Timely boost for strugglers (From Evesham Journal)

Timely boost for strugglers

4:30pm Friday 27th July 2012 in Sport

EVESHAM received a boost in their battle against relegation from the South Warwickshire Summer Tennis League Premier Division.

They beat Alcester 3-1 and are now two points ahead of Stratford-upon-Avon ‘B’, who they meet in the final game to decide which team joins Pershore in suffering the drop.

A 2-2 draw for Stratford ‘A’ against runners-up Shipstonon- Stour ensured they were crowned champions for the 10th season in a row.

Shipston’s Adam Moran and Shola Adebisi won both of their rubbers, while William Welch and Tobias Kemp were less successful.

Promoted Division One leaders Littleton were declared champions after defeating Ardencote Manor 3-1.

Bidford-on-Avon drew 2-2 with Studley and must await Chipping Campden’s final two results to see if they make the second promotion place. Campden were held 2-2 at relegation-threatened Inkberrow, who also beat basement boys Whitnash 3-1 and tied 2-2 with Ardencote.

Littleton ‘B’ went down 4-0 to Snitterfield ‘B’ in Division Two.

Chipping Campden ‘B’ need one point from their final Division Three fixture against champions Studley ‘B’ to secure promotion after drawing 2-2 with Shipston ‘B’.

• In Division Four, Inkberrow ‘B’ have clinched the title with 42 points over Moreton-in-Marsh ‘A’. Littletons and Shipstonon- Stour competed in the South Warwickshire Summer League Junior Cup semi-final play-offs.

Two new teams reached the final at Alcester on Sunday, September 2, in Henley-in- Arden ‘A’ and HDA ‘C’ Redditch.

The pairs were split into two pools and Littleton’s Lewis Osbourne and Craig Witheford lost 4-1 to both Henley ‘A’ and HDA ‘C’.

Henley saw off HDA 4-2 to top the group before, in a final play-off for fifth place, Littletons beat Henley ‘B’ 4-3 on a tie-break.

Shipston’s Josh Brooks and Edward Briggs beat HDA ‘A’ 4-0 and Henley ‘B’ 4-2. HDA defeated Henley 4-0 to qualify as runners-up.

But Shipston then lost 4-2 to HDA ‘C’ in the semi-finals, while Henley ‘A’ saw off HDA ‘A’ in the other lastfour clash 4-1.