STUDLEY's hopes of lifting the Division One title took another bashing as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat at home to a Shipston side are now tied in second place.

Dave Innes and Gary Jackson produced the team's only win, romping to a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Shipston's Ed Bosley and Barry Tugwood.

But the pair lost their other rubber 6-4, 5-7, 0-6 to Adam Moran and Toby Kemp while Mike Stanton and Chris McGregor suffered back-to-back straight set defeats.

That result means that leaders Stratford have opened up a 13-point lead at the halfway stage following their 4-0 thrashing of Claverdon.

In the bottom half of the table Henley and Inkberrow enjoyed a hard fought match before sharing the honours 2-2 as did FISSC and Littleton.

The following week's Premier Division fixtures saw Stratford take another 4-0 win over a weakened Henley side.

Meanwhile Shipston matched this with a 4-0 victory over Claverdon to stay in the title race with Studley, who redeemed themselves by beating FISSC 3-1.

Inkberrow and Littleton again shared points as they drew 2-2.

In Division Two Inkberrow maintained their place at the top with a 4-0 victory over HDA Redditch and a 3-1 win over Alcester. HDA recovered to beat Studley B 3-1 and draw 2-2 with Alcester in a rain re-arranged match.

Bidford B remain rooted to the foot of Division Three but Alcester B still top Division Four after a hectic run of four matches in two weeks saw them beat Studley C, Henley B and Moreton B.

The third round of the monthly pool matches have been played in the Junior Tennis Cup and clear leaders are emerging from the four groups.

Bidford remain unbeaten in Pool A where brothers George and Harry Naylor saw off hosts Snitterfield 6-1, before going on to defeat Stratford A 6-3 and then Stratford B 6-4.

In Pool B, hosted by Claverdon, Studley regained the top spot from Henley by winning all three of their matches.

Jack Allum and Sam Hillpert-Smith opened with a 6-2 victory over Claverdon, followed this with a 6-1 win over Henley and then completed a clean sweep with another 6-1 result over Tanworth.

And Alcester brothers Michael and Arthur Bennett swept all before them in Pool D as the disposed of hosts Inkberrow A 6-0, Inkberrow B 6-0 and Pershore 6-1. Inkberrow B's George Crotty and Robbie Guy surprised their A Team, Andrew Price and Billy Coughlin, with a 6-4 win in the closest match of the night.