The big story of the week in the Prudden Summer Tennis League, covering the South Warwickshire & District Area, is the defeat of current Champions Stratford-on-Avon by pretenders Moreton-in-the-Marsh. Another Premier Division upset saw Littleton, who began their campaign so strongly last week with a 4-0 victory, go down to Henley-in-Arden 3-1. This means Henley now head the League overtaking Evesham who suffered the third major upset of the week when they went down 4-0 to a strong Stratford B side. Finally, Inkberrow defeated Claverdon 3-1.
It was Moreton's captain Will Hale & partner Gary Jackson who did most damage to Stratford with straight sets wins over first Tim Page & Callum Bailey (Stratford) 6-3, 7-6, and then Richard Monk & Sam Righton (Stratford) 6-2, 6-2. Moreton's other pair Chris Adams & Brian Lomas secured the victory by beating Monk & Righton 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-8) in the closest of Championship tie-breaks. However, they were unable to hold Stratford's first pair going down to Page & Bailey 3-6, 3-6.
Henley take over at the top of the league after their good 3-1 win over Littleton. Their top pair Ben Summers & John Turner enjoyed comfortable straight set wins over Andy Reynolds & Richard Herborn (Littleton) 6-2, 6-3, and over Sean Witheford & Joe Sinclair (Littleton) 6-3, 6-3. The second Henley pair Rob Summers & Phil Silk endured two epic tie-break struggles, going down in the first to Witheford & Sinclair 7-5, 2-6, 0-1 (6-10), but ensured match victory in the second by overcoming Reynolds & Herborn 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (13-11).
Evesham were surprised by a very strong Stratford B squad whose first pair James Smith & Phil. Cox took maximum points by beating John Clarke & Chris. Francis (Evesham) 6-4, 7-6, and then Dave Hubbard & Simon Wall (Evesham) 7-6, 6-2. The other Stratford pair Olivier Rott & Sam Righton beat Hubbard & Wall 6-3, 6-4, and beat Clarke & Francis 6-2, 6-4.
In the final Premier Division match Inkberrow beat Claverdon 3-1 but no details are yet known. The home side Inkberrow have been issued with an official warning for not submitting their scorecard within the time limit allowed for under Rule 17.
In Division One Alcester stay top of the table after another 4-0 victory, this time at the expense of Tanworth-in-Arden. Chipping Campden move up to second a point behind after thrashing Inkberrow B 4-0. A further point adrift Ardencote Manor slipped back to third after being held to 2-2 draw by Bidford-on-Avon. Finally, Pershore stay fourth by beating Whitnash 3-1.
The top two teams in Division Two, Claverdon B and Shipston B, shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw and stay joint top. Stratford C gained two valuable away points to move up to joint third with FISSC after drawing 2-2 with Studley. FISSC kept their position after they too drew 2-2 with Alcester B. The later side are now joined in fifth position not only by Studley B as a result of their aforementioned draw, but also with Harbury. Harbury were without a win in the first week but came back strongly to beat Littleton B 3-1 leaving them two points above their opponents at the bottom of the table.
Division Three saw Snitterfield remain on top despite being held to a 2-2 draw with Ilmington, who stay equal second. They share second place with Aston Cantlow who move up courtesy of a 4-0 drubbing of HDA Redditch. Studley, without a game this week, slip to equal fourth while FISSC B join them in fourth after they drew 2-2 with Campden B.
Lone leaders of Division Four are Shipston B who blasted Inkberrow B 4-0. Previous joint leaders Inkberrow C dropped to third after they were surprisingly held 2-2 by Campden C who recorded their first points of the season. Newly promoted side Wildmoor Spa moved into second spot by beating still pointless Claverdon C 4-0. Moreton B lost only one place to fifth despite not playing this week.
Snitterfield B have taken over at the top of Division Five after defeating last weeks joint leaders Alcester C 3-1. Alcester slipped to equal second alongside HDA B who jumped up the table by blowing away Henley C 4-0. Pershore also gained ground to join Henley B, who had no game this week, in joint fourth when they beat Bidford B 3-1.