Premier Division

Division 1

Division 2

Division 3

Division 4

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Prudden Road Surfacing League


League Divisional Organiser's Reports on the 2007 Season

Click on a link below to read the report and view the final tables.

Premier Division
Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4

Premier Division - League Organiser Corin Bishop

What a season and what a tremendous effort from all you boys in the Premier Division. Well done to you all! Despite the wettest summer I can remember, all fixtures were eventually played which is to the credit particularly of all the team contacts who did a great job of re-arranging a number of rained off fixtures without complaint and mostly within the 14 day period. An incredible end to the season with only the final week to be played saw the division positions so tight that 7 of the 8 teams had a mathematical chance of finishing either runners-up or being relegated!

Without doubt the most competitive season ever in the Prudden Road Surfacing Summer Tennis League. The final week of the season saw yet more dramatic matches and twists and turns. In several cases teams could only be split by games won as they were level on sets and rubbers. Stratford-on-Avon were the only side who had clinched the title for the third time in succession, although they had a much closer contest than in previous years. In their last match they were held to a 2-2 draw by Littleton. This match, while having no bearing at the top of the Premier League, was vital in the relegation battle for Littleton. The other two teams involved in relegation battles were Stratford C who that week beat bottom placed and relegated Claverdon 3-1 and Chipping Campden who were dragged into trouble when defeated 3-1 by Shipston-on-Stour. Evesham confirmed their runners-up position by drawing 2-2 at Inkberrow.

These results left Stratford C, Littleton and Campden on 25 points with only a rain rearranged match from three weeks ago between Stratford C and Campden to play. Stratford C were already safe in the knowledge that even if defeated 4-0 they would stay above Littleton as in their head to head encounters they were 1-1 in matches but leading Littleton 5-3 on rubbers won. However, from seeming to be safe a couple of weeks ago, Campden faced the real possibility they would be relegated and Littleton survive if they lost this last match 4-0. This was because on head to head meetings during the season the results between Littleton and Campden incredibly were 1 match apiece, 4 rubbers apiece, 10 sets apeice, but Littleton had taken 89 games while Campden had won 88. Unfortunate Campden, on these facts, played their last fixture against Stratford C and saw their nightmare scenario unfold as they were beaten 4-0 and were therefore relegated by the narrowest ever margin of any side. Stratford C then beat Claverdon 3-1 in their regular final fixture. So commiserations go to Chipping Campden and Claverdon on their relegation to Division One, but congratulations to Stratford and Evesham for the top two places. Roll on next year!

Division 1 - League Organiser Simon Moss

The division 1 table quickly formed into two distinct halves, with pacesetters Inkberrow B, FISSC, Moreton-in-Marsh and Henley leading the way, while Tanworth-in-Arden, Bidford, Stratford D and Aston Cantlow fell some distance behind.

Congratulations to Inkberrow B who opened their season with five straight 4-0 victories, led the table throughout the summer, and remained undefeated until the final re-arranged match, when a 1-3 reverse at home to Moreton-in-Marsh, proved to be irrelevant as far as the final positions were concerned. By this time Moreton had clinched the second promotion place with a strong second half of the season allowing them to overhaul FISSC, who had spent much of the season in that second spot, by 39 points to 36. Henley’s failure to fulfil an early fixture against the eventual champions meant that they were always playing catch-up, and despite a strong overall performance they were consigned to fourth position on 33 points.

As in previous seasons, Tanworth and Bidford spent the summer in close proximity in the table, each enjoying 3-1 victories over the other and finishing level on 21 points. Tanworth won 11 sets to 9 in those matches and thus claimed fifth position. Stratford D struggled throughout, recording just two victories and were relegated on 19 points, six ahead of Aston Cantlow, who had been mathematically demoted by the time they recorded their solitary win in their final match, defeating Tanworth 3-1.

Many thanks to all of the team captains, who managed to re-arrange a number of matches during probably the wettest summer league season ever, and also thanks as ever to Corin for collating all of the results and producing the regular press bulletins.

Division 2 - League Organiser Sean Witheford

The season got off well with a number of clubs starting their campaigns with a victory. In the first few weeks Inkberrow B, Studley B, and Moreton vied for the top spot, however Studley faltered with a run of losses in the run up to the midway point and despite some spirited performances were never able to recover.

By the halfway point in the season both Stratford teams had made up for a slow start and looked menacing in equal second place 3 points behind a very strong performing Inkberrow B. Moreton were fourth, Pershore fifth, Alcester sixth, with Studley and H.D.A a distant seventh and eighth. Even at this point their prospects of survival looked bleak.

Inkberrow maintained their lead up until 3 weeks from the end of the season although the title chase was now between themselves, Moreton and Stratford E both 2 points behind. At this point Moreton & Inkberrow clashed and it was the Moreton side that triumphed with a 3-1 victory to level the points tally at the head of the table. This boost in confidence spurred Moreton on and they were able to close out the season with two 4-0 victories including one over their other rivals Stratford E. Inkberrow however, were unable to replicate this and took 5 points from the last 8 to finish second. The final results were as follows: Moreton 41, Inkberrow B 38, Stratford E 35, Stratford D 27, Alcester 26, Pershore 22, H.D.A 18, Studley B 17.

I would like to thank all the team captains for a very peaceful year, I did not have a single query or contention to sort out and no fines were issued.
 

Division 3 - League Organiser Paul Haffner

Alcester B and Bidford B started the season with 4:0 victories over Littleton C and Snitterfield respectively, with the remaining two matches being draws. Alcester B continued their winning ways and after 3 games, were firmly in first place with Bidford B just holding on to second place. After a fairly slow start, Studley had climbed to third on the same number of points as Bidford and Claverdon B were fourth. Of the four remaining teams, only Snitterfield had a win to their name.

By half way through the season, Alcester B were clear leaders having won all their matches and dropping only 3 rubbers. Studley had continued their climb and were second, on the same number of points as Claverdon B but having had to postpone a match due to bad weather. Snitterfield were five points behind in fourth place and Bidford B had slipped to fifth. At this stage, there were only 5 points between fourth and eighth place and Littleton C and Shipston B had still to win a match, although Shipston B had games in hand.

By the end of week 9, all postponed matches had been played and Alcester B were still in the lead although Studley were closing fast, with Campden B doing them a real favour taking two points off Alcester B and spoiling their 100% win record. Unfortunately for Campden B, they were still in the relegation zone just above Shipston B but level on points with Shipston and also with sixth placed Bidford B who had lost six matches in a row. Of the remaining teams, Claverdon B and Snitterfield were losing touch with the top two and Littleton C were still too close to the danger zone for comfort.

With two matches to go, Alcester recorded their tenth win of the season and could not be caught. Studley were still in second place but only two points ahead of Snitterfield who in turn were only two points ahead of Claverdon B. Shipston B had won a couple of matches lifting themselves to fifth above Littleton C and Campden B with Bidford B four clear points behind in bottom place.

At the end of the season, Alcester B were worthy champions, with 49 points. Studley held off rivals Snitterfield and Claverdon B finishing on 37 points, with Snitterfield on 34 points and Claverdon B on 30. Campden B’s strong finish gave them 22 points in fifth place above Shipston on 20 points, Littleton on 19 points and finally, Bidford B in bottom place with 13 points.

All in all a good season with sterling performances from Alcester B’s young players, well done! There was also great competitiveness in the top half of the table with Studley’s somewhat older (!) team’s consistency bringing them a deserved second place. Commiserations to Litteton C and Bidford who will continue their local rivalry, albeit in a lower division.

Finally, thank you to all teams for the generally correct and timely way in which rain delays were handled and for the prompt return of scorecards.

Division 4 - League Organiser Richard Butler

Like many of the other Divisions in this dramatic 2007 season, Division 4 produced its own level of drama with the title and final promotion spot only being finalised in the final week.

At the start of the season two teams made their intentions known early, namely Studley B and Harbury. However as the first half progressed Henley B and Inkberrow C had come into contention so at the half way point, Henley B were top on 22 points, Harbury had 21, Studley B 20 and Inkberrow C 19. Claverdon C and Moreton’s results were mixed and HDA B and Bidford C were finding it tough, although Bidford C was easily winning the vote for best hospitality afterwards at the local curry house.

In week 12, as the second half of the season closed in, Henley B lost 3-1 to third place Studley B who themselves had surprisingly lost to Inberrow C 4-0 only the week before. Meanwhile it was Harbury who were proving the most consistent and they pushed for the top.

The Division was only finally settled in the last week when Studley B turned over Claverdon C 4-0 to get to 40 points and Harbury beat Henley B also to get to 40 points. This left Henley B out of contention and Harbury with the title as they had scored 5 rubbers to 3 in their head to head meetings with Studley B, who had to settle for promotion instead. Inberrow C eventually finished a very creditable third on 39 points and Henley B on 36 points.

My thanks go to the team captains who on the whole made my life a relatively easy one, and for the good tennis and the spirit that the games were played in.

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