THE WILDMOOR Spa Tennis League got underway with the strangest looking table for many years after the opening week.
Newly-promoted Studley A sit on top of the Premier Division after they defeated sister side and also newly-promoted Studley B 4-0. In second place with three points are Henley-in-Arden with more games won than Evesham after both enjoyed 3-1 wins.
Henley’s was over Littleton and Evesham’s a terrific result over champions Stratford. Fourth and fifth are Ardencote and Alcester respectively after they drew 2-2 with each other.
Studley A enjoyed their time in the sun thanks to their expected 4-0 win over comrades Studley B. Damian Gulblicki and Mark Wilmore for the A team beat Chris McGregor and James Fitton (B team) 6-0, 6-0, but had to work harder to beat Ollie Smith and Dave Douglas (B team) 7-6, 6-0.
Martyn Richards and Paul Farmer (A team) beat Smith and Douglas 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (14-12) after a championship tie-break. They then beat McGregor and Fitton 6-3, 6-2.
Henley had a close match against Littleton before overcoming them 3-1. Sam Turner and Oli Didlick (Henley) edged out Chris Elliot and Nick Muclitt (Littleton) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5) after a championship tie-break and then beat Joe Sinclair and Jon Spinks (Littleton) 7-5, 6-2.
Henley captain Max Retallack and Brett McKay beat Sinclair and Spinks 7-5, 6-3, but lost to Elliot and Muclitt in another tie-break 6-4, 4-6, 0-1 (8-10).
The big match of the week was between last year’s Champions Stratford at home to the runners-up Evesham. Callum Bailey and Will Morely-Cotteral (Stratford) were involved in two humdinger rubbers before going down only after championship tie-breaks in both.
Chris Francis and Andy Crowther (Evesham) squeezed past them 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9) and then Simon Wall and Jack Crossley (Evesham) edged out the Stratford pair 7-6, 3-6, 1-0 (10-5).
Stratford captain Tim Page with new partner Ben Keighly managed a point for their side by beating Wall and Crossley 6-3, 6-2, but lost to Francis and Crowther 5-7, 1-6.
In the final Premier Division match Ardencote Manor drew 2-2 with Alcester. Mark Cook and Richard Lucas (Ardencote) lost to Alex Woodbridge and Stuart Beach (Alcester) 2-6, 3-6, but beat Tom Edmunds and Barney Williams (Alcester) 6-0, 6-4.
Myles Wilcox-Smith and Ben Summers (Ardencote) beat Edmunds and Williams 6-1, 6-1, but lost to Woodbridge and Beach 4-6, 6-1, 0-1 (10-12) in an extremely close encounter.
In Division One Claverdon are top after a 4-0 victory over Inkberrow and Moreton-in-Marsh are second after a 3-1 win over Aston Cantlow. Finally, Snitterfield and Pershore shared the honours in a 2-2 draw. Whitnash had no match this week.
Division Two saw four teams equal top after 3-1 wins. Ardencote Manor B enjoyed a good 3-1 away victory over Alcester B, while HDA B Redditch also had a 3-1 win at Stratford B.
Home wins went to Shipston-on-Stour A who beat Chipping Campden A 3-1 and also Inkberrow B who beat FISSC of Stratford 3-1.
Division Three results saw Claverdon B top after a 4-0 away win over Wildmoor Spa A. Alcester C and Ilmington had 3-1 home victories over Henley B and Campden B respectively, while Studley C hosted Snitterfield B in a 2-2 draw.
Division Four is topped by HDA B Redditch after their 4-0 home win over Inkberrow C and Claverdon C who defeated Littleton B 4-0 away from home.
Next come Bidford A and Pershore B who won 3-1 at home to Moreton B and at Campden C respectively.
In Division Five new club Warwick look very imposing after their emphatic 4-0 victory over Evesham B. HDA C Redditch beat hosts Bidford B 3-1, while Moreton-in-Marsh C overcame visitors Shipston B 3-1.
Inkberrow D drew 2-2 with Wildmoor Spa B.