Champions stay top following victory at Henley
CHAMPIONS Stratford-on-Avon remain top of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League thanks to a 3-1 win at Henley-in-Arden.
However, they are joined at the top on seven points by Ardencote Manor, who went one better by beating Claverdon away from home 4-0.
Stratford captain Tim Page, swapping partner to William Morley-Cotterell, had a straight sets victory over Marcus Tate and Brett Mackay (Henley) 6-4, 6-3 and again over Tom Griffiths and Oli Didlick (Henley) 6-2, 6-3.
Stratford’s Callum Bailey, partnered with Richard Monk, lost their first rubber to Griffiths and Didlick 6-7, 3-6, but managed to recover to beat Tate & Mackay 6-3, 7-6 in a tight match.
Ardencote Manor improved on last week with a maximum points win over Claverdon.
John Turner and Steve Lockwood beat Andy Ashley and Richard Butler (Claverdon) 6-4, 6-3, and beat James Courier & Carsten Astheimer (Claverdon) 6-0, 6-0.
Ben Summer and Myles Wilcox-Smith (Ardencote) beat Courier and Astheimer 6-3, 6-0, but took a Championship tie-break decider to beat Ashley and Butler 6-3, 3-6, 1-0.
There is already a three-point gap to the next three teams who all share third spot, Alcester, Evesham and Henley.
Alcester moved up after they recorded a 4-0 victory over Studley, while Evesham had a 3-1 win over Moreton-in-Marsh.
Alcester enjoyed straight sets victories in claiming their maximum points result against Studley.
Alex Woodbridge and Stuart Beach (Alcester) defeated Paul Farmer and Martyn Richards (Studley) 7-6, 6-2, and beat Joe Kennedy and David Douglas (Studley) 6-1, 6-0.
Tim Kenneally and Pete Watson (Alcester) beat Kennedy & Douglas 6-0, 6-1 and beat Farmer & Richards 6-2, 6-1.
After their opening week defeat to Ardencote, Evesham claimed their first victory by defeating Moreton-in-Marsh 3-1.
Their top pair captain Andrew Crowther and Chris Francis won both their rubbers in straight sets beating Greg Stotesbury and Gary Jackson (Moreton) 6-4, 6-3, and beating Brian Lomas & Chris Elliott (Moreton) 6-1, 6-1.
John Clarke and Julian Heath (Evesham) were forced to play Championship tie-break deciders in both their rubbers with mixed results. They lost out to Lomas and Elliott 6-0, 6-7. 0-1, but beat Stotesbury & Jackson 6-3, 4-6, 1-0.
In division one, three of the four teams rained off in the opening week celebrated their first matches with victories and share joint top spot.
They are Alcester B, who beat previous table-toppers Pershore 4-0, HDA Redditch who overcame Littleton 4-0 and Snitterfield, who dominated for a 4-0 away victory at Studley B.
The only other result saw Ardencote Manor B defeat Whitnash 3-1 to go fourth equal with Pershore.
In division two, Stratford B claim the lead with seven points following their 4-0 victory over Aston Cantlow.
Inkberrow A slipped to equal second after being held to a 2-2 draw by Snitterfield B who now lie joint fifth.
Chipping Campden A are the other side laying in second place after they followed up their opening match draw with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Claverdon B, who in turn slip to fourth place with this result.
Studley and FISSC shared both the points and fifth place after a 2-2 draw.
Division three results saw a change at the top with Inkberrow B leading with a maximum eight points following a 4-0 win over Ilmington.
Shipston-on-Stour A lay second on six points despite drawing 2-2 with Alcester C.
Henley-in-Arden B are third on five points after they beat Claverdon C 3-1.
HDA B of Redditch bounced back from defeat the previous week to thump Inkberrow C 4-0.
This leaves three teams on four points - Alcester C, HDA B, and Ilmington.
Division four action saw Pershore B squeeze a point ahead of the table with six points when they defeated HDA C Redditch 3-1.
Chipping Campden B, Moreton-in-Marsh C and Warwick all lie equal second after they all recorded 2-2 draws.
Campden B with Moreton C, while Warwick drew away with Littleton B. Moreton B are fifth with four points following their 3-1 win over Wildmoor Spa A.
In division five, Bidford-on-Avon A stay top and extend their lead on seven points.
They beat Evesham B 3-1 who stay second equal on four points with Bidford B.
Bidford B battered Shipston B 4-0. Warwickshire County Council go fourth on three points after defeating Wildmoor Spa B 3-1. Finally, Chipping Campden C and HDA B of Redditch drew 2-2.
