Westcliff Hard Court enjoyed a tense derby victory over rivals Westcliff Lawn in Division One of the Essex League.

The Hards won 6-3 thanks to a superb display from inspired duo Lance Owen and Simon Cheshire, who notched up three rubbers between them.

John Handelaar and Nick Plappett, with two rubbers, and Mark Bertola and Ian Hookway, winning one match, completed the triumph.

However, their veteran second string team of Terry Hooper, John Jackson, Franklin Hartle and Bob Sharpe, were taken down a peg in an Essex Division Three clash with their Thorpe Bay counterparts, who rallied to a 5-3 success.

In other veteran action Westcliff based players Graham Ray and Graham Goodale were part of the Essex over-45s side, which conquered Hertfordshire 4-1 in the Inter County Championships.

They now need to pull off a win in their last match to ensure a swift return to Division One, following last season's relegation.

In over-35s competition local players Brian Rivers and Eddie Rooks were part of the Essex side which travelled north of the border for the Inter County National Championships.

However, Essex, missing the inspirational Bob Hammond, lost a crucial tie break in the third set of the final rubber, which resulted in a 3-2 defeat and a long journey home from Fife.

Some of the finest tennis players in Essex will be on show at Westcliff Hard Courts' club finals day this Sunday.

The finals, which are being held at the Ridgeway home of the Hards, begin at 10am and admission is free.

Meanwhile, the Southend and District Championships have reached their semi-finals stage with even more top local players in action.

Simon Bonham will play Carey Willson and Mike Plappert is up against Simon Cheshire in the men's singles competition.

Plappert and Bonham are also anxiously awaiting the outcome of the doubles semi-final contest between John Handelaar and Jeremy Harvey, and Simon Cheshire and Lance Owen, to see who they face in the final.

Tracey Cheshire will do battle against Caron Fuller and Lindsey Watts will take on Kirsten Warner in the ladies' singles section.

In the ladies' doubles, Cheshire will be on court again with partner Fiona Stone to take on Anna Barton and Claire Hammerman for a place in the final.

In the mixed doubles final Steve and Hazel Winn will attempt to fend off the challenge of Roger Peters and Karen Poole. All the finals are being played at Thorpe Bay tennis club on Sunday, July 18.

Results round-up

Westcliff Lawn kept up the pressure on their close rivals Westcliff Hard at the top of Mens Division One with a hard fought 4-2 win against struggling Hockley.

Graham Byford and Mick Watson inspired Lawn to a victory, which keeps them four points behind the leaders, with a 6-3 6-4 win over Hockley duo Trevor Patterson and Chris Bladen.

The second Lawn pairing of Blaise Walton and Maron Lim won their first encounter with Alan Young and Jon Thorpe 6-3, but the Hockley twosome pulled back a game by the same scoreline.

In the last round of matches the victors' Martin Byford and Geoff Spiller combination clocked up 6-3 3-6 results against Mick Mower and Roy Blackwell.

Division Three side Wickford also merit a special mention after their 3-3 draw with Invicta's second team.

This draw kept Wickford seven points clear at the summit of their division and firmly on course for their first league championship in 50-years.

Ladies' Division One action saw Westcliff Hard retain top spot, by a slender one point margin ahead of Kent Elms, with a resounding 5-1 away success at Leigh.

Westcliff pair Sue Jackson and Sally Garvey got the proceedings underway with 6-4 6-2 conquests over their host players Jo Hancock and Stephanie Hadrell.

Leigh's Pauline Gutteridge and Jo Baucutt pulled back a consolation game with a 6-4 win over Linda Vaughn and Julia Mousley, but lost their second meeting 6-1.

Visiting couple Jeanette Fozard and Sue Levy completed their side's comprehensive success with two 6-2 victories in their matches with Wendy Keefe and Sandra White.

In the League Division One Westcliff Hard made it a hat-trick of top flight top spots with a 6-0 annihilation of Leigh.

Keith Brohl and Dave Bishop got their team's demolition job underway in style embarrassing Leigh partners Andy Buswell and Mark Bradford 6-0 6-0.

Sue Jackson and Sally Garvey beat their Leigh opponents, Jo Baucutt and Sandra White, 6-3 6-1, before Hard duo Darren Bertola and N.Pickers wrapped up the win with 6-4 6-3 successes.

Leigh and Westcliff LTA Summer league

Men's Division One - Westcliff Hard v Leigh 3-3; Westcliff Lawn v Hockley 4-2; Rayleigh v Kent Elms 6-0

Men's Division Two - Kent Elms 2 v Southend 4-2; Invicta v Westcliff Hard 2nd 3-3; Thorpe Bay v Westcliff Lawn 2nd 5-1.

Men's Division Three - Thorpe Bay 2 v Westcliff Lawn 3 5-1; Westcliff Lawn 3rd v LRBTC 4-2;

Men's Division Four - Westcliff Hard v Rochford 5-1; Thorpe Bay 3rd v Westcliff Lawn 4th 5-1;

Men's Division Five - Wickford 2nd v Crowstone 2-4.

Ladies Division One - Leigh v Westcliff Hard 1-5; Thorpe Bay v Hadleigh Park 5-1; SLTC v Kent Elms 2-4;

Ladies Division Two - Kent Elms 2 v Rayleigh 3-3; Westcliff Lawn v Hockley 4-2; Westcliff Hard 2nd v Leigh 2nd 3-3;

Ladies Division Three - Thorpe Bay 2nd v Westcliff Hard 3rd 3-3; Hadleigh 2nd v Hockley 2nd 3-3; HRLTC 2nd v TBTC 2nd 0-6; Hockley 2nd v Westcliff Lawn 2nd 1-5; Westcliff Hard 3rd v Rayleigh 2nd 3-3.

League Division One - Westcliff Hard v Leigh 6-0; Leigh v SLTC 4-1; Kent Elms v Westcliff Lawn 4-2; Rayleigh v Westcliff Hard 2-4;

League Division Two - Hadleigh Park v Thorpe Bay 2-4; Invicta v Hockley 1-5; Thorpe Bay v Kent Elms 2nd 4-2;

League Division Three - Westcliff Lawn 2nd v Kent Elms 3rd 3-3; Thorpe Bay 2nd v Wickford 3-3; Hockley 2nd v Invicta 2nd 3-3;

League Division Four - Southend Lawn 2nd v Wickford 2nd 4-2; Crowstone v LRBTC 1-5; Hockley 3rd v Rayleigh 2nd 1-5;

League Division Five - Thorpe Bay Third v St Peters 5-1; Southend Lawn 3rd v Thorpe Bay 3rd 1-5; Rochford v C E Heath 2-4; Hadleigh Park 2nd v Southend Lawn 3rd 6-0; C E Heath Group v St Peters 3-3.

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