The men from Westcliff Hardcourts faced their toughest test in the National Singles League when they met the David Lloyd Centre Bushey.

For the Hertfordshire team included Wayne Arthur who played Andre Agassi in the fourth round at Wimbledon last year and came away with his service unbroken.

Speaking about facing the world number 80 in his doubles match with Nick Plappert, Lance Owen said:"I have never seen a service like Wayne's. We could only just get a racket to them."

Simon Bonham, who was also in the team with Richard Barham and Dave Rowson which lost 6-0, tipped Bushey to win the competition.

The Hardcourts hope to have Vince Ranson back on Saturday when they play their deferred match against Woodford Wells in the Essex Senior Cup semi-final.

Hards' ladies' team went down 5-1 to Queenswood, another Hertfordshire team.

Steffi Rodrigues was the only player to win a rubber, with Vanessa Irvine, Gemma Garvey and Amy Cockell all losing.

Essex played Surrey in the inter-county over-45 competition at the David Lloyd Centre in Basildon and beat them 4-1.

Hardcourts pair Ashley Compton Dando and John Handelaar teamed up with Frinton's Robin Drysdale and Gidea Park's Phil O'Leary to make up the winning team.

The same quartet should be in action again this weekend when they play Hereford and Worcester at the Basildon venue.

The match will pitch national over-45 number one Drysdale against the UK number two, Phil Siviter.

Thorpe Bay foursome Jeff Burdett, Graham Ray, Tim Padbury and Alan Rayner lost 6-2 when they met Westcliff Hardcourts in the Essex over-45 veterans.

Jamie Willson, Trevor Stone, Graham Goodale and John Handelaar were the winning team.

Westcliff Hardcourts met Southend Lawn in Division One of the Southend & District League and enjoyed a 4-0 win.

Matt Bradley, Jamie Willson, John Handelaar and Greg Hand represented the Hardcourts, with Greg Smart, Mark Cordly and Graham Taylor among the defeated team.

Wickford's men beat Westcliff Lawn's men 3-1 in Southend &District Division One.

The Hardcourts' ladies met Cranston Park in Essex League Division One and beat the Upminster-based side 16 sets to two.

Diana Carradus, Lynsay Watts, Hazel Wynn, Cally Flinders, Gillian Sanderson and Sarah Ball made up the winning team.

Thorpe Bay face Redbridge on Sunday in the Essex County Division of the National Singles League.

Lawn fail to bridge the gap

Wickford's men's team are flying high at the top of Division Two following a 5-1 win over nearest rivals Westcliff Lawn II.

The Wickford team are now seven points clear and only lost a set in the third match of the clash between the two teams.

Thorpe Bay and Westcliff Hard were forced to share the spoils in Ladies' Division One when their game was rained off and they were unable to find another mutually good time.

Leigh youngsters Daniel Thrale and James Whyte have been tipped for a promising future after putting up a good fight against experienced Kent Elms pair Bryan Bone and Pat Taylor in their The League Division One match.

Invicta were unable to field a full team in The League Division Two due to the funeral of club chairman David Tanner. The team conceded one walkover.

Hockley then handed Invicta two points when they were not able to put out a pair for their Division Two match.

Men's results

Division One - Westcliff Hard v Thorpe Bay: 3-6 1-6, 6-1 3-6, 6-2 6-3, sets 3-3.

Division Two - Westcliff Hard II v Westcliff Lawn II: 2-6 2-6, 0-6 4-6, 6-1 7-6, sets 2-4; Hockley v Invicta: 6-2 4-6, 4-6 6-1, 5-7 2-6, sets 2-4; Wickford v Westcliff Lawn II: 6-3 6-3, 6-3 6-3, 5-7 6-4, sets 5-1.

Division Three - Westcliff Lawn III v Westcliff Hard III: 5-7 6-3, 6-2 6-4, 6-1 6-2, sets 5-1.

Division Four - Hadleigh Park v Thorpe Bay III: 6-1 4-6, 6-3 4-6, 4-6 7-5, sets 3-3.

Division Five - Invicta III v Westcliff Lawn IV: 6-4 2-6, 2-6 0-6, 6-1 6-1, sets 3-3.

Ladies' results

Division One - Thorpe Bay v Westcliff Hard: match rained off, sets 3-3.

Division Three - Westcliff Lawn II v Rayleigh II: 1-6 1-6, 6-0 6-1, 3-6 2-6, sets 2-4; Hockley II v Hadleigh II: 5-7 0-6, 1-6 0-6, 1-6 6-2, sets 1-5.

The League results:

Division One - Westcliff Hard v Thorpe Bay: 7-5 3-6, 2-6 5-7, 6-3 7-5, sets 3-3; Kent Elms v Leigh: 6-1 6-1, 6-4 4-6, 6-0 6-1, sets 5-1.

Division Two - Kent Elms II v Invicta: 6-4 6-3, 6-0 6-0 (walkover), 7-5 7-5, sets 6-0; Invicta v Hockley: 6-0 6-0 (walkover), 2-6 4-6, 3-6 4-6, sets 2-4.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.