THE WILDMOOR Spa Tennis League began with a strong contingent of 47 teams in six divisions.
Evesham share the lead at the top of the Premier Division with champions Stratford after both recorded 3-1 wins and both have +4 on points difference.
Evesham’s victory was away to newly-promoted Redditch HDA A, while Stratford’s was at home against Ardencote Manor.
Henley-in-Arden are also on three league points after they opened their season with a 3-1 victory at home to Moreton-in-Marsh. The final Premier fixture saw a 2-2 draw between Alcester A and Alcester B.
Last year’s runners-up Evesham opened their campaign with a good 3-1 victory at Redditch side HDA A. Evesham captain and veteran Ray Foster-Morison, partnering Chris Francis, began with a straight sets 6-4, 6-3 win over Terry Iduitua and Andrew Hanson. However, they then went down 2-6, 2-6 to HDA’s Thomas Cop and Matthew Cutler.
On the other court the other Evesham pair of Andrew Crowther and Julian Heath performed better, winning both their rubbers 6-2, 6-4 against Cop and Cutler and 6-0, 6-0 over Iduitua and Hanson.
Stratford pair Callum Bailey and Cameron Malik defeated Ben Summers and Jack Smith (Ardencote) 6-2, 7-5 and then beat Pete Thomas and Christian Hardy 6-0, 6-2.
Simon West and Chris Marrow (Stratford) beat Thomas and Hardy 6-2, 6-4, but lost to Summers and Smith 3-6, 2-6.
Henley-in-Arden also won 3-1 against Moreton-in-Marsh. Henley had home advantage and made it count, but it took a championship tie-break decider in the opening two rubbers.
Henley skipper Brett Mackay and Sam Turner squeezed past Moreton’s James Elliott and Greg Stotesbury 6-4, 3-6, 1-0, before beating Brian Lomas and Chris Adams (Moreton) 6-3, 6-2.
Oli Didlick and Tom Griffiths (Henley) also needed a tie-break to win 6-7, 6-1, 1-0 against Lomas and Adams, but then went down 1-6, 2-6 to Elliott and Stotesbury.
In the final Premier Division match Alcester A played Alcester B and the honours were shared in a 2-2 draw.
Alex Woodbridge and Marcus Powell took both points for the A team by beating Barney Williams and Matt Fielding 6-2, 6-2, and Gareth Price and Jack Herdsman 6-1. 6-1.
On the other court, Alcester A team captain Tim Kenneally and Will Smith went down 5-7, 2-6 to Price and Herdsman and lost 4-6, 2-6 to Williams and Fielding.
In Division One Chipping Campden took an early lead in the table when they beat hosts Ardencote Manor B 4-0.
Stratford B are second in the table thanks to their 3-1 home win over Snitterfield, whilst the other two matches between Claverdon and Pershore and Littleton and Studley both resulted in 2-2 draws.
In Division Two Henley B top the table after a 4-0 home win over Inkberrow A. Snitterfield A sit second thanks to their 3-1 victory at home to Claverdon B.
The other two matches between Studley B and Alcester C and FISSC and Shipston A were 2-2 draws.
In Division Three two teams top the table after maximum point results. They were newly-promoted Warwick who beat Claverdon C 4-0 and Redditch HDA B who beat Aston Cantlow 4-0.
Pershore B entertained Inkberrow B in a competitive 2-2 draw.
Moreton-in-Marsh B showed the way in Division Four with a 4-0 home win over sister side Moreton C. Joining them at the top are Bidford-on-Avon A who also beat their sister side Bidford B 4-0.
Wildmoor Spa A opened the season with a good victory 3-1 at Evesham B. Inkberrow C drew 2-2 at home to Redditch HDA C.
In Division Five, Shipston B and Chipping Campden C share top spot after they both recorded 4-0 home wins.
Shipston’s was over Redditch HDA D, while Campden’s win was at the expense of Henley C.
New side Tysoe made a winning start, 3-1 at home to Inkberrow D, whilst Wildmoor B drew 2-2 at home to Warwickshire County Council.
