Draws help leaders establish healthy cushion (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Draws help leaders establish healthy cushion

THE third week of action in the Prudden Road Surfacing League saw reigning champions Stratford B draw away from the pack at the top of the Premier Division after blasting their own C team 4-0.

Closest challengers Chipping Campden and Inkberrow were both held to draws by Littleton and Claverdon respectively, while last year's runners-up Studley collected their first win of the season after a 3-1 defeat of Henley.

The leaders won all the rubbers in straight sets with Callum Bailey and Rob Slatter beating Felix Adler and Tom Innes 6-1, 6-3 and Richard Monk and Dennis Bailey 6-2, 6-1.

Tim Page and Simon West overcame Monk and Bailey 6-1, 6-3 and Adler & Innes 6-3, 6-2.

Chipping Campden are still joint second despite being held to a draw by an improving Littleton.

Without captain Ken Dawson, Mark Adams partnered Mark Evans and the Campden duo just triumphed in their rubbers 7-5, 6-4 over Sean Witheford and Chris Elliott.

They then got the better of Ian Smith and Dave Rudge 6-7, 6-3, 7-6.

Campden's second pair of Mark Kirkbride and Rolf Wilson, however, lost to Smith and Rudge 4-6, 2-6 and then slumped 6-2, 6-2 to Witheford and Elliott.

Other scores - Inkberrow 2, Claverdon 2: Adam Hill & Graeme Rankin (Inkberrow) bt Pieter Van-Hengel & James Courier 6-3, 7-6 & Nigel Bacon & Andy Williams 6-3, 6-2. Tom Kenneally & Chris Baker lost 4-6, 3-6 to Bacon & Williams & 0-6, 7-6, 4-6 to Van-Hengel & Courier.

The newly formed Division Four saw initial action last week when five new teams took to the court.

Snitterfield and Ullenhall opened with 3-1 victories while Ardencote and Whitnash shared the honours.

Results - Snitterfield 3, Harbury 1: Steve Righton & Sam Righton bt Andrew Rendall & Richard Harding 6-1, 6-3 & Colin Mercer & Dave Lauder 6-1,6-1. Julian Straker & Paul Albrecht bt Mercer & Lauder 6-4, 6-4 & lost to Rendall & Harding 3-6, 3-6.

Ullenhall 3, Claverdon C 1: Stuart Wilson & Warren Heath lost to Paul Hammond & Dave Markham 2-6, 2-6 & bt Simon Skilling & Gary Wells 6-7, 6-4, 6-1. Phil Sabin & Peter Cornford bt Skilling & Wells 7-6, 6-3 & Hammond & Markham 7-5, 6-1.

Ardencote 2, Whitnash 2: Colin Witherall & Jackson lost to Straub & Baden 0-6, 1-6 & bt Bailey & Goodman 6-4, 4-6, 6-0. Rayner & Hamilton bt Bailey & Goodman 6-3, 6-2 & lost to Straub & Baden 3-6, 3-6.

Moreton-in-Marsh recorded a third straight win in the third division.

The leaders' latest victims were closest rivals Studley B who lost out 3-1.

Littletons C gave warning of their intentions with a 4-0 defeat of Shipston B, while Campden B overcame Henley B by the same score.