Alcester A qualify for Junior Tennis Cup play-offs

ALCESTER A continued to dominate in the third round of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League’s Junior Cup.

The leading teams so far are Alcester A in pool A, Littletons A in pool B, Pershore and HDA A Redditch equal in pool C and finally, Stratford-on-Avon a point clear of Alcester B in pool D.

The pool A matches were played this month at Alcester and the hosts Alcester A pair, Adam Haerle and Luke Clemons took control once again.

They beat Henley A 6-0, Alcester C 6-1 and were given a 6-0 walkover Henley B, who failed to field a team and apart from scoring no points gave 6-0 walkovers to all three remaining teams.

Henley A turned their fortunes around in this month’s pool when their pair Archie Hanson and Jack Quantrill beating Alcester C duo Ben Pons and Owen Linnett in a very close match 7-6 on a tie-break.

This meant they overtook Alcester C in the table with a points difference of -1 to Alcester’s -7.

Both teams have 13 pool points. However, Alcester A now lead the pool A table by five points and provided they show up to play in the final pool matches, they are guaranteed a place in the play-offs.

Pool B, played at Littletons Tennis Club, saw some great matches and brilliant tennis from all teams.

The hosts Littletons A remain on top of the table, but were pushed down to second on the night, beaten for the first time this season by Chipping Campden A.

The Campden A boys Harry Jeavons and Finn Watkins saw off Campden B 6-3, then beat Littletons B 6-1, before just squeezing out Littletons A 6-4.

Littletons A players Daniel Reynolds and Fraser Bennett recovered to beat Littletons B 6-1 and just pip Chipping Campden B 6-4.

In the final match, Littletons B pair Dan Baker and Robbie Clear beat Campden B’s duo Jack Theo and Tom Cox 6-0.

There were big changes in pool C, played at HDA Redditch.

Prior to this pool night, Pershore had dominated the group and led by two clear points from HDA A.

However, a change of pair for Pershore saw their fortunes plunge allowing HDA A to scoop maximum points.

Meanwhile, Pershore only managed a walkover Evesham B who failed to turn out a pair and thereby conceded 6-0 walkovers to the other three teams.

The HDA A pair Tom Mumford and Caleb Ravenscroft beat Pershore 6-3 and Evesham A 6-4.

Evesham A duo Joseph Wilson and Jamie Woodcock beat the Pershore boys Niall Guppy and Thomas Edwards 6-1.

This gave Evesham second spot on the night but kept them third overall, but brought HDA A Redditch equal on points in the overall table with Pershore.

However, HDA trail Pershore on games conceded with plus 19, compared to Pershore’s +26.

In the final pool D played at HDA’s courts in Redditch, Stratford resumed their winning ways from their opening victories in March by winning all three matches.

Their pair Joe Pinnock and Scott Rudge beat HDA B Redditch 6-2, Alcester B 6-2 and Alcester D 6-0.

This meant they regained the lead from Alcester B by a solitary point.

Alcester B boys Charlie Derby and Chris Hillman managed to beat their sister side Alcester D 6-0 and HDA B Redditch 6-2.

Lastly, Alcester D pair Henry Beer and Oliver Linnett beat HDA’s duo Finlay Shennan and Sam Richmond 6-2.