THE top match in the Premier Division of the Prudden Road Surfacing League saw second- placed Inkberrow defeat lowly Claverdon 3-1.

The winners weren't expecting such a difficult task but three out of the four rubbers went to a third set before being decided and Inkberrow skipper Adam Hill declared that, although his side won, he heralded Claverdon's Pieter Van-Hengel as the man of the match.

In fact it was Van Hengel and James Courier who took the first set 6-4 against Hill and Graeme Rankin.

The Inkberrow pair evened the score taking the second set 6-0, before just edging the decider 6-4.

They then went on in their second rubber to defeat Richard Butler and Nigel Bacon 6-4, 6-3. Butler and Bacon, meanwhile, had just won an epic first rubber against Alex Woodbridge and Chris Baker 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 before Woodbridge and Baker held off Van-Hengel and Courier 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to give Inkberrow victory.

Reigning champions Stratford B continued their stroll at the summit with a resounding 4-0 thrashing of their own C team who offered little resistance.

Scores: Callum Bailey & Rob Slatter (Stratford B) bt Richard Monk & George Goodman 6-0, 6-0 & Mark Parsons & Peter Donald 6-1, 6-1. Simon West & Jamie Norman bt Parsons & Donald 6-2, 6-2 & Monk & Goodman 6-2, 6-4.

Third in the table Studley overcame Henley 3-1 with Gary Jackson and Dave Innes accounting for John Turner and Julian Morris 6-3, 6-3, and Dave Howard & Matt Ross 6-0, 6-3.

Paul Challens and Mike McGr-egor also defeated Howard & Ross (7-5, 7-6) but lost to Turner and Morris 7-5, 6-2.

The final top flight fixture saw Chipping Campden leap two places to fourth and overtake Littletons who they surprisingly defeated 3-1.

Moreton-in-Marsh extended their unbeaten run in the third division to nine matches with a 3-1 victory over Studley.

Bottom of the pile Henley B held Campden to a 2-2 draw a result that allowed Littletons - 4-0 winners over Shipston - to move into third place.

Latest standings

Premier Division

P W D L F A Pts

Stratford B 10 10 0 0 40 0 40

Inkberrow 10 7 2 1 27 13 27

Studley 10 4 2 4 21 19 21

Campden 10 3 4 3 19 21 19

Littleton 10 2 4 4 17 23 17

Henley 10 3 2 5 16 24 16

Claverdon 10 2 2 6 14 26 14

Stratford C* 10 0 3 7 8 32 7

*Points deducted.

Division Three

P W D L F A Pts

Moreton-in-Marsh 9 9 0 0 30 6 30

Studley B 9 6 0 0 24 12 24

Littletons C 8 4 0 4 17 15 17

Campden B 9 3 2 4 17 19 17

Shipston B 9 2 1 5 13 19 13

Bidford B 8 2 2 4 10 22 10

Henley B 9 0 3 6 9 27 9

Division Four

P W D L F A Pts

Snitterfield 6 5 1 0 18 6 18

Ardencote* 5.5 1 3 0 15 7 15

Whitnash 6 3 1 2 14 10 14

Harbury 6 2 0 4 11 13 11

Ullenhall 6 1 1 4 6 18 6

Claverdon C* 5.5 1 0 4 6 16 6

*Unfinished match.