THE BIG match in week two of the Wildmoor Spa Tennis League saw Stratford take on Evesham and a 4-0 victory for reigning champions Stratford sent them top of the early Premier Division table.
Evesham, the previous week’s joint leaders, drop to fifth with this result, while the other joint leaders last week Ardencote Manor drop to third after they and Claverdon had no fixture.
The latter is in fourth position, but Alcester jump to second after they beat Inkberrow 4-0. Henley-in-Arden beat Littleton 4-0.
Stratford surged to the top by defeating Evesham in straight sets, giving them a total of eight points. Their top duo of Callum Bailey and Cameron Malik dropped only three games all night in beating Simon Wall and Paul Everatt 6-1, 6-1 and then John Clarke and Chris Francis 6-0, 6-1.
Meanwhile, on the other court, Stratford captain Tim Page together with Simon West beat Clarke and Francis 6-4, 6-1 and beat Wall and Everatt 6-1, 6-4.
Alcester showed their intent with a solid 4-0 victory over Inkberrow. Their captain Tim Kenneally and partner Stuart Beach beat Nick Brooks and Matt Saunders 6-3, 6-2 and then beat Gordon Keir and Chris Dixon 6-0, 6-0.
Oliver Allerman and Duncan Robinson (Alcester) also beat Keir and Dixon 6-0, 6-0 and then edged out Brooks and Saunders 7-6, 6-2.
In the final Premier match Henley gained their first points of the season with a 4-0 victory over Littleton. Andy Reynolds and Dave Rudge for home side Littleton did their best to deny opponents Brett Mackay and Sam Turner before going down 2-6, 7-6, 0-1 (8-10) in a close Championship Tie-Break. They then lost to Max Retallack and Neil Supperstone in another close rubber 4-6, 6-7.
Littleton’s second pair Chris Elliott and Jack Philpott went down fighting to Retallack and Supperstone 5-7, 4-6, but lost to Mackay and Turner 0-6, 3-6.
Division One’s new leaders on six points are Chipping Campden thanks to their 4-0 win over Aston Cantlow. Studley A had no fixture but stay second and are joined on four points by sister side Studley B and Shipston-on-Stour who drew with each other 2-2.
Pershore and Snitterfield joined Cantlow on two points after they also drew 2-2.
In Division Two there was a clash between the joint leaders Bidford-on-Avon and Moreton-in-Marsh and the 2-2 result meant Moreton now head the table with five points on sets difference.
Bidford are second on the same points and Whitnash are third with three points the same as Stratford B, but again only on sets difference.
Alcester B and Claverdon B anchor the division after their match was postponed due to rain and Whitnash had a free week.
The first fixtures of the season began in Division Three a week after all the others as there are only six teams competing and Ilmington lead the way following a 4-0 victory over Chipping Campden B.
FISSC drew 2-2 at home to Wildmoor Spa but unfortunately the match between Inkberrow B and Ardencote B was postponed due to rain.
Division Four saw Littleton B move up to second spot with a 3-1 win over Chipping Campden C. However, Henley B go to the top of the table a point clear with six points thanks to their 4-0 victory over Studley C.
Claverdon C stay third with four points despite having no match. Snitterfield B join them in joint third place after they drew 2-2 with Alcester C, who got off the mark with this result.
Lastly on to Division Five where 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 lay second with seven points after they beat Inkberrow D 3-1. Pershore and Wildmoor Spa B, both of whom have only played one match, lay joint third on four points, with Pershore having had no match.
Wildmoor B enjoyed a convincing 4-0 result over Bidford B who are yet to pick up a point and stay bottom of the league.