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In Week 12 of the Wildmoor Spa Men's Tennis League, with Stratford-on-Avon already crowned as league champions once again for the fourteenth consecutive occasion, and with a fourteen point lead, they were happy to concede a 2-2 draw with joint second placed Ardencote Manor (28 points). Meanwhile, Alcester (28) pulled up to join Ardencote in second after they disposed of fourth placed Evesham (23) 4-0. Moreton-in-Marsh and Henley-in-Arden, both on 20 points, managed to keep clear of the relegation positions by both winning their matches 3-1. Moreton’s was more important as it was at the expense of Studley (17) who were close on their heels. Henley’s win was more relaxed over bottom placed Claverdon (7).
Stratford pair Chris Marrow and Will Morley-Cotterrell took their opening rubber against Tom Holland & Pete Thomas (Ardencote) 6-1, 6-2, but lost their second to Ben Summers & Jack Smith (Ardencote) on a Championship tie-break 6-3, 1-6, 0-1. The Stratford captain Tim Page returned to partner Callum Bailey, but also lost to Summers & Smith 3-6, 6-2, 0-1. However, they beat Holland & Thomas 6-3, 6-4.
Alcester moved up to joint second with their 4-0 win. Their pair captain Tim Kenneally & Stuart Beach beat Andrew Crowther & Simon Wall (Evesham) 6-4, 2-6, 1-0. They then beat Ray Foster-Morison & Chris Francis (Evesham) 6-3, 6-1. Pete Watson & Tom Watson (Alcester) beat Foster-Morison & Francis 7-5, 6-4, and beat Crowther & Wall 6-0, 7-6.
Moreton-in-Marsh enjoyed a crucial victory over relegation threatened Studley 3-1. Moreton skipper Brian Lomas partnered with James Elliott beat Damian Hampton & Martyn Richards (Studley) 7-6, 6-4, and beat Mark Willmore & Vince Morrisey (Studley) 6-3, 6-4. Greg Stotesbury & Chris Elliott (Moreton) beat Willmore & Morrisey 6-2, 6-2, but lost to Hampton & Richards 4-6, 6-4, 0-1 following another Championship tie-break.
Lastly in the Premier Division, Henley had an important win over bottom team Claverdon. Brett Mackay & Sam Turner (Henley) beat Andy Ashley & James Courier (Claverdon) 6-2, 7-5, and beat Tony Supperstone & Rob Summers (Claverdon) 6-3, 6-0. Meanwhile, Rob West & Tom Griffiths (Henley) beat Supperstone & Summers 6-1, 6-2, but lost to Ashley & Courier 6-7, 6-4, 0-1.
In Division One HDA Redditch with 38 points were confirmed champions when they took maximum points in an easy 4-0 away victory over mid-table Alcester B (24). There are still five teams in the running for the second promotion spot. Leading these are Pershore and Ardencote Manor B who both have 26 points each. Both managed 3-1 victories, Pershore importantly over near rivals Littleton who now have 24 points, and Ardencote even more crucially over Snitterfield who now trail by a single point with 25 points. The final fixture in Division One saw the bottom two teams, who have both now been confirmed as relegated, meet. They are Whitnash (14) who drew 2-2 with Studley B (12).
Chipping Campden A (40) maintained their three point lead at the top of Division Two, with only two weeks of the season to go, by beating bottom and relegated Aston Cantlow (4) 4-0. Inkberrow A (37) stay second after they also recorded a 4-0 win over relegation risks FISSC (13). Stratford B (35) dropped a further point back as they could only manage a 3-1 victory over fifth placed Claverdon B (22). Finally, Snitterfield B (26) consolidated their fourth place when they beat Studley C (10) who are now in real danger of the drop.
The Division Three title race is still very much alive, also between three teams, Henley B (33), Shipston-on-Stour A (32) and Alcester C (31). With Shipston having no match this week Henley B moved a point clear at the top thanks to a 4-0 walkover already relegated Inkberrow C who have been fined and docked points by the league for this offence. Alcester C moved up in third after they battered sixth placed Inkberrow B (12) 4-0. Mid-table sides HDA B Redditch (17) and Claverdon C (13) cancelled each other out in a 2-2 draw.
Pershore B are crowned Division Four champions with an unassailable tally of 41 points after a comfortable 4-0 away win at joint third placed Chipping Campden B (26). Warwick are virtually guaranteed second place and promotion short of losing every one of their rubbers in their last two matches. This is highly unlikely as they overcame the other joint third placed team Moreton-in-Marsh B (26) away, to win 3-1. Mid-table HDA C Redditch (23) confirmed Moreton-in-Marsh C (8) drop to division Five next year when they beat them 4-0. Meanwhile in an attempt to avoid relegation, Wildmoor Spa A (18) did themselves a power of good by beating penultimate team Littleton B (14) 4-0. Littleton need a miracle to avoid relegation.
Finally, in Division Five Bidford-on-Avon A with 40 points following a 4-0 win away to Wildmoor Spa B (23) claimed the title and promotion to Division Four next year. Their sister side Bidford B (32) hope to join them after disposing of Chipping Campden C 4-0. The third team vying for promotion a point further back on 31 points is Evesham B who enjoyed a 4-0 win over fourth placed Warwickshire County Council (25). It is possible that if Ilmington, who pulled out of Division Three and were therefor relegated to Four, do not enter the league next year, all three teams at the top of Division Five may be promoted? One last result saw sixth placed Shipston B (17) beat seventh placed HDA D Redditch (12) 4-0.