Week six saw Stratford retain their lead at the top of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League, covering the South Warwickshire area and parts of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. Stratford-on-Avon men increased the gap to four points with a total of 19 after defeating fourth placed Studley A (14 points) 3-1. Meanwhile, second placed Evesham drew for the fourth match in a row and are dropping away as contenders despite their early season defeat of last year’s champions. In fact they are now overtaken by Ardencote Manor who have a better sets average than Evesham despite the same number of points (15) in second place. Ardencote enjoyed a comfortable straight sets 4-0 victory over sixth placed Henley-in-Arden (8 points). Evesham were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw by previously bottom side Studley B, who with this result were lifted off the bottom with 7 points. Alcester pulled away from danger with 12 points after a resounding 4-0 win over Littleton who now slide into bottom place on 6 points.
A depleted Stratford team nevertheless managed to hold off Studley A for a 3-1 win. The champions’ captain Tim Page stepped up with new partner Ben Keighley to win both rubbers in straight sets, beating Martyn Richards & Paul Farmer (Studley A) 6-3, 6-2 and then Mark Willmore & Ollie Smith (Studley A) 6-0, 6-1. On the other court Stratford’s stand-in pairing of Richard Monk & Ed Bosley found it tough going before just edging out Willmore & Smith in a Championship Tie-Break third set match 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8). However, they then went down 3-6, 3-6 to Richards & Farmer.
Ardencote Manor had no such difficulties in overwhelming opponents Henley-in-Arden 4-0. Phil Silk & Jack Smith (Ardencote) beat Sam Turner & Matt Williams (Henley) 6-2, 6-1, and then Max Retallack & Marcus Tait (Henley) 6-3, 6-1. Ben Summers & John Brain (Ardencote) beat Retallack & Tait 6-1, 6-1 and beat Turner & Williams 6-2, 7-5.
It was “as you were” for the fourth week in succession for Evesham when they were disappointed to be held to a 2-2 draw by lowly Studley B. Chris Francis & Simon Wall (Evesham) started well for the home side beating Ollie Smith & Dave Douglas (Studley B) 6-1, 6-0 and then Chris McGregor & Steve Hands (Studley B) 6-2, 6-1. Evesham’s second pair were unable to reach these standards losing to McGregor & Hands 5-7, 6-7 and capitulating to Smith & Douglas 1-6, 0-6.
Alcester closed up to the top half of the table with their 4-0 win pushing Littleton to the bottom. Tim Kenneally & Alex Woodbridge (Alcester) beat Jack Phillpot & Simon Blewitt (Littleton) 6-2, 6-1 and beat Chris Elliott & Joe Sinclair (Littleton) 6-1, 6-1. Gareth Price & Sam Allum (Alcester) beat Elliott & Sinclair 6-2, 6-1 and beat Phillpot & Blewitt 6-1, 6-1.
In Division One Moreton-in-Marsh maintain their four point gap at the top on 18 points thanks to a 4-0 away win at fifth placed Snitterfield (8 points). Nearest challengers Pershore and Claverdon both also won 4-0 to post 14 points apiece. Pershore won at home to bottom team Aston Cantlow (1), while Claverdon triumphed away to fourth placed Whitnash (10). Sixth placed Inkberrow on 6 points had no match this week.
The big match in Division Two was between the top two teams HDA Redditch A and Ardencote Manor B. With the HDA Redditch A Team emerging from a close battle as 3-1 victors they went back to the top of the table on 19 points, pushing Ardencote B down to second with 18. Alcester B now with 17 points are snapping at the leaders heels after they impressed with a 4-0 win over fourth placed Stratford B (12). Fifth placed Inkberrow B now on 9 points defeated bottom Shipston A (4 points) 4-0. Finally, FISSC in fifth equal with 9 drew away to seventh placed Chipping Campden A (6).
In Division Three Snitterfield B with 18 points pulled a point clear of Claverdon B at the top after Snitterfield took maximum points from a 4-0 result away to Wildmoor Spa A. Meanwhile Claverdon could only manage a 3-1 victory away to third placed Studley C (15). Fourth placed Henley B (13) managed a 2-2 draw with fifth placed Ilmington (11) because they could only muster one pair and so were docked a point as per the league rules. Chipping Campden B (9 points) in sixth moved away from the relegation zone by beating Alcester C 3-1. The latter have only six points, just two more than bottom placed Wildmoor Spa A.
Division Four changed leaders again as HDA Redditch B reached 20 points after a one-sided 4-0 victory over bottom team Chipping Campden C (2 points). This meant that Claverdon C slid down to second two points behind the leaders following their 2-2 draw with Moreton-in-Marsh B who in turn climb to sixth place with 9 points overtaking Bidford A (8). Littleton B moved up one place to fifth on 11 points after convincingly beating Bidford A 4-0.
Finally, Division Five leaders Warwick extended their lead to two points, reaching 21, thanks to a 4-0 victory over fifth placed Wildmoor Spa B (10). However, the score line belied the match which was extremely close with three rubbers out of four decided by third set Championship tie-breaks. HDA Redditch C stayed in close contention by beating bottom side Shipston B 3-1. Bidford B (12) and Moreton C (11) stayed third and fourth after they drew 2-2. Finally, Evesham in seventh with 8 points moved closer to Inkberrow D in sixth with 9 after Evesham emerged 3-1 winners.