EVESHAM dropped from joint top to fifth in the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League after a 4-0 defeat at reigning champions Stratford-upon-Avon.
Stratford took over at the summit as Callum Bailey and Cameron Malik dropped only three games, beating Simon Wall and Paul Everatt 6-1, 6-1 and John Clarke and Chris Francis 6-0, 6-1.
Captain Tim Page and Simon West defeated Clarke and Francis 6-4, 6-1 and Wall and Everatt 6-1, 6-4. Alcester jumped to second with a 4-0 win over Inkberrow as captain Tim Kenneally and Stuart Beach saw off Nick Brooks and Matt Saunders 6-3, 6-2, and Gordon Keir and Chris Dixon 6-0, 6-0.
Oliver Allerman and Duncan Robinson defeated Keir and Dixon 6-0, 6-0 and Brooks and Saunders 7-6, 6-2.
Henley-in-Arden thrashed Littleton 4-0 despite Andy Reynolds and Dave Rudge only going down to Brett Mackay and Sam Turner 6-2, 6-7, 1-0 (10-8).
Reynolds and Rudge then lost to Max Retallack and Neil Supperstone in another close rubber 4-6, 6-7.
Littleton’s second pair Chris Elliott and Jack Phillpott fell to Retallack and Supperstone 7-5, 6-4 and Mackay and Turner 6-0, 6-3.
The new Division One leaders on six points are Chipping Campden thanks to a 4-0 win over Aston Cantlow.
Studley 'B' and Shipston-on-Stour drew 2-2 as did Pershore and Snitterfield.
In Division Two, there was a clash between joint leaders Bidford-on-Avon and Moreton-in-Marsh.
Their 2-2 draw means Moreton head the table with five points on sets difference.
The first fixtures of the Division Three season began a week after the others as only six teams were competing.
Ilmington led the way following a 4-0 victory over Chipping Campden 'B'. Division Four saw Littleton 'B' move up to second spot with a 3-1 win over Chipping Campden 'C'. In Division Five, Inkberrow 'C' established a lead in the table on eight points following a 4-0 defeat of HDA 'B' of Redditch.
Moreton-in-Marsh 'B' are second after they beat Inkberrow 'D' 3-1.
Pershore and Wildmoor Spa 'B', who have both only played one match, are joint third.
Wildmoor 'B' enjoyed a convincing 4-0 win over Bidford 'B', who are yet to pick up a point and remain bottom of the league.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here