The Half-way stage of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League for South Warwickshire area and parts of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, was marked by some unexpected results in the Premier Division. While Stratford-on-Avon dropped their second rubber of the season despite winning 3-1 at Henley-in-Arden, second placed Ardencote Manor suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Alcester who now depose them for the second spot on sets difference. Evesham enjoyed a good 4-0 result over Littleton and join the other two teams in second place, dead equal with Ardencote and trailing Alcester again only on sets difference. Further down the table bottom placed Inkberrow recorded only their second win of the season 3-1 over Claverdon and with this result moved up to within a point of Littleton and within two of their opponents Claverdon in the relegation battle.
The match of the week was between Ardencote and Alcester which was hard fought. Ardencote’s Christian Hardy & John Turner began well holding off Stuart Beach & Matt Poole (Alcester) to defeat them 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 after a championship tie-break. However, they then went down to Tim Kenneally & Alex Woodbridge (Alcester) 4-6, 7-5, 0-1 in another close tie-breaker. Meanwhile Ardencote’s Ben Summer & John Brain were finding it tough going down 6-7, 6-7 after an epic tussle to Kenneally & Woodbridge, before finally capitulating to Beach & Poole 2-6, 0-6.
Stratford fielded a weakened team but managed to hold on for a 3-1 win. Henley showed their intent when their pair Sam Turner & Brett Mackay went down only after a real fight to Stratford’s Cameron Malik & Steven Price 7-6, 3-6, 0-1 (5-10) after a tie-break. However, they battled back in another tie-break encounter to defeat Simon West & Jake Alexander (Stratford) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (12-10). Unfortunately for Henley their second pair of Jon Hunt & Dave Taylor found the Stratford pairs too strong going down to West & Alexander 0-6, 2-6, and to Malik & Price 4-6, 0-6.
Evesham while 4-0 winners over Littleton were made to work hard in a couple of the rubbers before claiming maximum points. John Clarke & Chris Francis (Evesham) beat Jack Philpott & Simon Leowitt (Littleton) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8) in a close game. They then went on to beat Chris Elliott & Ian Smith (Littleton) 6-3, 6-4. Andy Crowther & Simon Wall (Evesham) beat Elliott & Smith 6-4, 6-2, and defeated Philpott & Leowitt 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5).
In the final match in the Premier Division Inkberrow gave their club hope of avoiding relegation with a valuable 3-1 away victory at Claverdon. However it was probably the closest match of the season with all four rubbers going to championship tie-break deciders. Pete Thomas & team captain Richard Butler began well for Claverdon beating Matt Saunders & Jim Richardson (Inkberrow) 6-7, 7-6, 1-0 (10-7) before then losing to Graham Rankin & Gordon Keir (Inkberrow) 2-6, 6-3, 0-1 (8-10). On the other court Andy Ashley & Carsten Astheimer (Claverdon) lost to Rankin & Keir 7-6, 3-6, 0-1 (9-11) and lost out to Saunders & Richardson 2-6, 7-5, 0-1 (3-10).
Division One leaders Studley A pulled further away at the top and now lead by six points following their 3-1 win over third placed Snitterfield. Second placed Pershore had no match this week. Shipston-on-Stour managed a great 3-1 win over Aston Cantlow and in doing so leapt up the table to joint fifth with Cantlow and giving the Shipston side real hope of getting out of the relegation zone.
In Division Two Moreton-in-Marsh A extend their lead to six points after a 3-1 victory over Alcester B. Second placed Stratford B had no match this week. Whitnash were held to a 2-2 draw with Redditch side HDA A, but overtake Bidford A to go third as the latter’s game against Claverdon B was rained off.
Division Three saw only one fixture where Ardencote stretched their lead to three points enjoying a 3-1 result over second side Inkberrow B.
The leaders of Division Four Claverdon C met second placed Alcester C in an important clash. Alcester C emerged victors 3-1 to close to within one point of Claverdon C. Henley B also closed up to within a point by beating bottom placed Chipping Campden C 4-0. The other team in joint second on 15 points Snitterfield B had their match away to Littleton B postponed due to rain. Studley C was without a fixture.
Finally, on to Division Five and Pershore B stay leaders by three points thanks to a great 4-0 victory at Wildmoor Spa B. HDA B of Redditch entertained Inkberrow D and enjoyed a 4-0 victory which meant that they stayed in second spot. Inkberrow C are third and beat fourth placed Moreton-in-Marsh B 3-1. Bidford B had a week off.