EVESHAM ‘A’ lost more ground in the Wildmoor Spa Men’s Tennis League Premier Division title race after a third successive 2-2 draw.

They were held by joint-fifth Alcester ‘A’ after Chris Francis and Ray Foster-Morison lost to Stewart Beach and Gareth Price 6-4, 6-4 and to Tim Kenneally and Alex Woodbridge 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (13-11).

Evesham’s Andy Crowther and Jack Crossley made heavy weather of beating Kenneally and Woodbridge 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8) but saw off Beach and Price 6-4, 6-1.

Stratford ‘A’ opened up a three-point lead at the top following a 3-1 win over fourth-placed Ardencote Manor ‘A’.

The bottom two, Littletons ‘A’ and Studley ‘B’, shared the honours in a 2-2 draw.

Littletons’ Dave Rudge and Sean Witheford beat Chris McGregor and James Fitton 6-3, 6-3 and Dave Douglas and Ollie Smith 6-2, 6-2.

Andrew Reynolds and Simon Blewitt lost to Douglas and Smith 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-8) and to McGregor and Fitton 6-4, 6-3.

Moreton-in-Marsh kept a four-point lead at the top of Division One when second-placed Claverdon dropped to fourth after losing 3-1 to Pershore ‘A’, who moved up to equal second.

Sixth-placed Inkberrow drew 2-2 with Snitterfield.

Joint-bottom team Chipping Campden ‘A’ lost 4-0 to high-flying HDA Redditch ‘A’ in Division Two, Shipston-on-Stour ‘A’ went down 3-1 to Stratford ‘B’ and Inkberrow ‘B’ fell 4-0 to Alcester ‘B’.

Division Three saw Claverdon ‘B’ held 2-2 by fifth-placed Ilmington and Chipping Campden ‘B’ beat fellow strugglers Wildmoor Spa ‘A’ 3-1.

In Division Four, Claverdon ‘C’ climbed back to share top spot following a 4-0 victory over bottom team Chipping Campden ‘C’. They join HDA Redditch ‘B’, who beat Moreton-in-Marsh ‘B’ 3-1, and Pershore ‘B’ retained third place thanks to a 3-1 home win over Littletons ‘B’. Inkberrow ‘C’ are level on points with Pershore after a 4-0 thumping of Bidford-on-Avon ‘A’.

Division Five leaders Warwick managed only a 3-1 win over fifth-placed Moreton-in-Marsh ‘C’, while second-placed HDA Redditch ‘C’ recorded a 4-0 victory over Inkberrow ‘D’.

Equal third-placed teams Wildmoor ‘B’ and Bidford-on-Avon ‘B’ drew 2-2 as did the bottom two sides Evesham ‘B’ and Shipston-on-Stour ‘B’.