Stratford-on-Avon move clear at the top of the Prudden Tennis League for the South Warwickshire and District for the first time this season with a great 4-0 victory over challengers Henley-in-Arden. The three way intense rivalry this season has been between Evesham, Henley and Stratford. This result may be the beginning of the end of Henley’s challenge. However, Evesham stay in close contention after they emerged victorious 3-1 over Claverdon to stay a point off the leaders. Fourth side Moreton-in-Marsh and fifth placed Inkberrow shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Stratford B claimed a crucial 4-0 win over the side just below them, Littleton and moved decisively away from the relegation zone. On the other hand, Littleton are now in real danger of going down with Claverdon to Division One next year.
Champions Stratford-on-Avon top the Premier Division thanks to a storming 4-0 victory over title challengers Henley-in-Arden. The top pair for Stratford, Ralf Neilson & Callum Bailey, dropped only 2 games in destroying their opposition. They beat Alex Butler & Richard Butler (Henley) 6-0, 6-2, and then beat John Turner & Lucie Butler 6-0, 6-0. Stratford captain Tim Page & partner Simon West comfortably won both their rubbers beating Turner & Butler 6-4, 6-2, and beating Butler & Butler 6-4, 6-3.
Evesham dropped a point behind in the title race despite their 3-1 win over Claverdon. Chris Francis & John Clarke (Evesham) beat Pete Thomas & Nigel Bacon (Claverdon) 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (11-9) in an epic Tie-Break finish. They then beat James Courier & David Markham (Claverdon) 6-3, 6-0. Simon Wall & Paul Everatt (Evesham) beat Courier & Markham 6-1, 6-0 and beat Thomas & Bacon 6-0, 7-6.
Moreton-in-Marsh just managed to stay in fourth ahead of Inkberrow when they drew 2-2 with them. Will Hale & Brian Lomas (Moreton) beat Gareth Price & Ricky Allan (Inkberrow) 6-3, 6-3 and beat Matt Knowles & Sam Kirby (Inkberrow) 6-1, 6-1. However, Chris Adams & Dave Evans (Moreton) lost to Knowles & Kirby 0-6, 4-6 and lost to Price & Allan 0-6, 0-6.
Finally, in the Premier Division, Stratford B took another step away from the drop with a good 4-0 win over nearest challengers Littleton, but the latter made Stratford work hard. Phil Cox & Olivier Rott (Stratford B) beat Sean Witheford & John Howard (Littleton) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7) after a Championship tie-break. They then beat Jack Philpott & Mark Hubbard (Littleton) 6-1, 6-0. Ben Tolliday & Andy Craig (Stratford B) beat Philpott & Hubbard 6-4, 6-3 and beat Witheford & Howard 1-6, 7-6, 1-0 (10-8) in another close tie-break.
Division One leaders Chipping Campden stay top, but for the second week in succession were held to a 2-2 draw. After drawing with bottom side Tanworth last week, this time it was another team low in the division, Bidford-on-Avon. These two valuable points, added to their shock win over Pershore last week, pulled Bidford out of the relegation positions. Alcester kept up their challenge and maintain equal points with Campden after their 4-0 triumph over Inkberrow B. Pershore are equal on points with Ardencote, both just one point behind the leaders. This week Ardencote managed a 3-1 win over Whitnash but Pershore beat bottom placed Tanworth-in-Arden 4-0.
No change at the head of Division Two as leaders FISSC drew 2-2 with second placed Shipston-on-Stour. Claverdon B stayed third despite their fixture with Studley being postponed. Stratford C chalked up a useful victory over Littleton B 3-1. This result placed Littleton B in danger of relegation. Finally, the two bottom sides Harbury and Alcester B met, with Alcester B chalking up their first win of the season beating Harbury 3-1.
In Division Three leaders Snitterfield just hung on to top spot after being surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw by bottom but one side FISSC B. Second placed Studley B closed up to equal points with Snitterfield after beating fourth placed Ilmington 3-1, but Studley B trail on head to head results with Snitterfield. HDA of Redditch pulled off a shock 4-0 win over Chipping Campden B, who now lay only one point clear of FISSC B and the relegation zone. Aston Cantlow had no match this week.
Wildmoor continue as leaders of Division Four, but slipped badly after losing to third place Inkberrow C in a match which saw the latter emerge 3-1 victors. Shipston B still occupy second position despite having no match this week. Moreton-in-Marsh B closed the gap on Chipping Campden C who is fourth, after Moreton B triumphed over Campden C 3-1. Inkberrow D claimed their first win of the season when they beat fellow strugglers Claverdon C 3-1.
Having beaten the leaders the previous week Henley B knocked them off the top this week after enjoying a resounding 4-0 win over bottom side Pershore B. Snitterfield B now trail Henley B by a point after they could only manage a 3-1 victory over relegation worried Henley C. Third placed Alcester C had no match this week and the final fixture saw struggling Bidford B gain four invaluable points when HDA B of Redditch failed to field a team.