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Week 11 of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League for South Warwickshire area and parts of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, saw Stratford-on-Avon crowned as Champions for the 12 th year in succession after their 4-0 win over Claverdon meant they could not be caught this season. They head the Premier Division of the league with 42 points. Their nearest challengers Evesham, despite also chalking up a 4-0 victory over mid-table Alcester, have only 25 points with only 12 more on offer this season. This has been Stratford’s most emphatic championship in the history of the league as they totally dominated from start to finish. The runners-up spot is still up for grabs with Ardencote Manor on 24 points but dropping back after losing 1-3 to Littleton who pulled another two points clear of the relegation zone. Finally, fourth place Henley-in-Arden with 23 points dropped back thanks to bottom side Inkberrow holding them to a 2-2 draw.
Stratford's Callum Bailey with new partner Simon West proved too strong for Claverdon’s Pete Thomas & James Courier taking their match 6-1, 6-2. They then overpowered Richard Butler & Carsten Astheimer (Claverdon) 6-4, 6-2. Stratford captain Tim Page & coach Ralf Nielsen beat Butler & Astheimer 6-3, 6-2 and defeated Thomas & Courier 6-3, 6-4.
Evesham enjoyed a good 4-0 victory in straight sets over fifth placed Alcester. Chris Francis & Rob Noble (Evesham) beat Stuart Beach & Henry Williams (Alcester) 6-2, 6-1, and beat Barney Williams & Chris Harris (Alcester) 6-2, 6-2. Simon Wall & Paul Everatt (Evesham) beat Williams & Harris 6-2, 6-2, and beat Beach & Williams 6-2, 6-1.
Littleton shocked previously second placed Ardencote Manor and in the process caused them to drop to third when Littleton claimed an impressive win. Sean Witheford & Dave Rudge shone for the village team taking both of their rubbers 6-1, 6-4 over Ardencote’s Ben Summers & Paul Silk and 6-2, 6-0 over Ardencote’s second pair John Turner & John Brain. Meanwhile Jack Philpott & Chris Elliott (Littleton) eventually beat Turner & Brain 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-3) after a championship tie-break, but then lost to Summers & Silk 1-6, 2-6.
The final Premier game threw up another surprise when bottom placed Inkberrow held fourth placed Henley to a 2-2 draw at Henley. Max Retallack & John Hunt (Henley) lost their opening rubber to Matt Saunders & Gordon Keir (Inkberrow) 7-5, 2-6, 0-1 (8-10) after a close encounter, but then comfortably beat Chris Dixon & Mike Baker (Inkberrow) 6-2, 6-3. Brett Mackay & Emanuel Vaxler (Henley) squeezed out a result over Dixon & Baker 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7), but lost to Saunders & Keir 3-6, 5-7.
Division One again had only two fixtures this week with Snitterfield and Aston Cantlow without a fixture. Studley A extended their lead to five points at the top of the table by beating sister side Studley B 4-0. Challengers with 19 points Pershore could only manage a 3-1 victory over relegation threatened Shipston. However this result lifted them into second spot one point clear of Studley B.
In Division Two Whitnash caused an upset when they trounced leaders Moreton-in-Marsh A 4-0 to move up clear in second place with 23 points, six behind Moreton and with a game in hand. Stratford B dropped to third place after being held to a 2-2 draw by fourth placed Bidford A. Another surprise saw relegation threatened HDA A of Redditch defeat the tem above them Alcester B 3-2. Although they still trail Alcester B by five points, HDA A does have a game in hand. Claverdon B had no match this week.
Division Three saw Ardencote B extend their lead at the top to six points and a total of 25 when they beat mid-table Wildmoor Spa A 4-0. Inkberrow B stays second, six behind Ardencote B but four ahead of FISSC, but consolidated their promotion ambitions with a 3-1 win over Ilmington, which in turn drops the latter into a relegation battle. FISSC of Stratford overtook Wildmoor A for third place when they beat bottom team Chipping Campden B 3-1.
In Division Four leaders Henley-in-Arden B had a week off and this gave second placed Alcester C an opportunity to cut their lead to four points with also a game in hand when they defeated Littleton B 3-1. Studley C in third on only sets difference and also on 21 points with Alcester C, similarly won 3-1 beating Claverdon C. Snitterfield claimed a valuable 4-0 win over bottom team Campden C leaving them and Littleton B looking doomed to relegation.
Finally, in Division Five HDA B of Redditch took a massive step nearer to claiming the title and promotion when they defeated nearest rivals and promotion candidates Pershore B 3-1. Although Pershore have a game in hand, HDA B now enjoys a three point lead on 32 points. Pershore however are five points clear of their next rivals Inkberrow C who drew 2-2 with fifth placed Bidford B. A battle between the bottom two sides Wildmoor Spa B and Inkberrow resulted in honours even in a 2-2 draw. Fourth placed Moreton-in-Marsh B had no match.