreton) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-7) in a Championship Tie-Break and beat Brian Lomas & Gary Jackson (Moreton) 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-6) in another tie-break.  Mark Parsons & Lawrence Dingley (Stratford B) beat Lomas & Jackson 7-6, 7-5 and beat Hale & Hale 6-4, 6-0.

In an anticipated Division One top of the table clash between Alcester and Pershore to decide the division, Pershore deposed Alcester from the top to claim the title with a terrific 4-0 win.  Pershore trailed Alcester by one point going into this re-arranged match from the week before.  In their normal last week fixtures Alcester had edged ahead thanks to a 4-0 victory over Ardencote, who were forced to settle for fourth place.  Meanwhile, Pershore could only manage a 3-1 win over third placed Chipping Campden.  However, as stated, the top two then met for the final match of the season and the resulting 4-0 win gave Pershore the lead in the table for the first time this year and consequently the Division title.  Meanwhile at the lower end of the table the bottom two finished with a flourish as basement side Tanworth-in-Arden managed a 2-2 draw at Bidford-on-Avon and the team just above them Inkberrow B went one better by beating mid-table Whitnash 3-1.  However, neither result could save Inkberrow B nor Tanworth from the drop to Division Two next year.

FISSC of Stratford celebrated winning the Division Two title and promotion to Division One next year after they recorded a resounding 4-0 win over fifth placed Stratford C.  Their nearest rivals Shipston-on-Stour lost out on the title race despite a 4-0 victory over Littleton B, but it was enough to secure second place and a promotion spot.  The point gained by Littleton B was crucial in avoiding relegation which they succeeded in doing.  Claverdon B finished third after beating fourth placed Studley 3-1 in a rain re-arranged match.  However, Claverdon B then lost their final match in a shock result 3-1 to Harbury.  This result lifted Harbury off the bottom but was not enough to avoid relegation.  Alcester B joined them in going down to Division Three after they were beaten 4-0 by Studley.

Snitterfield sneaked home for the Division Three title, but it was a close run finish.  They lost their last match to third placed Aston Cantlow who enjoyed a decisive 4-0 victory over Snitterfield.  Fortunately for Snitterfield, despite title challengers Studley B winning their last match against Chipping Campden B 4-0, Snitterfield had won their head to head contests with Studley 3-1 on both occasions and so claim the title despite having the same number of points as Studley (32).  Ilmington in mid-table shared a 2-2 draw with HDA of Redditch.  This meant that both Campden B and HDA were relegated.

With Wildmoor already crowned as Division Four winners, the battle was on for the second promotion place between Shipston B lying second and Inkberrow C lying in third place.  The latter needed a 4-0 victory but could only manage a 2-2 draw with Shipston B leaving them as the other promoted team.  Moreton B doomed Claverdon C to the drop after beating them 3-1, while Inkberrow D’s 2-2 draw with Campden C was not enough to lift them off the bottom of the division and they too are relegated.

Finally Division Five winners Henley B celebrated their title with a 4-0 victory over sister side Henley C.  Second side Snitterfield B finished strongly beating Pershore B 4-0 and in doing so guarantee Division Four status next year.  Alcester C secured a third place finish with a 4-0 bashing of Bidford B.  However the match was played in the same friendly manner all vistors to Bidford have become accustomed.