Wildmoor Spa Tennis Men’s League – Week 5

Week 5 of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League and Stratford-on-Avon (17) increased their lead by a point thanks to a good 3-1 win over third placed Ardencote Manor (10).  Alcester (14) stay second, but were held to a 2-2 draw at Home by Evesham (10) who as a result moved up to equal third place.  Henley-in-Arden (10) also moved up to equal third after beating bottom side Claverdon (6) with a 3-1 score line.  Finally, Moreton-in-Marsh (8) and Studley (7) stayed in sixth and seventh place respectively following their 2-2 draw.

Stratford top pair, team captain Tim Page & Callum Bailey, won in straight sets beating John Brain & Pete Thomas (Ardencote) 6-0, 6-2, and beating Ben Summers & John Turner (Ardencote) 6-1, 6-3.  Stratford’s second pairing of Ed Bosley & Richard Monk had a real fight in both rubbers.  First they went down to Summers and Turner 1-6, 3-6, and then they were taken to a Championship tie-break by Brain & Thomas before emerging victors by 7-6, 4-6, 1-0.

Alcester lost ground as they were held to a draw by Evesham.  It was the Evesham pair Andrew Crowther & Chris Francis who did the damage to Alcester as they beat Stuart Beach & Gareth Price (Alcester) 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 and beat Tim Kenneally & Alex Woodbridge 6-1, 6-4.  The second Evesham duo of Julian Heath & Simon Wall went down 6-7, 2-6 to Kenneally & Woodbridge and lost 2-6, 2-6 to Beach & Price.  

Henley moved up to third thanks to their 3-1 win.  Sam Turner & Brett Mackay (Henley) beat Richard Butler & Carsten Astheimer (Claverdon) 6-7, 6-2, 1-0 and beat Andy Ashley & James Courier (Claverdon) 6-4, 6-4.  Tom Griffiths & Marcus Tate (Henley) lost to Ashley & Courier 5-7, 3-6, but beat Butler & Astheimer 6-3, 6-7, 1-0.

In the final Premier Division match, Studley, despite home advantage, could not better Moreton-in-Marsh as they drew 2-2.  Gary Jackson & James Elliott claimed tthe points for Moreton when they beat Damian Hampton & Mark Willmore (Studley) 3-6, 6-1, 1-0, and beat Martyn Richards & Paul Farmer (Studley) 6-1, 6-4.  Brian Lomas & Chris Elliott (Moreton) lost to Richards & Farmer 2-6, 6-7, and lost 4-6, 1-6 to Hampton & Willmore. 

HDA Redditch (17 points) opened up a six point gap at the top of Division One after a straight sets 4-0 win over bottom placed Alcester B (7).  Ardencote Manor B (11) share second spot with Littleton (11) after both played two matches in the week.  Ardencote first drew 2-2 with fourth placed Snitterfield (10) and then drew again 2-2 this time with Littleton.  Littleton then managed to beat Pershore (7) 3-1 to move up equal with Ardencote B.  Shock of the week saw Studley B (8) lift off the bottom of the table after beating Whitnash (9) who slid down three places to fifth with that result.

Division Two saw only three fixtures as Inkberrow A (10) and FISSC (9), who now lay second and fourth, slipped down the table after their match was rained off and postponed.  The leaders remain Stratford B with 18 points, four clear of second placed Chipping Campden A (14).  Stratford beat lowly Studley C (4) 4-0, while Campden also beat rock bottom Aston Cantlow, who are still without a point, by the same 4-0 score.  Snitterfield B (9) moved up to fourth equal thanks to their 4-0 result over sixth placed Claverdon B (8).

A change of leader at the top of Division Three with Henley-in-Arden B team taking over with 17 points thanks to a 4-0 victory over bottom side Inkberrow C (3).  The team deposed and dropping to second were Shipston-on-Stour A (16) who were held to a 2-2 draw at home by fourth placed Ilmington (11).   Alcester C (13) are third following their 4-0 thumping of fifth placed Inkberrow B (8) at Inkberrow.  Just off the bottom of the table Claverdon C (6) and HDA B Redditch (6) battled to a 2-2 draw and honours even.

Division Four is still dominated by Pershore B with 17 points after they beat fourth placed Chipping Campden B (10) 3-1.  Warwick (14) held on to second spot keeping third placed Moreton B (13) at bay, when they met and shared the honours in a 2-2 draw.  HDA C Redditch (9) moved up a place to fifth following a 4-0 drubbing of sixth equal Moreton-in-Marsh C (6).  Wildmoor Spa A (6) moved off the bottom of the table to joint sixth thanks to a decisive 4-0 win over bottom side Littleton B (5).    

Finally, in Division Five Bidford-on-Avon A (15) stay top following their 4-0 win over joint second placed Wildmoor Spa B (10).  Evesham B (10) moved up two places to joint second after they enjoyed an excellent 3-1 victory over joint fifth Warwickshire County Council (7)  3-1.  HDA D Redditch (9) move up to fourth due to their 3-1 win over sixth placed Shipston-on-Stour B (7).  Lastly Bidford B (8) were pushed down to fifth place when their match against bottom club Chipping Campden C (2) was postponed by rain. 

Wildmoor Spa Tennis League – 2016-11

By Corin Bishop