Prudden League – Week 13 (21/07/2010)

In the penultimate week of the Prudden Tennis League, covering the South Warwickshire and District Area, Stratford-on-Avon move another point clear at the top of the Premier Division with yet again a convincing straight sets 4-0 victory this time over Littleton, a defeat which sends Littleton down to Division One    Stratford’s perfect maximum points run in over the last five matches, meant that Evesham remain chasing, now two points behind, but still in contention for the title after they chalked up a 3-1 win over Inkberrow.  So the title will be decided in the clash between the two in next week’s final fixture.  Henley-in-Arden finally had to settle for a third place finish after they were beaten by fourth placed Moreton-in-Marsh 3-1.  Finally, Stratford B was held to a draw by relegated bottom side Claverdon. 

Champions Stratford-on-Avon consolidated their recently gained position at the head of the league as they overpowered a struggling Littleton and in doing so confirmed their relegation.  Stratford’s captain Tim Page & Simon West overcame Chris Elliott & Zak Smith (Littleton) 6-0, 6-2, and then Richard Herborn & Nick Hird (Littleton) 6-4, 7-6.  Max Berg & Ralf Neilson (Stratford) beat Herborn & Hird 6-3, 6-1, and beat Elliott & Smith 6-1, 6-1.

Evesham just kept their challenge alive with a tough 3-1 win over Inkberrow, but must now beat Stratford 3-1 in their last match to take the title.  The Championship will go to the wire and a draw will not be enough for Evesham as Stratford beat them 3-1 earlier in the season and a draw or better would see them take the title.  Chris Francis & John Clarke (Evesham) were squeezed out and lost to Tim Kenneally & Pete Watson (Inkberrow) 6-3, 3-6, 0-1 (8-10) in really close Championship tie-break.  However, they then redeemed themselves after another tight rubber which they eventually won 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9) beating Ricky Allen & Matt Knowles (Inkberrow).  On the other courts Simon Wall & Paul Everatt (Evesham) recorded two invaluable victories to take the match when they just overcame Allen & Knowles 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7) and then beat Kenneally & Watson 6-3, 6-2.

Henley, having dropped out of the title race, was forced to accept a third place finish when fourth team Moreton beat them 3-1.  Brian Lomas & Gary Jackson (Moreton) beat Tom Holland & Phil Silk (Henley) 6-2, 6-4 and beat John Turner & Alex Butler (Henley) 6-4, 6-3.  Chris Adams & Tim Firth (Moreton) lost to Turner & Butler 3-6, 3-6, but beat Lomas & Jackson 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5).

In the final Premier Division match of the week Stratford B gained sufficient points to avoid relegation after they drew 2-2 with already demoted Claverdon.  James Courier & Pete Thomas (Claverdon) lost to Mark Parsons & Lawrence Dingley (Stratford B) 5-7, 3-6, but beat Sam Ryton & Ben Tolliday (Claverdon) 6-4, 6-2.  Richard Butler & Richard Hamilton (Claverdon) beat Ryton & Tolliday 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8), but lost to Parsons & Dingley 2-6, 7-6, 0-1 (6-10).

The anticipated Division One clash between the top sides Alcester and Pershore had to be postponed to next week.  Meanwhile challengers Chipping Campden and Ardencote also met in a crucial encounter resulting in Campden, who led the table only two weeks ago, losing again 3-1 and swapping places with Ardencote who now lie third.  With only one more week to go, both sides lay only one point behind the top two teams and promotion, but Ardencote now lead Campden on head to head results.  Whitnash secured their mid-table position by defeating bottom side Tanworth-in-Arden who are now relegated to Division Two.  In the final match Bidford and Inkberrow B battled it out to avoid relegation with Tanworth. Bidford emerged 3-1 victors meaning Inkberrow B will go down next season with this defeat.

FISSC of Stratford still head Division Two despite being held to a 2-2 draw by promotion chasing Claverdon B who stay in third place.  Second placed Shipston-on-Stour kept up the pressure only a point behind with a great 4-0 win over Alcester B, which sends the latter down to Division Two next year.  Littleton B saved themselves from the drop with 2-2 draw at home to Studley who lie just above them in the table.  The shock of the week saw Harbury record only their second victory this season when they beat fourth placed Stratford C 3-1.  Unfortunately it has all come too late as Harbury join Alcester B in relegation.

Snitterfield claimed the Division Three title, but not in a manner that they would wish.  For the second time in the season Chipping Campden B failed to field a team against Snitterfield giving them another 4-0 walkover.  For their punishment Campden B have been fined heavily and had a league point deducted.  This result must annoy Studley B, as together with only a 2-2 draw with Aston Cantlow, this scuppered any chance they harboured of catching Snitterfield.  They can however secure the runners-up spot with a victory next week against of all teams Campden B.  It would be sweet revenge and gain Studley B some satisfaction because just one point taken off Campden B will doom them to relegation.  In the final match mid-table sides Ilmington and FISSC B drew 2-2.

Wildmoor clinched the Division Four title in style with a 4-0 breeze over Chipping Campden C.  This success follows their inaugural season and Division Five title success last year.  They now move on to challenge Division Three in 2011.  Shipston B confirmed their promotion and position as runners-up with a 3-1 win over Moreton B.  Third placed Inkberrow C confirmed relegation for Claverdon C when they defeated them convincingly 4-0.  Bottom of the table Inkberrow D had no match but had already been doomed for the drop to Division Five..

Division Five leaders Henley B remain on top despite being held to a 2-2 draw by third placed Alcester C.  They were fortunate that second side Snitterfield B had a free week.  The Redditch team HDA B were unable to field a side for the second time in three weeks and were docked a point, fined and had the match awarded 4-0 to their opponents bottom team Pershore B.  Henley C moved into mid-table and Bidford B out of the bottom two as they shared a 2-2 draw.

In other news Edgbaston Priory Club Ladies are playing Raines Park today at West Hants Club, Bournemouth, in the Final of the National Club League event.  They beat Gosling on Friday 16th July and Holcombe Brook on Sunday 18th July,  in the Quarters and Semi Final.