Leaders take advantage as rivals drop points (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Leaders take advantage as rivals drop points

Prudden Road Surfacing South Warwickshire Tennis League

AFTER being pegged back by Inkberrow, Stratford pulled away again to open up an eight-point lead after a 3-1 win over Moreton-in-Marsh.

Inkberrow were held to a 2-2 draw by Stratford B, while Evesham overtook the latter to reclaim fourth spot after they defeated Littleton 4-0.

Stratford had an unsure start as Graham Marsh and Chris Marrow lost the opening rubber to Will Hale and Gary Jackson 6-1, 6-1.

However, they came back after an epic struggle to beat Brian Lomas and Owain Thomas 7-5, 7-6. Stratford skipper Tim Page and partner Simon West found little difficulty defeating first Lomas and Thomas 6-2, 6-3 and then Hale and Jackson 7-6, 6-3.

Inkberrow let themselves down when they could only field one pair and so started their match 2-0 down in rubbers.

Pete Watson and Tim Price saved them from a disastrous result by overcoming Lawrence Dingley and Martin Rees 6-1, 6-4 and Mark Parsons and Callum Bailey 6-3, 6-2.

The final top flight fixture saw an Evesham grind out an excellent 4-0 victory over Littleton who now find themselves in real relegation trouble.

Chris Francis and Simon Wall defeated Ian Smith and Chris Elliott 6-4, 6-4 and Richard Herborne and Elliott Barrett by the same score.

Andrew Crowther and Julian Heath got the better of Herborne and Barrett 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 and Smith and Elliott 6-3, 6-4.

Chipping Campden now lead Division One by six points after Henley had to call their match off against Ardencote due to court problems.

Campden enjoyed a 3-1 win over Claverdon while Whitnash continued their recent run of form to move above Henley into second after they defeated Bidford 3-1.

FISSC moved up two places and out of the relegation zone when they beat bottom of the table Tanworth-in-Arden 3-1.

Division Two leaders Alcester were held to a 2-2 draw by HDA and Studley also dropped pints after sharing the honours with Alcester B.

Pershore held on to third place after an emphatic 4-0 victory over Littleton B, while bottom side Aston Cantlow threw up the week's surprise as they recorded their first win of the season 3-1 against Stratford C.

Snitterfield stay clear at the top of Division Three after another thrillingly close match with FISSC B who they edged out 3-1.

Claverdon B nudged a point closer to the top after they proved too strong for Chipping Campden B 4-0, while Ilmington moved further clear of relegation after a 3-1 win over Studley B.

Inkberrow C extended their lead in the fourth division to five points after thrashing Henley B 4-0. Moreton B consolidated second place after a good win over Bidford B, while Littleton C lifted themselves away from the bottom of the table with a valuable 3-1 win against Claverdon C.

Action in Division Five saw the clash of the top two sides as table topping Shipston B met Inkberrow D. The result meant that Shipston are the first team to be crowned champions as the match proved an anti-climax as the leaders cruised past their opponents 4-0.

Third-placed Alcester C missed the opportunity to overtake Inkberrow as they were held to a 2-2 draw by HDA B.

Bottom of the pile Chipping Campden C held mid-table Bidford C to a 2-2 draw.