The Widney Sports Tennis League Week 4 (21/05/2011)

Week 4 of the season for the Widney Sports Tennis League for the South Warwickshire & District saw leaders Alcester pull away after they soundly beat Moreton-in-Marsh 4-0 while reigning champions Stratford-on-Avon were held to a 2-2 draw at Henley-in-Arden. These results gave Alcester a three point lead with Stratford second and Henley a point behind in third. Pershore move up on equal points to third with Henley after they defeated bottom placed Stratford B 3-1. Next to bottom Evesham had a free week.

Alcester enjoyed a straight sets victory over Moreton which never looked in doubt. Gareth Price & Matt Poole (Alcester) beat Tim Firth & Dave Evans (Morton) 6-3, 6-0, and beat Brian Lomas & Chris Adams (Moreton) 6-2, 6-3. Arthur & Michael Bennett (Alcester) beat Lomas & Adams 6-4, 6-1, and beat Firth & Evans 6-4, 6-2.

It was a hard fought encounter between Henley and Stratford with honours even. John Turner & Richard Butler (Henley) lost to Simon West & Callum Bailey (Stratford) 2-6, 2-6, but beat Tim Page & Richard Monk (Stratford) 6-2, 6-7, 1-0 (10-3) in a championship tie-break finish. Ben Summers & Phil Silk (Henley) beat Page & Monk 6-2, 6-4, but lost to West & Bailey 2-6, 3-6.

In the final Premier Division fixture Pershore did well in clinching their victory in another hard fought battle. Mark Rowe & Paul Higgins (Pershore) lost to Sam Wilks & Tim Page (Stratford B) 5-7, 6-4, 0-1 (8-10) and in a close championship tie-break finish. However, they then went on to beat Rene Peconka & Oliver Cromwell (Stratford B) 6-0, 6-1. George Ricketts & Mike Langston (Pershore) lost to Peconka & Cromwell 2-6, 5-7, but beat Wilks & Page 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5) in another close tie-break..

In Division One last week's leaders Bidford-on-Avon slip to third after they were well beaten 3-1 by Chipping Campden who with that result leap frog over them to second place. New leaders are Shipston-on-Stour who had a 4-0 straight sets victory over Claverdon who drop to fifth. Whitnash move up to fourth despite being held to a 2-2 draw by bottom but one side Ardencote Manor. Littleton had no match last week.

Division Two saw leaders Inkberrow and Studley joined at the top by Stratford C. This was because while Inkberrow and Studley drew 2-2, Stratford C beat Littleton B 3-1 to share top spot with 11 points. Claverdon B maintained fourth place with a 3-1 victory over Studley B, while Ullenhall stay fifth despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Snitterfield.

With previous joint leaders FISSC not having a match this week Alcester B took the opportunity to take a clear lead at the top of Division 3 when they defeated Shipston B 3-1. Ilmington stay equal second on 8 points after they drew 2-2 with bottom placed Harbury, but stay behind FISSC after losing their head to head match to them last week. Aston Cantlow won at Wildmoor Spa 3-1 to move into fourth place.

In Division Four, leaders Henley B stay two points clear at the top of the table having kept their unbeaten record with a 3-1 win over mid table Inkberrow B. However, HDA of Redditch closed up on them when they comfortably beat Snitterfield B 4-0. As expected Chipping Campden B overcame their sister side Campden C 3-1 to move into third place. Moreton B had no match this week and dropped a place to equal fourth.

The final Division 5 table saw Pershore pull a point clear at the top thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Bidford B. Alcester C dropped from joint leaders to second after they could only manage a 3-1 victory over HDA B of Redditch who themselves drop to fourth. Henley C beat fifth placed Inkberrow C and as result move clear to third in the division. Meanwhile the lower end of the division Claverdon C drew 2-2 with bottom placed Studley C.

Division Tables

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