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.