CHAMPIONS Stratford produced their best victory of the season so far to move two points clear at the top of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League Premier Division.
They dropped just two games in the entire match as they overwhelmed Alcester 4-0. Callum Bailey and Ralf Neilsen produced a near flawless performance in beating Mike Smithers and Sam Hawker 6-1, 6-0 and then James Morley-Cotterall and Jack Newbold 6-0, 6-0.
Host captain Tim Page with old partner Simon West matched this by beating Morley-Cotterall and Newbold 6-0, 6-0 and beating Smithers and Hawker 6-0, 6-1.
Evesham lost some ground over their adversaries after being held to a 2-2 draw by Studley A. The opening rubber went Evesham’s way as Studley pair Damian Hampton and Mark Willmore lost to Andy Crowther and Simon Wall 4-6, 2-6 but then the home pairing beat Chris Francis and Ray Foster-Morison 6-2, 6-2.
Meanwhile, Studley A duo Martyn Richards and Paul Farmer beat Francis and Foster-Morison 6-3, 7-5, but lost to Crowther and Wall 1-6, 2-6.
Ardencote Manor moved up to joint third in the table after their 3-1 away win over Littleton. Sean Witheford and Dave Rudge (Littleton) lost to Ben Summers and Rich Butler 4-6, 3-6 and lost to Myles Wilcox-Smith and Jack Smith 6-7 (3-7), 3-6.
Richard Herborn and Jack Phillpott (Littleton) beat Wilcox-Smith and Smith 6-2, 7-6, but lost to Summers and Butler 1-6, 2-6.
Henley-in-Arden drew 2-2 away with bottom side Studley B. James Fitton and Chris McGregor (Studley B) lost to Matthew Williams and Oliver Didlick 1-6, 3-6, but beat Brett Mackay and Justin Pahr 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3) after a third set championship tie-breaker.
Dave Douglas and Ollie Smith (Studley B) lost to Mackay and Pahr 6-7, 2-6 but beat Williams and Didlick 6-1, 6-4.
In Division One, Moreton-in-Marsh have opened up a five-point gap at the top following a great 3-1 victory away to previously unbeaten Pershore A, who drop to third.
Claverdon leap into second place after a resounding 4-0 away victory over Snitterfield and Whitnash lie joint fourth position with Snitterfield after a 3-1 away win over Inkberrow.
HDA Redditch A have taken over at the top of Division Two with 12 points as a result of their 4-0 beating of Shipston-on-Stour A.
Ardencote Manor B with 11 points dropped to second place as their match against Stratford B was rearranged to a later date.
Alcester B have fallen a place to third despite their 3-1 win over FISSC of Stratford.
Chipping Campden A are sixth with six points, a point ahead of Inkberrow B after they defeated them 3-1.
Claverdon B share top spot in Division Three with Studley C after both enjoyed 3-1 wins. The Claverdon B result was away to Chipping Campden B and Studley C overcame hosts Wildmoor Spa A.
Henley B slip to joint third with their conquerors Snitterfield B who beat them 3-1. Both now have ten points.
Fifth and sixth places remain Ilmington (seven points) and Alcester C (six) following their 2-2 draw against each other.
In Division Four HDA Redditch B moved to the top by a solitary point with 13 after they had a good 3-1 away victory over Bidford A.
Claverdon C drop to second after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to third placed Pershore B. Equal fourth placed Inkberrow C overcame bottom team Chipping Campden C 3-1 and Moreton-in-Marsh B beat Littleton B 3-1.
New club Warwick still lead the Division Five table after another 4-0 win, this time at the expense of Inkberrow D. HDA Redditch C moved clear in second spot on 12 points following their 4-0 home win over Wildmoor Spa B.
Wildmoor Spa B, Bidford B, Inkberrow D and Moreton-in-Marsh C all share third place. Bidford B were given a 4-0 walkover bottom placed Shipston B, who failed to field a team and were fined and docked a further two points, leaving them with zero points in the table. Moreton B drew 2-2 with Evesham B.
