STRATFORD edged out Alcester to win the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League Junior Cup final.
It was a first appearance for both teams in the 12 and under age final, played at Wildmoor Spa & Health Club in Stratford.
Sponsored by league president and Alcester man Tony King, the competition began in March with four pools of four pairs playing each other and taking it in turns to host each month.
In July a play-off pool night was held at Littletons Tennis Club when the four pool winners – Alcester, Stratford, Redditch HDA and Littletons – played each other, with the top two sides reaching the final.
Despite the inclement weather, watched by parents, coaches and league officials, both sets of boys were keen to do well.
It was a very close match which Alcester began as favourites, having beaten the Stratford pair 6-4 in the semi-final play-offs.
However, in this best of three sets cup final, the contest was extremely even. The first set went to the wire at 6-6 before Stratford pair Joe Pinnock and George Adams squeezed home in a tie-break to win the first set 7-6.
In the second set, again no quarter was given until the end when one break of serve over the Alcester boys Like Clemons and Adam Haerle gave Stratford the second and deciding set 7-5.
League chairman Tony Eskew presented all the boys with individual awards and of course the cup and Junior League organiser Corin Bishop, who is also league secretary, presented a cheque for £50 from the league to Stratford TC.
