Stratford and Alcester extend their lead at the top
STRATFORD and Alcester continue to pull away at the top of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League Premier Division.
Both teams enjoyed comfortable wins in week four, Stratford 3-1 away to fourth-placed Evesham and Alcester 4-0 over sixth placed Moreton-in-Marsh. Stratford are on 14 points, with Alcester just behind them on 12.
Alcester had to work hard for their victory, with opponents Moreton-in Marsh forcing them to two championship-decider tie breaks.
Stuart Beach and Tom Watson (Alcester) squeezed past Gary Jackson and James Elliott (Moreton) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 in an extremely close fought encounter.
They then went on to beat Brian Loams and Chris Elliott (Moreton) 6-2, 6-2.
Tim Kenneally and Pete Watson (Alcester) beat Lomas and Elliott 6-2, 6-1 and then edged out an unlucky Jackson and Elliott 6-1, 3-6, 1-0.
Meanwhile, Stratford top player Callum Bailey, this time partnered by Simon West, beat Andrew Crowther and John Clarke (Evesham) 6-1, 6-0 and beat Julian Heath and Simon Wall (Evesham) 7-5, 6-3.
Tim Page and Richard Monk (Stratford) eased past Heath and Wall 6-4, 7-6, but lost out to Crowther and Clarke 1-6, 1-6.
Third-placed Ardencote Manor (9) drew 2-2 away to fifth-placed Henley-in-Arden (7). Ardencote A kept third place mainly thanks to the efforts of their leading duo Ben Summers and Jack Smith.
They won both their rubbers, 6-3, 6-2 against Sam Turner and Brett Mackay (Henley) and 6-2, 6-3 over Tom Griffiths and Oli Didlick.
Ardencote captain Myles Wilcox-Smith and Christian Hardy went down 6-1, 6-7, 0-1 to Griffiths and Didlick and 1-6, 6-7 to Turner and Mackay.
The last premier fixture of the week saw Studley beat Claverdon 3-1. This was a good away result for Studley and was mainly due to their duo Martin Richards and Damian Gulbicki who won both their rubbers beating Richard Butler and Carsten Astheimer (Claverdon) 6-1, 6-1, and Andy Ashley and James Courier (Claverdon) 6-3, 6-3.
Mark Willmore and Damian Hampton (Studley) beat Ashley and Courier 7-6, 6-1, but lost to Butler and Astheimer 3-6, 3-6.
In division one, HDA Redditch extended their lead to five points after playing two matches. The first was an earlier rain-postponed match away to equal second-placed Snitterfield, which the Redditch outfit won 3-1.
They followed this up the next day with their regular fixture away to sixth-placed Pershore, where they were held to a 2-2 draw.
In second spot are Whitnash, thanks to a 3-1 win over also equal sixth Littleton.
Snitterfield moved up to joint second place with Whitnash after their regular fixture against Alcester B finished in a 2-2 draw.
The final fixture between bottom sides Ardencote B and Studley B saw a resounding 4-0 win for Ardencote and lifted them from bottom up to fourth equal in the table.
Division two leaders Stratford B have 14 points due to their 3-1 win away at Studley C. Chipping Campden A moved up to second following a 4-0 victory over the now joint second Inkberrow A.
FISSC drop to fourth after being held to a 2-2 draw by sixth side Snitterfield B. Claverdon B moved up to fifth following a 4-0 thrashing of bottom team Aston Cantlow.
Division three leaders Shipston-on-Stour A remain top after 4-0 away victory against fourth-placed Inkberrow B.
Henley-in-Arden B stayed second as they also celebrated an away 4-0 victory over sixth-placed HDA B Redditch.
Alcester C moved up two places to third thanks to a 4-0 away result against Inkberrow C. The final match between Ilmington and Claverdon C resulted in a 2-2 draw.
This result moved Ilmington up to equal third but Claverdon stay last. It is as you were at the top of division four.
Pershore B stay top with 14 points and a 4-0 win away to fifth placed Moreton-in-Marsh C. Warwick kept up the chase in second with 12 points after a 4-0 victory over bottom placed Wildmoor Spa A.
Third-placed Moreton-in-Marsh B took on Redditch side HDA C and beat them 3-1.
Chipping Campden B were held to a 2-2 draw by Littleton B (5).
Division five saw Bidford-on-Avon A stay top with 11 points, claiming a maximum 4-0 victory over bottom side Chipping Campden C.
Wildmoor Spa A shot up to second spot with a 4-0 win over Evesham B. Bidford B dropped to third following a 3-1 defeat to HDA D Redditch.
Warwickshire County Council move up to joint fifth after celebrating a 3-1 win at Shipston-on-Stour B.
