STRATFORD were crowned Wildmoor Spa Tennis League Premier Division champions with three matches remaining after a 3-1 victory over Alcester B.
The win took the reigning and unbeaten champions to 40 points as they clinched a 15th successive crown.
However, Stratford’s Callum Bailey, partnered by replacement Andrew Shelby, lost his first rubber when they went down after a championship tie-break 6-3, 4-6, 0-1 to Alcester B (17) pair Gareth Price and Tom Watson.
The Stratford duo bounced back though to take the second rubber against Pete Watson and Charlie Watson 7-5, 6-3.
The Avon captain Tim Page and Pieter Uys-Barnard beat Watson and Watson 6-0, 6-4 and beat Price and Watson 6-3, 6-3.
Alcester A (27) were disappointed to be held to a 2-2 draw by Moreton-in-Marsh. Alcester captain Tim Kenneally and partner Alex Woodbridge lost to Gary Jackson and James Elliott 0-6, 6-0, 0-1 after a championship tie-break, but beat Brian Lomas and Chris Elliott 6-3, 6-4.
Emma Hubbard and Sam Thruston-End (Alcester A) beat Lomas and Elliott 6-0, 6-2, but lost to Jackson and Elliott 2-6, 5-7.
Ardencote Manor were surprised by Redditch side HDA who took a 3-1 victory. Tomas Cop and James McDonald (HDA) beat John Brain and Pete Thomas 6-0, 7-5 and beat Jack Smith and Phil Silk 6-4, 6-2.
Terry Iduitua and Lubo Smoliar (HDA) lost to Smith & Silk 3-6, 4-6, but beat Brain and Thomas 6-0, 1-6, 1-0 after another championship tie-break.
Henley (21) took on Evesham (17) and the latter secured a 3-1 victory in their battle to avoid relegation.
In Division One the top two – Chipping Campden A (31) and Studley (28) – were held to 2-2 draws, Campden away to fourth placed Pershore (27) and Studley away to fifth placed Ardencote B (21).
Littleton claimed a 4-0 victory over sixth placed Stratford B (15), which meant they drew level with second placed Studley on 28 points.
What were the bottom two teams – Claverdon (17) and Snitterfield (5) – met, resulting in a resounding 4-0 win for Claverdon which lifts them out of the relegation zone and above Stratford B.
In Division Two Inkberrow A continue to dominate at the top with 36 points following another 4-0 win, this time at the expense of Claverdon B (16).
The race for the second promotion spot is hotting up. Alcester C and Henley B share this currently with 25 points apiece after a shock 4-0 victory for Alcester C over their rivals Henley B.
Shipston A are close on their heels with 24 following a 3-1 win over bottom side Studley B (10) and FISSC are a further point back on 23 after a 4-0 victory over relegation-threatened Snitterfield B (12).
In Division Three Chipping Campden B (30) regained the lead after beating rivals Redditch HDA B (26) 4-0. The Redditch side, who led the table the previous week, were also deducted a point for only being able to field one pair.
As a result, Inkberrow B (27) moved up into the second promotion spot as they beat already relegated Claverdon C (2) by a convincing 4-0 scoreline.
Pershore B (21) had no fixture and slipped to fourth, whilst relegated Aston Cantlow (3) managed a 2-2 draw against fifth placed Warwick (20).
Division Four saw Bidford-on-Avon A (39) maintain their 11-point lead over Inkberrow C (28) despite being held to a 2-2 draw by third placed Redditch HDA C (25).
Second placed Inkberrow C drew 2-2 with fourth placed Evesham B (22) and Bidford B (22) moved up to join Evesham in equal fourth after a good 4-0 win over second bottom Moreton-in-Marsh B (16).
Wildmoor Spa A (21) are trailing only a point behind thanks to a 4-0 drubbing of bottom side Moreton C (3) who are now relegated.
The Division Five title race stays as tight as ever, with Shipston B and Warwickshire County Council sharing top place with 27 points each.
Shipston B managed a 3-1 win over fifth placed Henley C (21), while the County Council side went one better by beating Redditch HDA C (7) 4-0.
Chipping Campden C (25) stay third after drawing 2-2 with Tysoe (23), who moved up to fourth.
The result between Inkberrow D and Wildmoor Spa B was not available at the time of going to press.
