Tennis
Rain continues to hamper proceedings

WEEK nine of the South Warwickshire Summer Tennis League season saw many matches fall foul of the weather, with all the scheduled Division Four matches rained off.

The Premier Division fixtures fared better, with all being completed. Champions Stratford still dominate the top of the division but were held to a 2-2 draw at home by an ever-improving Evesham side.

Shipston-on-Stour moved up from fourth place to second after they surprisingly eased past previously second placed Alcester with a comfortable 4-0 win over them.

Alcester dropped to third whilst Claverdon, without a match, dropped to fourth. Stratford B swapped places with Henley-in-Arden and go fifth after they beat them 3-1.

In Division One Ardencote Manor closed up behind second placed Bidford-on-Avon by moving up to third place and overtaking Littleton when Ardencote beat Bidford 3-1.

Leaders Chipping Campden had no match and the remainder of the scheduled fixtures were rained off.

There was, however, a rearranged previously rained off match between Whitnash and Inkberrow which resulted in a 2-2 draw and no change to the table.

Division Two saw no change at the top as all these teams’ matches were rained off. Alcester B versus Littleton B was the only scheduled match to survive and saw a 4-0 victory for Alcester B.

This result, together with a previously weather-affected fixture they also played the same week when they drew 2-2 with sixth placed Claverdon B, meant Alcester B climbed to equal fourth in the table.

Studley B reclaimed their place and lead by five points at the top of Division Three after they enjoyed a 4-0 win over bottom placed Henley B and then managed a 3-1 victory over FISSC of Stratford in a rearranged match from the week before. All other Division Three matches were washed out.

In Division Four the only match was a rearranged game in which HDA Redditch beat Moreton-in-Marsh 4-0. This moved HDA up a place to third in the table but all other matches were postponed due to rain.

In Division Five the top three - leaders Ardencote Manor B, HDA B Redditch and Claverdon C - pulled away at the top with 27, 22 and 21 points respectively from fourth placed Studley C with 14.

Ardencote B overcame fourth placed Studley B 4-0 while HDA B beat Moreton B 4-0.

Claverdon C were awarded a 4-0 walkover against Wildmoor B when the latter failed to field a side in a rearranged match. Wildmoor B were fined and deducted two points.

Henley C moved up to fifth position after they beat Bidford-on-Avon B 3-1.

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