Campden go up as champs but Tanworth make it tough (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Campden go up as champs but Tanworth make it tough

Prudden Road Surfacing League

THE final week's action confirmed the champions of all four divisions plus the promotion and relegation battles.

Stratford B had already been crowned Premier Division champions finishing 14 points clear, a record margin and their final four points camecourtesy of relegated FISSC A who failed for the first time this season to turn out a side.

Studley A were six points clear in runners-up spot after easily disposing of Stratford D who are also relegated to Division One.

Littletons A confirmed third place after beating Stratford C 4-0, while Henley A finished with a flourish as, although they ended up in fifth place, two points behind Inkberrow A, they defeated them 3-1 in an exciting match.

Scores - Inkberrow A 1, Henley A 3: Tim Burns-O'Regan & John Turner (Henley) bt Adam Smith & Jim Forsyth 6-2, 6-2 & bt Mark Rawling & Mike Baker 7-6, 6-1. Dave Howard & Dave lost to Rawling & Baker 6-2, 0-6, 3-6 & bt Hill & Forsyth 6-3, 6-4.

Littletons A 4, Stratford C 0: Dave Rudge & Frank Meadows (Littletons) bt Ralph Nielson & Nick Bailey 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 & David Garman & Phil Hodges 6-3, 7-5. Sean Witheford & Chris Elliott bt Garman & Hodges 6-0, 6-3 & Nielson & Bailey 6-2, 6-2.

The first division title was still up for grabs between Chipping Campden A and Claverdon A but it was the former, enjoying a three-point cushion, who claimed the title with a maximum points win over Tanworth.

Claverdon also won 4-0 over Pershore but will have to settle for the runners-up medals and promotion to the top flight.

Campden's claim to the Division 1 title began with two tough rubbers. Tanworth's first pair of Phil Wells and Nick Danks battled hard and gave their opponents their hardest match of the season.

Campden captain Ken Dawson and partner Mark Evans took a close first set 6-4, but Wells and Danks took the second 6-2 and raced into a 5-1 lead in the third.

Dawson & Evans showed their mettle as champions by saving six match points before fighting back to take the set 7-5 and save the rubber after two hours of play.

There was another epic on the other court before Campden's Mark Kirkbride and Rolf Wilson eventually defeated second Tanworth pair Ken Jones and Richard Littlechild 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. The Campden duo then overcame Wells & Danks 6-2, 6-1, while Dawson and Evans mopped up Jones & Littlechild 6-1, 6-2.

Claverdon, meanwhile, romped to victory over Pershore A with Pieter Van-Hengel and Andy Williams and Richard Butler and Nigel Bacon in fine form.

In Division 2 Shipston A, who had already claimed the title, remained undefeated as they walked over HDA of Redditch 4-0. FISSC B drew 2-2 with Stratford E, but this draw was enough to gain them promotion with Shipston.

Alcester's 2-2 draw meant they finished mid-table but condemned Studley B to relegation a fate that also befell Campden B after a 3-1 defeat against Claverdon B.

Division Three champions Evesham fielded a weakened side which led to their first defeat of the summer.

Their conquerors Moreton-in-the-Marsh were recording their first win, but it failed to stop them finishing next to bottom.

The real struggle was for the second promotion spot with three teams vying for the privilege.

Bidford B, who had been favourites, went down heavily 4-0 to Littletons C whose points total was matched by Ilmington, 3-1 victors over Shipston, leaving Ilmington in the second promotion spot by virtue of having won more sets in their matches against Littleton.