The final week of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League for South Warwickshire area and parts of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, settled all promotion and relegation issues. In the Premier Division Stratford-on-Avon celebrated their twelfth consecutive League Championship with a superb 4-0 win over mid-table Henley in Arden which gave Stratford the title by a record 19 points margin. Evesham confirmed their position as runners-up by drawing 2-2 with Littleton to finish with 34 points, four above Ardencote Manor. The latter drew 2-2 with Alcester in their last match to finish fourth, four points ahead of them. The two relegated teams Claverdon and Inkberrow drew 2-2 and completed their campaigns on 19 and 17 points respectively.
Triumphant Stratford captain Tim Page with Simon West beat Sam Turner & Bett Mackay (Henley) 6-2, 6-4 and beat Matt Williams & Max Retallack (Henley) 6-1, 6-3. Callum Bailey & Will Morley-Cotteral (Stratford) beat Williams & Retallack 6-3, 6-2 and beat Turner & Mackay 6-2, 6-3.
Littleton managed to hold runners-up Evesham to a 2-2 draw and in doing so guaranteed safety from relegation but by only two points. Dave Rudge & Sean Witheford (Littleton) edged out Chris Francis & John Clarke (Evesham) in a close match 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8) after a championship tie-break. They then beat Simon Wall & Paul Everett (Evesham) 6-3, 6-2. On the other court Simon Blewitt & Chris Elliott lost to Wall & Everett 3-6, 3-6, and were unlucky in going down to Rudge & Witheford 7-5, 2-6, 0-1 (5-10) on a tie-break.
Ardencote Manor and Alcester determined their third and fourth places respectively with this 2-2 draw. Stuart Beach & Chris Havard (Alcester) beat Christian Hardy & Myles Wilcox-Smith (Ardencote) 6-3, 6-4 and beat Ben Summers & Richard Lucas (Ardencote) 7-5, 6-1. Tim Kenneally & Andy Wijnberg (Alcester) lost to Summers & Lucas 2-6, 2-6 and lost to Hardy & Wilcox-Smith 1-6, 1-6.
In the final Premier Division fixture of the season the two relegated teams met in a 2-2 draw. Graeme Rankin & Matt Saunders (Inkberrow) beat Richard Butler & Pete Thomas (Claverdon) 6-4, 6-4 and beat Andy Ashley & Carsten Astheimer (Claverdon) 6-4, 6-1. Jack Richardson & Gordon Keir (Inkberrow) lost to Ashley & Astheimer 3-6, 6-4, 0-1 and lost to Rankin & Saunders 5-7, 3-6.
In Division One Studley A had already been crowned champions with 31 points and relaxed into a final match 2-2 draw with mid-table Snitterfield. Studley B and Pershore had finished their fixtures and battle for promotion in second place the previous week which had seen Studley B join their sister side in promotion to the Premier Division scoring a total of 21 points ten less than Studley A, but importantly one more than rivals Pershore. The other fixture was of vital importance between relegation candidates Aston Cantlow and Shipston-on-Stour. At the start of the match Cantlow were two points ahead of Shipston so the latter needed a victory. However, it was Cantlow who claimed the victory 3-1 and doomed Shipston to the drop.
Moreton-in-Marsh A could finally claim the crown as Division Two champions after their 3-1 victory away to Alcester B. They had led Whitnash by only two points going into this match but their victory, along with a surprising 4-0 loss by Whitnash to mid-table HDA A Redditch, gave them the title finishing with 35 points. Fortunately for Whitnash the Leamington side had already qualified for promotion with 30 points, four clear of Stratford B in third and five clear of HDA B in fourth. Bidford-on-Avon A pulled clear of relegation worries by beating bottom side Claverdon B 3-1 and the latter are relegated along with Alcester B to Division Three.
Division Three had completed their fixtures last week with Ardencote Manor B as division champions with 31 points and Inkberrow B joining them in promotion with 21 points just edging out unfortunate FISSC, who had the same number of points, on sets difference. Relegated are Ilmington and Chipping Campden B with only 13 points each.
Division Four (alongside Division Five) had the closest title race of all. Alcester C were leaders by one point going into the final round of league matches. However, Henley B enjoyed a convincing 4-0 victory over bottom team Chipping Campden C while Alcester C could only muster a 3-1 defeat of mid-table Claverdon C. This left them both on 32 points and on count back Henley B had a one set better sets difference than Alcester C who therefor had to settle for promotion to Division Three next year. Studley C beat Littleton B 3-1 and in doing so ended what little hope the Littleton B side had of avoiding relegation alongside Campden C.
Finally on to Division Five and another nail-biting finish at the top between Pershore B and HDA B Redditch.
Both managed 4-0 victories in their last matches, Pershore B over Wildmoor B and HDA A over Inkberrow D. This left them both on 39 points ten clear of the field. Again incredibly, as in Division Four, Pershore B had just a single set better sets difference than HDA B and so pipped the Redditch side to the Division Five title so that once again HDA had to settle merely for promotion. The final fixture saw mid-tables sides Moreton -in-Marsh B and Inkberrow C draw 2-2.
FINAL 2014 TABLES
Premier Division
|
FC
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
RF
|
RA
|
SF
|
SA
|
GF
|
GA
|
S+/-
|
Pts
|
|
( )
|
1
|
Stratford A
|
14
|
14
|
0
|
0
|
53
|
3
|
107
|
10
|
653
|
233
|
+97
|
53
|
|
( )
|
2
|
Evesham
|
14
|
7
|
4
|
3
|
34
|
22
|
73
|
49
|
520
|
472
|
+24
|
34
|
| |
|
( )
|
3
|
Ardencote A
|
14
|
6
|
2
|
6
|
30
|
26
|
66
|
60
|
534
|
506
|
+6
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
4
|
Alcester A
|
14
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
27
|
29
|
58
|
63
|
434
|
510
|
-5
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
5
|
Henley A
|
14
|
4
|
3
|
7
|
23
|
33
|
53
|
78
|
458
|
575
|
-25
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
6
|
Littleton A
|
14
|
4
|
2
|
8
|
21
|
35
|
50
|
75
|
466
|
540
|
-25
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
( )
|
7
|
Claverdon A
|
14
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
19
|
37
|
50
|
81
|
497
|
576
|
-31
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
8
|
Inkberrow A
|
14
|
3
|
2
|
9
|
17
|
39
|
43
|
84
|
430
|
580
|
-41
|
17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[FC] [?]
|
Alcester A (-1 point): Fielding only one pair v Stratford A
Henley A (-1 point): fielding only 1 pair v Ardencote
|
Division One
|
FC
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
RF
|
RA
|
SF
|
SA
|
GF
|
GA
|
S+/-
|
Pts
|
|
( )
|
1
|
Studley A
|
10
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
31
|
9
|
63
|
26
|
435
|
295
|
+37
|
31
|
|
( )
|
2
|
Studley B
|
10
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
21
|
19
|
50
|
40
|
388
|
316
|
+10
|
21
|
| |
|
( )
|
3
|
Pershore A
|
10
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
20
|
20
|
44
|
43
|
368
|
340
|
+1
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
4
|
Snitterfield A
|
10
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
20
|
20
|
43
|
44
|
350
|
355
|
-1
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
5
|
Aston Cantlow
|
10
|
1
|
5
|
4
|
16
|
24
|
37
|
50
|
298
|
377
|
-13
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
( )
|
6
|
Shipston A
|
10
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
12
|
28
|
27
|
61
|
255
|
411
|
-34
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
7
|
Chipping Campden A
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[FC] [?]
|
Chipping Campden A Team Withdrawn From League Fixtures/Record Deleted
|
Division Two
|
FC
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
RF
|
RA
|
SF
|
SA
|
GF
|
GA
|
S+/-
|
Pts
|
|
( )
|
1
|
Moreton A
|
12
|
9
|
2
|
1
|
35
|
13
|
75
|
38
|
469
|
392
|
+37
|
35
|
|
( )
|
2
|
Whitnash
|
12
|
7
|
3
|
2
|
30
|
18
|
66
|
43
|
459
|
369
|
+23
|
30
|
| |
|
( )
|
3
|
Stratford B
|
12
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
26
|
22
|
60
|
51
|
467
|
390
|
+9
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
4
|
HDA Redditch A
|
12
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
25
|
23
|
56
|
53
|
454
|
421
|
+3
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
5
|
Bidford A
|
12
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
22
|
26
|
50
|
59
|
379
|
444
|
-9
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
( )
|
6
|
Alcester B
|
12
|
3
|
2
|
7
|
19
|
29
|
47
|
63
|
393
|
444
|
-16
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
7
|
Claverdon B
|
12
|
0
|
4
|
8
|
11
|
37
|
30
|
77
|
346
|
507
|
-47
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division Three
|
FC
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
RF
|
RA
|
SF
|
SA
|
GF
|
GA
|
S+/-
|
Pts
|
|
( )
|
1
|
Ardencote B
|
10
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
31
|
9
|
65
|
22
|
435
|
261
|
+43
|
31
|
|
( )
|
2
|
Inkberrow B
|
10
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
21
|
19
|
48
|
41
|
374
|
321
|
+7
|
21
|
| |
|
( )
|
3
|
Fissc
|
10
|
4
|
3
|
3
|
21
|
19
|
48
|
44
|
366
|
351
|
+4
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
4
|
Wildmoor Spa A
|
10
|
3
|
5
|
2
|
19
|
21
|
43
|
48
|
354
|
379
|
-5
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
( )
|
5
|
Ilmington
|
10
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
14
|
26
|
32
|
56
|
280
|
392
|
-24
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
6
|
Chipping Campden B
|
10
|
0
|
5
|
5
|
14
|
26
|
33
|
58
|
296
|
401
|
-25
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[FC] [?]
|
Chipping Campden B (-1 point): Rule 17, second offence
Ilmington (-1 point): Rule 9
|
Division Four
|
FC
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
RF
|
RA
|
SF
|
SA
|
GF
|
GA
|
S+/-
|
Pts
|
|
( )
|
1
|
Henley B
|
12
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
32
|
16
|
72
|
39
|
498
|
389
|
+33
|
32
|
|
( )
|
2
|
Alcester C
|
12
|
7
|
5
|
0
|
32
|
16
|
69
|
37
|
493
|
355
|
+32
|
32
|
| |
|
( )
|
3
|
Studley C
|
12
|
7
|
1
|
4
|
29
|
19
|
63
|
43
|
459
|
364
|
+20
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
4
|
Snitterfield B
|
12
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
28
|
20
|
60
|
55
|
436
|
451
|
+5
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
5
|
Claverdon C
|
12
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
26
|
22
|
58
|
48
|
460
|
397
|
+10
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
( )
|
6
|
Littleton B
|
12
|
2
|
3
|
7
|
16
|
32
|
36
|
65
|
372
|
472
|
-29
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
7
|
Chipping Campden C
|
12
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
5
|
43
|
15
|
86
|
259
|
549
|
-71
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Division Five
|
FC
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Pld
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
RF
|
RA
|
SF
|
SA
|
GF
|
GA
|
S+/-
|
Pts
|
|
( )
|
1
|
Pershore B
|
12
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
39
|
9
|
80
|
25
|
527
|
298
|
+55
|
39
|
|
( )
|
2
|
HDA Redditch B
|
12
|
10
|
1
|
1
|
39
|
9
|
82
|
28
|
520
|
330
|
+54
|
39
|
| |
|
( )
|
3
|
Inkberrow C
|
12
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
29
|
19
|
67
|
43
|
482
|
379
|
+24
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
4
|
Moreton B
|
12
|
2
|
6
|
4
|
21
|
27
|
47
|
60
|
390
|
464
|
-13
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
5
|
Bidford B
|
12
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
18
|
30
|
44
|
63
|
407
|
478
|
-19
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
( )
|
6
|
Wildmoor B
|
12
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
16
|
32
|
38
|
67
|
370
|
471
|
-29
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( )
|
7
|
Inkberrow D
|
12
|
0
|
1
|
11
|
6
|
42
|
14
|
86
|
278
|
554
|
-72
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|