Henley-in-Arden won the South Warwickshire Summer Tennis League Junior Cup Final for only the second time when they met a HDA team from Redditch. Champions Bradley Smith and Max Beishon celebrated their success while commiserating with a brave performance by Kota Ueshima and Adam Neale for HDA in this 12 years and under competition.
Their journey began last March playing along with 24 other teams in Regional Pool matches once per month over the months of March to June. At the end of which Henley A topped Pool A while HDA C led Pool D. They then, along with the four teams that topped the other Pools, met in a play-off Pool. At the end these two teams finished in the top two positions to qualify for the Final.
The Final, played at Alcester Tennis Club, was a full best of three set match and was played in front of spectators with the Cup at stake. Henley had reached the final twice before, winning in 2008 but losing the following year. For HDA this was their second appearance in the final, losing last year to Shipston-on-Stour.
Under kind skies the match was well fought and while Henley looked strong the Redditch based HDA lads never gave up the fight. However, Henley eventually proved too strong running out winners in straight sets but by a respectable 6-3, 6-4 score line.
Both teams were presented by the Junior League sponsor, local Alcester man and League President Tony King, with individual trophies. The Chairman of the league and Secretary of the Warwickshire LTA Tony Eskew also presented the winners Henley with the cup and a cheque to the value of £50 from the league to be used to further develop their club's junior section. Any club wishing to enter a team for the 2013 season should contact the league Secretary Corin Bishop at swastennis@aol.com.