MORETON-in-Marsh are battling to avoid relegation from The Wildmoor Spa Men’s Tennis League Premier Division after a 3-1 home defeat to Henley-in-Arden.

There was also disappointment for Evesham, who slipped to fifth place after a 3-1 loss to HDA Redditch.

Henley overcame Moreton in a match which went to two championship tie-break finishes.

Things started badly for Henley as their opening pair, Oli Didlick and Brett Mackay lost their first rubber 1-6, 0-6, against James Elliott and Gary Jackson (Moreton), before rallying to claim their second rubber against Brian Lomas and Chris Elliott (Moreton) 7-6, 3-6, 1-0.

Tom Griffiths and Matt Williams (Henley) beat Lomas and Elliott 6-3, 6-3 and beat Elliott and Jackson 6-3, 3-6, 1-0.

Evesham lost out in a close encounter with HDA Redditch. Tomas Cop and Tim Bradley (HDA) edged out Andrew Crowther and Simon Wall (Evesham) 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 after a marathon tie-break, before beating Julian Heath and Ray Foster-Morison (Evesham) 6-2, 6-2.

Matt Gill and Lubo Smoliar (HDA) just squeezed home 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 against Heath and Foster-Morison, before losing to Crowther & Wall 3-6, 2-6. Division One leaders Chipping Campden moved further clear at the top after a 4-0 success at Ardencote B.

Second-placed Littleton enjoyed a 2-2 draw against third-placed Studley.

Littleton remain second with 21 points, while Studley A moved up to joint second with Pershore on 20 points. Pershore maintained their title challenge thanks to a 4-0 victory over struggling Claverdon.

FISSC had a 4-0 walkover Shipston who failed to field a team and have been fined and had two points deducted for the offence. HDA B of Redditch and Chipping Campden B are still battling for the top place in Division Three. HDA kept their one-point advantage with a 4-0 success over Aston Cantlow, while Campden defeated Cantlow 4-0 in a re-arranged match.

Third-placed Inkberrow B crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Pershore B.

Evesham B are third in Division Four after crashing to a 3-1 defeat at fifth-placed Wildmoor Spa A. Moreton-in-Marsh B defeated Moreton C, but both remain bottom.