Fifth win eludes leaders as injury a hindrance

2:30pm Wednesday 4th June 2008

Prudden Road Surfacing Summer Tennis League

CHAMPIONS for the past five years, Stratford-on-Avon opened up a five-point gap at the top of the Premier Division table.

They did this despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Evesham who prevented their opponents recording a fifth successive win.

Evesham did well to record their third draw of the season although they were helped by the fact that Stratford's James Smith, partnering Rob Slatter, began the match carrying an injury which restricted his play and as a result they went down 6-1, 6-3 to Simon Wall and Chris Francis.

The injury then forced Smith to retire from the second round of rubbers defa-ulting to Julian Heath and Anatoli Phoarsa.

Battle It was left to the Stratford captain Tim Page and Simon West to battle through for a draw as they beat Heath and Phoarsa 6-2, 6-4 and then just edged past Wall and Francis 5-7, 7-6, 6-4.

Meanwhile, Littleton and Inkberrow failed to gain on the leaders when they both drew.

Littleton were surprisingly held by bottom of the table Inkberrow B, while the A team drew with Moreton-in-Marsh.

Littleton were taken unawares by the strong pairing of Ashley Baldwin and Chris Baker whose performance belied their position at the foot of the table.

The Inkberrow pair won both their rubbers beating Elliott Barrett and Zak Wilson 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 and Sean Witheford and Chris Elliott 6-4, 6-4.

Second pair Tim Kenneally and Craig Weedon were unable to emulate this performance and went down to Witheford and Elliott 6-1, 6-4 and Barrett and Wilson 6-2, 6-4.

Inkberrow A similarly found themselves under attack, although less of a surprise, from Moreton but their determination to force a 2-2 draw meant that all three top flight fixtures finished all-square.

Division One leaders Chipping Campden stayed top after they defeated Whitnash 3-1.

Ardencote dropped to third after being soundly beaten 4-0 by FISSC - a result that meant Bidford dropped a place despite picking up points in a 2-2 draw with Claverdon.

Alcester stay at the top of Division Two where they enjoy a four-point lead thanks to their 4-0 drubbing of Aston Cantlow.

However, Studley made up four points on the leaders after playing some rain delayed matches and have moved into second place.

Third-placed Pershore gained a valuable 4-0 win over Stratford C while Alce-ster B hung on to fourth position after sharing a 2-2 draw with Littleton B.

Inkberrow C lead Division Four by three points after completing a 3-1 win over Littleton C.

Bidford B kept in contention but dropped a further point behind after being held 2-2 by mid-table Claverdon C.

The new leaders of Division Five are Shipston B who dominated Chipping Campden C to record a 4-0 success.

Previous leaders Inkberrow D are a point adrift after they dropped two points in their match with HDA B of Redditch.

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