WITH four rounds of fixtures remaining, Premier Division leaders and title favourites Alcester A remain firmly on course for championship glory in the Wildmoor Summer Tennis League after enjoying a 3-1 victory over Evesham.
Second-placed Pershore (31) travelled to Chipping Campden A (21) where they claimed a 3-1 win. Third-placed Stratford (27) entertained relegation-threatened Alcester B (9) and chalked up a 4-0 victory, whilst fourth-placed Littleton (23) overcame bottom side Henley-in-Arden (3) 3-1.
Alcester A began slowly, losing their opening rubber as Sam Thruston-Nend and Barney Williams (Alcester A) lost to Andrew Crowther and Sam Turner (Evesham) 3-6, 3-6. They then bounced back to beat Paul Everatt and Simon Wall 6-1, 6-1.
On the other court, Tom Watson and Charlie Watson beat Everatt and Wall 6-1, 6-1, before just overcoming Crowther and Turner 6-3, 4-6, 1-0.
Pershore travelled to Chipping Campden and picked up a 3-1 win in a close match. Mike Langston and Matt Sime (Pershore) beat Geoff Vaughan and Tobias Kemp 6-3, 6-1 and beat George Richards and Tom Partridge 6-3, 6-3.
Charlie Crisp and Jon Guppy lost out to Richards and Partridge in a championship tie-break 7-6, 3-6, 0-1, but then squeezed past Vaughan and Kemp in a second tie-breaker 7-5, 4-6, 1-0.
Reigning champions Stratford returned to form to take maximum points off Alcester B. Alaister Orchard and Max Hurtubise (Stratford) beat Matt Fielding and Duncan Robinson 6-1, 6-1 and beat Pete Watson and Gareth Price 6-4, 6-2.
Oliver Plaskett and George Adams beat Watson and Price 6-3, 6-1 and defeated Fielding and Robinson 6-1, 6-2.
Littleton recorded a 3-1 win over Henley, but the match proved much closer than the scoreline suggests as three of the four rubbers went to championship tie-breaks. Sean and Ali Witheford (Littleton) overcame Tom Griffiths and Tom West 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 and then Oli Didlick and Carrick Waldron 4-6, 6-3, 1-0.
Craig Witheford and Richard Herborn beat Didlick and Waldron 6-4, 6-3, but lost to Griffiths and West 6-2, 3-6, 0-1.
In Division One leaders Redditch (27) stayed top thanks to a 3-1 win over third-placed Moreton-in-Marsh (19). However, Ardencote Manor (27) join them at the top after they disposed of Shipston (4) by a 4-0 scoreline, leaving the latter in real danger of the drop.
Above Shipston, Alcester C (10) pulled away from the relegation zone with an invaluable 3-1 win over mid-table Claverdon (12).
Inkberrow A (29), despite staying top of Division Two, lost ground after being held to a 2-2 draw at Warwick (19). Second-placed Pershore B (28) only trail Inkberrow by a point after defeating Claverdon B (12) 3-1.
Third-placed Ardencote B (26) made up two points on the leaders with a 4-0 win over Campden B (18) and the shock of the week saw bottom team Henley B (9) turn over fourth-placed Snitterfield (19) with a close but deserved 3-1 victory.
In Division Three Bidford A (27) retained top plot but only with a 2-2 draw against mid-table Inkberrow B (18). Shipston B (26) kept the pressure on Bidford by claiming maximum points, dominating Evesham B (13) in a 4-0 victory.
Redditch B (25) also closed up courtesy of a resounding 4-0 result over Studley B (22). The bottom two teams met, which produced a 3-1 win for Campden C (13) over Inkberrow C (11).
Division Four leaders remain Stratford C (40) after another comfortable 4-0 victory, this time over fifth-placed Moreton-in-Marsh B (15).
Second-placed Wildmoor A (23) had their match against Bidford B (9) postponed by rain. Redditch C (21) are third but lost ground after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Warwickshire County Council (15), who moved away from relegation danger and up to joint fifth.
Aston Cantlow (18) consolidated fourth place with a 3-1 win over basement team Tysoe (7).
In Division Five two matches were rained off as leaders Pershore (36) saw their match away to Littleton B (15) postponed, as did third-placed Claverdon C (21) against fourth-placed Wildmoor C.
Henley C (15) climbed away from the bottom two with a 3-1 victory at Moreton-in-Marsh C and Wildmoor C (20) overpowered Moreton C (9) 4-0.
