Prudden Road Surfacing League

IN the final week of scheduled fixtures, Inkberrow celebrated their known runners-up spot in the Premier Division with an emphatic victory over Henley A.

Alex Woodbridge and Tom Trott (Inkberrow) beat Dave Vickers and Tom Holland (Henley) 6-0, 6-3 and then beat Dave Howard and Chris Kirby 6-0, 6-3. Adam Hill and Graeme Rankin (Inkberrow) beat Howard and Kirby 6-0, 6-2 and then defeated Vickers and Holland 6-0, 6-1.

This result looked to doom Henley to Division One next year but they were saved when Chipping Campden A went down 4-0 to Studley A and are relegated instead after only one season in the Premier Division.

Stratford B celebrated their championship title, which they won three weeks ago, with a 3-1 victory over Claverdon A.

In Division One, Bidford put up a valiant challenge for promotion with a 3-1 win over FISSC B but finished just three points short.

Both FISSC A and Shipston A finished jointly with 38 points and will be promoted. But FISSC take the title as they took one more set than Shipston in their two meetings this summer.

In Division Two, Aston Cantlow pulled off a dramatic 3-1 victory over Stratford E to gain promotion. Stratford E needed only a draw but it is now Aston Cantlow who join champions Evesham in Division One.

Inkberrow B and HDA drew 2-2 and Ilmington picked up only their second win of the season by beating Alcester 3-1.

Studley B will join Division Three champions Moreton in Division Two after finishing runners-up despite being held to a draw by Shipston B. Bidford B trounced Littleton C 4-0 to not only move out of the relegation zone but finish third in the table.

Division Four leaders Snitterfield secured the title with a 2-2 draw against Whitnash, who stayed in the runners-up position when nearest rivals Ardencote Manor lost 0-4 to bottom-placed Ullenhall.

But Ardencote then won a re-arranged match against Harbury 4-0, which gives them a narrow one-point lead over Whitnash, who have also still to play a rained-off match against Harbury.

FOR the second year running, Shipston and Inkberrow will contest the Junior Cup final following a closely contested semi-final pool at Bidford Tennis Club on Monday evening.

In fine but blustery conditions, defending champions Ricky Allan and Chris Smith of Inkberrow found the going tough against Shipston's Andrew Moss and Ben Lane, losing their unbeaten record with a 2-6 defeat.

On the other court, Harry Leek and Will Bayliss opened with a 6-2 win for Henley-in-Arden over Thomas Griffiths and Simon Horner of Snitterfield.

In the second rubbers, Shipston completed a 6-3 win over Snitterfield, while Inkberrow crucially edged past Henley 6-3.

Finally, Inkberrow defeated Snitterfield 6-3. They could then only watch and wait while Henley mounted a bold bid to defeat Shipston to get to the final on game difference.

At 4-3 ahead, Henley had a real chance of pulling this off. But the Shipston pair battled back, prevailing in a tie break to keep their unbeaten record and book a rematch of the 2004 final at Stratford Lawn Tennis Club on September 4.