Press Release 15/7/2008

The fifth Prudden Road Surfacing League Junior Semi-Finals Pool was held this week at Bidford Tennis Club, who hosted the event free of charge and supplied lovely cakes and refreshments once again baked by the ladies of Bidford. Although overcast the weather stayed dry for the evening as the teams that had each topped their group stages played off for the chance to reach the Junior Cup Final at the Men’s Pairs Tournament at Stratford Lawn Tennis Club on Sunday, 31st August, 2008. Only the top two teams would go on to play in the full final and the four qualifying teams on this night were Evesham, Henley-in-Arden, Shipston-on-Stour and finally Studley. It turned out to be the closest Semi-Final Pool ever held.

Shipston and Henley set the tone when they went to a tie-break in their opening rubber before Shipston’s Hugh Allen & James England managed to take the tie break and therefore the match 7-6 over Henley’s Jake Evans & Chris Cardwell. Meanwhile on the other courts Studley’s Jake Woolley & Tom Allum beat Evesham’s Rob Noble & Tim Vaux 6-3.

In the second round of matches Shipston beat Evesham 6-4 and were looking favourites to qualify for their fourth cup final in a row, especially when on the opposite court Henley stopped Studley in their tracks in yet another nail biting finish 7-5. However, for the first time three sides finished with two wins apiece when in the final round of matches Henley beat Evesham 6-0 and more surprisingly Studley beat favourites Shipston 6-2.

This meant that it went to points difference which saw Henley’s scores 19-12 (+7) Studley’s 17-12 (+5) and Shipston’s 15-16 (-1). So Shipston, without their star James Hudson who was away on a school trip, lost out by the narrowest of margins. However, Henley and Studley move on to play a best of three sets final in front of a large crowd at Stratford-Upon-Avon in what will be their first appearance in a Junior Cup Final.
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Prudden Road Surfacing League

Junior Summer Tennis Cup
Final Pools 2008
 

Top Two Teams From Finals Pool Play in Full Match Final Sunday August 31st 2008 at Stratford LTC

Corin S. Bishop
League Secretary