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The Widney Sports Summer Tennis League, covering the South Warwickshire & District Area, began last week in the Premier Division with two teams sharing top spot after both newly promoted Alcester and current Champions Stratford-on-Avon enjoyed 4-0 opening victories. Evesham drew with Moreton-in-the-Marsh, while Pershore had to wait another week to open their account.
Alcester surprised Henley-in-Arden, who finished third in last year's Premier Division, with a straight sets victory. Alcester's Stuart Beach & Matt Poole defeated Ben Summers & John Turner (Henley) 6-2, 6-4 and then overcame Rob Summers & Sue harbour (Henley) 6-1, 6-2. Meanwhile the other Alcester pair Alex Woodbridge & A.N. Other beat Summers & Harbour 6-1, 6-0 and beat Summers & Turner 6-3, 6-2.
Champions Stratford as expected defeated sister side Stratford B in their opening match to the season 4-0. Callum Bailey & Ralf Neilson (Stratford) beat Sam Wilkes & Sam Righton (Stratford B) 6-2, 6-3, and then beat Mark Parsons & Rene Peconka (Stratford B) without dropping a game 6-0, 6-0. Stratford captain Tim Page & partner Simon West beat Parsons & Peconka 6-2, 6-2 and then defeated Wilkes & Righton 6-2, 6-4.
In the final Premier Division fixture Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh shared the honours in a 2-2 draw. Heroes of the day for Moreton were Will Hale & Gary Jackson who won their team's two points. John Clarke & Dave Hubbard (Evesham) lost to Hale & Jackson (Moreton) 6-7, 4-6, but beat Brian Lomas & Dave Evans (Moreton) 6-2, 6-2. Simon Wall & Chris Francis (Evesham) beat Lomas & Evans 6-2, 6-1, but also lost to Hale & Jackson 5-7, 4-6.
In Division One Chipping Campden claim the early lead after comfortably beating Whitnash 4-0. Bidford-on-Avon are second thanks to their 3-1 victory over Littleton, although two of the rubbers went to tie-breaks. Finally, Ardencote Manor drew 2-2 with Shipston-on-Stour. Claverdon will open their account next week.
Claverdon B Inkberrow and Stratford C all share top spot after all three sides claimed 3-1 wins in Division 2. Claverdon B's win was over Littleton B, Inkberrow overcame Ullenhall and Stratford C's victory came at the expense of Snitterfield. The Studley versus Studley B fixture was postponed until May due to their courts being resurfaced.
Division Three saw FISSC of Stratford open up a lead at the top of their table with a 4-0 defeat of newly promoted Wildmoor, although the latter took two rubbers into tie-breaks before succumbing. The other two matches saw 2-2 draws between Harbury and Alcester B and also Ilmington and Aston Cantlow. Shipston-on-Stour B begin their fixtures a week late.
Division Four joint leaders are Chipping Campden B, Henley B and Inkberrow B. Campden B enjoyed a 3-1 win over HDA of Redditch. Henley B had a good 3-1 success while visiting Moreton-in-Marsh B and Inkberrow B celebrated a 3-1 victory over Chipping Campden C. Snitterfield B had no match this week.
Finally, in Division Five again three teams dominated the opening week. Alcester C defeated Henley C with a 4-0 scoreline that belied the closeness of their tussle, with three of the four rubbers going to tie-break before Alcester emerged victors in each. Inkberrow C prevailed with a more comfortable straight sets 4-0 win over fellow recently relegated Claverdon C. The final victory was Pershore B who also overcame newcomers Studley C in straight sets 4-0. The final league fixture saw honours shared between Bidford B and HDA B in a 2-2 draw.
Corin S. Bishop – Widney Sports Tennis League Secretary
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