EVESHAM overwhelmed basement boys Inkberrow 4-0 in week 12 of the Wildmoor Spa Men’s Tennis League.
They remained in second place one point ahead of Ardencote Manor, who beat Henley-in-Arden 4-0, while champions Stratford defeated mid-table Alcester 3-1.
Littletons kept up a two-point lead over relegation-threatened Claverdon after a 2-2 draw.
Evesham’s Simon Wall and Paul Everatt beat Inkberrow’s Nick Brookes and Gordon Keir 6-3, 6-2 and Jim Richardson and Chris Dixon 7-6, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5).
Ray Foster-Morison and Chris Francis defeated Richardson and Dixon 6-3, 6-4 and Brookes and Keir 6-3, 6-3.
Claverdon’s Pete Thomas and James Courier lost their opening clash 6-4, 6-1 to Littletons’ Sean Witheford and Dave Rudge but beat Chris Elliott and Richard Herborne 7-5, 6-4.
Captain Richard Butler and Andy Ashley defeated Elliott and Herborne 6-4, 6-4 but went down to Witheford and Rudge 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-7) in a close encounter.
Bottom-of-the-table Shipston-on-Stour held leaders Studley ‘A’ 2-2 in a major Division One surprise.
The other fixture was a more predictable draw between Snitterfield and Aston Cantlow. Second-placed Pershore were without a game.
In Division Two, Whitnash again made a challenge for promotion with a 3-1 victory over Bidford-on-Avon ‘A’, who are just one point above the relegation zone.
They are only three points behind leaders Moreton-in-Marsh ‘A’, who did not play.
The second Division Three promotion place is still being claimed by Inkberrow ‘B’ despite a 2-2 draw with likely relegation candidates Chipping Campden ‘B’.
Fourth-placed Wildmoor Spa ‘B’ claimed an important victory over the team just below them in Ilmington, who are being dragged into a relegation battle.
In Division Four, high-flying Studley ‘C’ saw off Littleton ‘B’ 3-1 in a rearranged match.
Chipping Campden ‘C’ had no fixture but results around them confirmed their relegation.
Littleton’s home draw with mid-table Claverdon was little consolation as they will drop too.
Pershore ‘B’, with a 4-0 win over third-placed Inkberrow ‘C’, climbed back to the top of Division Five by a solitary point from HDA ‘B’ .
Both, however, are almost assured of promotion as the gap from second to third spot is now eight points.
Fourth-placed Moreton ‘B’ drew 2-2 with Wildmoor Spa ‘B’ in sixth, while Bidford ‘B’ triumphed 3-1 over bottom side Inkberrow ‘D’.
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