REDDITCH HDA Tennis Club’s junior A team retained their title of South Warwickshire Summer Tennis League Junior Cup champions when they beat their B team in the final.
Reigning champions Felix Gill and Joseph Morris celebrated their success while commiserating with a brave performance by club-mates Josh Turner and Noel Watters in this 12 years and under competition.
Their journey began in March, as part of 20 teams in regional pool matches once per month over the months of March to June. On completion of these matches, HDA B topped Pool A while HDA A headed Pool E.
They then, along with the four teams that topped the other pools, met in a play-off pool. At the end these, two teams finished in the top two positions to qualify for the final.
The final, played at Wildmoor Spa & Health Club in Stratford, was a best of three set match and was played in front of spectators, parents and coaches.
The balls were supplied by Inspire2Coach, based at Warwick University. This was the 11th junior competition and made history when, for the first time, two teams from the same club met in the final.
HDA A had reached the final the previous three years, losing the first two and winning last year. However, this was HDA B team’s first appearance in the final and they were without one of their best and tallest players Morgan French, who was away on holiday.
This showed when, under blue skies, the result – whilst hard fought – was never in doubt as the champions Morris and Gill overcame their club-mates 6-1, 6-2 to lift the trophy.
Both teams were presented with individual trophies and of course HDA A with the cup as 2014 junior champions by Junior Cup sponsor and Wildmoor Tennis League president Tony King.
The secretary and junior organiser of the league, Corin Bishop, also presented the winners HDA with a cheque to the value of £50 from the league to be used to further develop their club’s junior section.
The Warwickshire Lawn Tennis Association secretary and league chairman Eskew congratulated both pairs of boys for reaching the final and entertaining the spectators.
