The Prudden Summer Tennis League, covering the South Warwickshire & District Area, began last week in the Premier Division with three teams sharing top spot after all enjoyed 4-0 opening victories. Evesham overcame Moreton-in-the-Marsh, while Littleton defeated Claverdon and Stratford-on-Avon recorded a straight sets win over their B Team. Meanwhile, Henley-in-Arden showed intent with a 3-1 victory over last year’s runners-up Inkberrow.
Evesham while satisfied with their 4-0 triumph, had to fight hard in two of the four rubbers. John Clarke & Chris Francis (Evesham) were taken to a third set Championship Tie-break before sealing their victory over the Moreton top pair of Gary Jackson & Will Hale 7-6, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5 tiebreak). They then had a comfortable win over Moreton second pair Chris Adams & Harry Wilkins 6-1, 6-0. Evesham’s Dave Hubbard & Simon Wall had an easy opener 6-1, 6-3, over Adams & Wilkins but again had a hard fight to overcome Jackson & Hale in a tie-break 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7).
Littleton began their season well with their straight sets 4-0 win over Claverdon. Richard Herborn & Andy Reynolds (Littleton) beat Pete Thomas & Nigel Bacon (Claverdon) 7-5, 6-2, and beat Richard Baker & James Courrier 6-4, 6-2. Littleton’s second pair Sean Witheford & Chris Elliott beat Baker & Courrier 6-4, 6-4, and then beat Thomas & Bacon 6-1, 6-1.
Champions Stratford also got off to a great straight sets start by overwhelming their B Team 4-0. Captain Tim Page & Simon West defeated Olivier Rott & Sam Righton (Stratford B) 7-6, 6-0, and then beat Mark Parsons & Graham Marsh (Stratford B) 6-2, 6-2. Graham Adams & Callum Bailey beat Parsons & Marsh 6-1, 6-2 and beat Rott & Righton 6-1, 6-2.
In the final Premier Division match Henley endured the closest tie of the week before eventually overcoming their opponents Inkberrow 3-1. Ben Summers & John Turner (Henley) beat Gareth Price & Tim Kenneally (Inkberrow) 6-4, 6-1. On the other court the second Henley pair Chris Caldwell & Rob Summers lost to Pete Watson & Ricky Allen (Inkberrow) 4-6, 0-6 to square the match. In the reverse rubbers both went to deciding Championship Tie-break deciders before Henley finally claimed victory in both. Summers & Turner beating Watson & Allen 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (11-9), and Caldwell & Summers defeating Price & Kenneally 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7).
In Division One Alcester and Ardencote Manor sit on top of the table after both recorded 4-0 wins. Alcester beat Bidford who only resisted in the last rubber taking that to a tie-break before going down. Ardencote thrashed a weak Tanworth-in-Arden team in straight sets. Chipping Campden began with a good 3-1 win over Whitnash who like Bidford only fought back in the final tie-break rubber to salvage a point. The closest tie saw home side Pershore and visitors Inkberrow B slug it out for a 2-2 draw.
Claverdon B and Shipston B sit on top of Division Two after they both won their matches 4-0, Claverdon over Littleton B and Shipston dominating Harbury in straight sets. Claverdon B had been forced into tie-breaks in two of their rubbers by a tough Littleton B fight back but eventually triumphed. FISSC similarly struggled against Studley in two of their rubbers winning one and losing one before straight sets victories in the final two rubbers gave them a 3-1 win over Studley. In the final match Stratford C had an easier passage for their 3-1 win over Alcester B.
Division Three saw Snitterfield take top spot after they saw off HDA Redditch 4-0. HDA fought hard in the final set but could not salvage a point. Ilmington and Studley B share second place after both enjoyed 3-1 victories. Ilmington over Aston Cantlow and Studley B over FISSC B. Both teams led 3-0 but both lost their final rubber. Chipping Campden B had an enforced free week and begin their season next week.
Division Four joint leaders are Inkberrow C and Shipston B who both opened with a 4-0 score line. Inkberrow C took on sister side Inkberrow D resulting in a 4-0 victory for the C Team, although to be fair Inkberrow D did take their senior side to a tie-break in two rubbers before capitulating. Shipston B’s win came over Chipping Campden C in a straight sets victory. Newly promoted Wildmoor Spa Stratford impressed with an opening 3-1 win over Moreton-in-the-Marsh B. Lastly, Claverdon C had no match this first week and begin in seven days time.
Finally, in a bigger and much improved Division Five the new teams Alcester C and Snitterfield B had a great start as both recorded 4-0 victories over Pershore B and Bidford B respectively in straight sets. Stalwarts Henley B enjoyed a 3-1 victory over HDA B of Redditch, who to their credit claimed their point in a never say die tie-break third rubber. Henley C begin their campaign next time after a free week.