Week 2 of the South Warwickshire Summer Tennis League, which includes parts of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, saw current champions Stratford-on-Avon move clear at the top after another comfortable 4-0 win, this time over Evesham. Newly promoted Shipston-on-Stour moved up to second spot, despite being held to a 2-2 draw by fifth placed Alcester, thanks to Henley-in-Arden slipping to third after an unexpected 4-0 defeat to the champions sister side Stratford B. The latter move up to fourth place with this victory. Finally, in the Premier Division, Claverdon made up for their opening week defeat to Shipston by overcoming Pershore 3-1.
Stratford were always favourites against an Evesham side struggling for strength in depth of players this season. Stratford's top pair of Simon West & Cameron Malik overhauled Andrew Crowther & Jim Clarke (Evesham) 6-1, 6-4, and then beat Evesham's Chris Francis & Ray Foster-Morison, back after a long injury spell, 6-4, 6-2. Stratford's captain Tim Page & Callum Bailey meanwhile beat Francis & Foster-Morison 6-0, 7-5, and beat Crowther & Clarke 6-2, 6-3.
Shipston moved up to second place despite a valiant battle to hold them to a 2-2 draw in a tight finish by hosts Alcester. Stuart Beach & Tim Kenneally (Alcester) lost to Adam Moran & Ben Lane (Shipston) 4-6, 4-6, but then beat Tobias Kemp & Hugh Allen (Shipston) 7-6, 6-1. Gareth Price & Matt Fielding (Alcester) beat Kemp & Allen 6-2, 6-3, but then narrowly lost to Moran & Lane after an extremely close championship tie-break decider 3-6, 7-5, 0-1 (6-10).
Stratford B surprised previously second placed Henley with a 4-0 home result over them. Two of the four rubbers did however, go to a championship tie-break before victory was clinched. Stratford B captain Sam Wilks & Sam Righton just edged out Max Retallack & Chris Cardwell (Henley) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 1-0 (10-8) and then beat Stuart Kent & Jake Evans (Henley) 6-0, 6-1. Mark Parsons & Ed Bosley (Stratford B) beat Kent & Evans 6-1, 6-2, and then overcame the unlucky Retalleck & Cardwell 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-7).
In the final Premier Division fixture Claverdon took their first victory of the season by defeating Pershore 3-1. The Claverdon visitors opened with Ben Summers & Pete Thomas just edging out Mike & Chris Langston (Pershore) 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-6) in another close championship tie-break. They then beat Dave Lambert & Matt Fellows (Pershore) 6-4, 6-4. Claverdon captain Richard Butler & Carsten Astheimer again just squeezed out their unfortunate opponents Lambert & Fellows 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-7) in another tie-break nail-biter. They then lost Claverdon's only rubber 4-6, 3-6, to the Langston brothers.
Bidford-on-Avon retained their position at the top of Division One with another win beating Ardencote manor 3-1. This was a much closer affair than their opening fixture and the victory was only claimed after a tight tie-break finish. Littleton moved into second spot after they posted a 3-1 over third placed Studley. The match between Whitnash and Inkberrow was rained off and should be replayed within 14 days.
Division Two is a very close affair, both in points and results, with all three fixtures resulting in 2-2 draws. Snitterfield just retained their lead by a solitary point after drawing 2-2 with Aston Cantlow. Littleton B in their first match of the season were held to the 2-2 result by Alcester B. Lastly, Ullenhall and Claverdon shared the points in another 2-2 draw. These results left Snitterfield on 5 points, Ullenhall, Alcester B and Aston Cantlow in equal second on 4 points, with Claverdon B next on 3 and finally, Stratford C and Littleton B bottom on 2 points each.
Ilmington knocked neighbours Shipston-on-Stour off the top of Division Three with a 3-1 win which saw them move up to fourth place and dropped Shipston to third. Studley B became the new leaders after they trounced Henley B dropping only 7 games in their 4-0 victory. Chipping Campden moved up to second after they overcame FISSC in an excitingly close match 3-1. FISSC pair Adam Patel & Steve Turner were unlucky to lose two tight tie-break rubbers.
Two teams now lead Division Four after both enjoyed second 4-0 victories. Inkberrow B beat Redditch side HDA A 4-0 and Moreton A also beat Chipping Campden C 4-0. Snitterfield B slipped from the top after being held to a 2-2 draw away to Alcester C. The only other fixture saw Pershore B gain an away victory over Inkberrow C 4-0 to move up to fourth place.
In Division Five HDA B Redditch stayed on top of the table after a battling 3-1 win over a brave Moreton B side and are joined at the top on 7 points by Ardencote B who claimed a good 4-0 victory over Studley C. Despite unluckily losing their close match Moreton B stayed third, while Bidford B moved up to fourth thanks to a 2-2 draw away to Henley C, who themselves were lying in fifth place. The final fixture between Wildmoor Spa and Claverdon C was rained off.