The Wildmoor Spa League Junior Cup competition Play-Offs, sponsored by the League President and Alcester man Tony King, took place at Littletons Tennis Club this week attended by the Winners of each of the four Pools which played between March and June inclusive. The teams qualifying for the play-offs were Pool A Winners HDA Redditch B, Pool B Winners Littletons A, Pool C Winners Bidford-on-Avon and Pool D Winners HDA Redditch A.
The Pool A qualifiers only did so the night before as their original night had been rained off. In this Henley A had led by one point going into the final round of Pool matches. However, HDA B Team from Redditch managed to win all their matches so leaving both them and Henley A on 22 points apiece. However, on points difference HDA enjoyed a difference of +41 compared with Henley’s +20 so HDA B qualified.
The play-off matches produced some good quality competitive tennis watched by coaches, parents and league officials in dry conditions at last. Refreshments were supplied by hosts Littletons and financed by the Wildmoor Spa Tennis Mens’ League.
The balls had been supplied by “Inspire2Coach”, University of Warwick.
The aged 12 and under teams played, as previously in Pools, a round robin competition where each team played one set against each other with the prize of a place in a full match Final, to be played later, for the pairs finishing in the top two positions.
In the first round of matches the reigning club Champions HDA Redditch A pair of players Scott Mortimer & Harvey Ravenscroft, began well against a tough test from their HDA B Team Joe Hollier & Joe Hembry, finally running out 6-3 victors. On the other court Bidford-on-Avon boys Adam Farrow & Alfie Lovell overpowered the Littletons brother Oliver & Jacob Medley 6-0.
In round two of the matches HDA A again claimed victory 6-0 over Bidford while HDA B beat Littletons 6-1.
So to the final round and while HDA A pair Mortimer & Ravenscroft were given a real fight by Littletons before emerging as 6-2 winners, the big match of the night was on the other court. Here was a decider for who would go into the final alongside HDA A Redditch.
The Bidford boys began well and despite long rallies and hard fought games they led 4-0 before their opponents HDA B could get on the scoreboard. Eventually a renewed and determined Bidford won out 6-2.
The losing pairs at the Play-Offs, Littletons & HDA B Redditch, were presented with individual awards for winning their respective pools. Meanwhile, HDA Redditch A and Bidford-on-Avon will now go forward to play in a full match final, alongside the Men’s Inter-League Charity Cup Final, to be played at the Wildmoor Spa Tiger Courts, Alcester Road, Stratford-on-Avon, on Sunday, 4th September, 2016, 2.30pm start. Their awards along with cups and all the league trophies will be presented following the finals at this annual Wildmoor Spa Tennis League Buffet Presentation.
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Semi-Finals Pool
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P
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W
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L
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RF
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RA
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PTS DIFF.
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A HDA Redditch A
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3
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3
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0
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18
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5
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6 (+13)
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B Bidford
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3
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2
|
1
|
12
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8
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4 (+4)
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C HDA Redditch B
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
11
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13
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2 (-2)
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D Littletons A
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
18
|
0 (-15)
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Wildmoor Spa Tennis League
By Corin Bishop
