STRATFORD moved further clear at the top of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League Premier Division on 18 points despite dropping only their second point of the season in their 3-1 win over Alcester A, who slip to fourth with nine points after this defeat.
Second placed Ardencote Manor (13) slipped a further point back after surprisingly being held to a 2-2 draw by Alcester B (7) who are second bottom.
Henley A are third following their 3-1 victory over joint fourth placed Redditch HDA A (9). Sixth placed Evesham (8) managed a 3-1 win over bottom placed Moreton-in-Marsh (5).
Stratford pair Callum Bailey and Pieter Uys-Barnard struggled before edging out Alcester’s Stuart Beach and Marcus Powell in a championship tie-break 2-6, 6-3, 1-0.
However, they found things easier when they beat Alex Woodbridge and Tim Kenneally 6-2, 6-3. Returning Stratford captain Tim Page with partner Chris Marrow beat Woodbridge and Kenneally 6-4, 6-4 but lost to Beach and Powell 2-6, 5-7.
Ardencote Manor lost ground with a draw as their players Pete Thomas and Phil Silk lost to Gareth Price and Jack Herdsman (Alcester B) 4-6, 2-6 and lost to Matt Fielding and Barney Williams 3-6, 1-6.
In contrast, Ardencote’s other pair Ben Summers and John Brain beat Fielding and Williams 6-4, 7-5 and defeated Price and Herdsman 6-4, 3-6, 1-0.
Henley enjoyed an important victory despite a bad start. Sam Turner and Max Retallack (Henley) lost to Terry Iduitua and Lubo Smoliar (HDA) 3-6, 6-3, 0-1, but beat Harvey Ravenscroft and Stewart Roney (HDA) 6-0, 6-2.
Tom Griffiths and Matt Williams (Henley) beat Ravenscroft and Roney 6-0, 6-0 and defeated Iduitua and Smoliar 6-2, 6-1.
Evesham managed to beat Moreton 3-1 as Andrew Crowther and Chris Francis (Evesham) overcame James Elliott and Gary Jackson 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 and defeated Chris Elliott and Brian Lomas 6-1, 6-2.
Julian Heath and John Clarke (Evesham) beat Elliott and Lomas 6-3, 6-2 but lost to Elliott and Jackson 4-6, 2-6.
Division One leaders are still Chipping Campden on 15 points, but they were held to a 2-2 draw by fourth placed Claverdon (10) who were playing on their home courts.
Studley (13) jumped up to second spot thanks to their 4-0 win over Stratford B (8). Meanwhile, Littleton (12) overtook Pershore (11) to take third place, after Littleton soundly beat bottom of the division Snitterfield (3) by a convincing 4-0 scoreline.
Pershore were held to a 2-2 draw by Ardencote B (8).
Division Two leaders Henley B retained their lead with 17 points after a 4-0 drubbing of bottom side Studley B (2).
Inkberrow A (15) stayed in second place after they beat Alcester C (9) 4-0 and Shipston A (12) moved up to third after a 3-1 win over sixth placed Snitterfield B (8).
Fourth placed FISSC (11) lost ground when they drew 2-2 at home to second bottom Claverdon B (6).
In Division Three Redditch HDA B (15) went clear at the top with a 3-1 win over top of the table rivals Warwick (13).
Chipping Campden B (12) closed up to within a point of Warwick, third in the table, thanks to a 3-1 win over Pershore B (6).
Aston Cantlow (3) celebrated their first points of the season with a 3-1 victory over pointless Claverdon C who remain bottom of the table with only a solitary point.
Newly-promoted Bidford A continued their recent good form and stretched their lead in Division Four to five points. They now have 20 points after beating Moreton-in-Marsh B (5) 4-0.
Match of the week was between the previously second and third teams Inkberrow C and Wildmoor Spa A respectively. They met at Inkberrow and the home side gained a 3-1 victory to leave them in second on 15 points with Wildmoor Spa A on 12.
Redditch HDA C (9) drew 2-2 with Evesham B (8) to stay fourth and fifth respectively.
Bidford B (8) moved up to joint fifth after claiming their second win on the trot by beating Moreton-in-Marsh C 3-1. Moreton C now sit at the bottom on three points.
Shipston-on-Stour B stayed top of Division Five with 16 points and Chipping Campden C are second with 14 points after both recorded victories.
Shipston’s was 3-1 away to Warwickshire County Council (10) and Campden’s 4-0 at Home to Inkberrow D (6).
Wildmoor Spa B (11) moved up to third after they brushed aside Redditch HDA D (5) 4-0, with the latter anchored to the foot of the league.
Tysoe (10) dropped to joint fourth with Warwickshire County Council after being held to a 2-2 draw by sixth placed Henley C (8).
