Redditch’s HDA Tennis Club Junior A Team retained their title of South Warwickshire Summer Tennis League Junior Cup Champions when they beat their B Team in the Junior Cup Final. Champions Felix Gill & Joseph Morris celebrated their success while commiserating with a brave performance by club mates Josh Turner and Noel Watters in this 12 years and under competition.
Their journey began last March playing along with 20 other teams in Regional Pool matches once per month over the months of March to June. On completion of these matches HDA B topped Pool A while HDA A headed Pool E. 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 the Wildmoor Spa & Health Club, Alcester Road, Stratford-Upon-Avon, was a full best of three set match and was played in front of spectators, parents and coaches with the Cup at stake. The balls were supplied by "Inspire2Coach" based at Warwick University. This the eleventh Junior competition made history when for the first time two teams from the same club met in the Final. HDA A had reached the final the last four years, losing the first two and winning last year. However, this was HDA B team’s first appearance in the final and they were without one of their best and tallest players Morgan French who was away on holiday. This showed when under blue skies the result, while hard fought, was never in doubt as the champions Joe Morris & Felix Gill overcame their club mates 6-1, 6-2 to lift the trophy.
Both teams were presented by the Junior Cup Sponsor and Wildmoor Tennis League President Tony King with individual trophies and of course HDA with the Cup as 2014 Junior Champions. The Secretary and Junior Organiser of the league Corin Bishop also presented the winners HDA with a cheque to the value of £50 from the league to be used to further develop their club's junior section. The WLTA Secretary and League Chairman Tony Eskew congratulated both pairs of boys for reaching the final and entertaining the spectators.