Frinton's tennis stars will have to wait another year for the chance to become the English National Club League champions.

The unlucky east Essex club missed out on the £5,500 top prize for the second year running when they went down 4-2 against powerful Essex colleagues Connaught of Chingford in the men's final at the Hampshire Club, Southampton, on Friday.

But there was some good news for the Holland Road club as Nick Gould saw off Chris Wilkinson, currently ranked Great Britain's number three, in the singles 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

Wilkinson also finished on the losing end in the doubles where, partnered by Nick Fulwood, he lost out to Frinton's pairing of Ralph Kok and Tati Rascon in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

Other results were - Singles: James Fox lost to Barry Cowan 7-5, 6-1; Rascon lost to Tom Spinks 6-4, 6-1; Kok lost to Fulwood 6-4, 6-4. Doubles: Fox and Gould lost to Cowan and Spinks 6-4, 6-3.

"We will just have to make it third time lucky next year," said disappointed Frinton team manager Bob Smith.

"It was a big shame that we couldn't come up with the goods this time, but it was very pleasing to have made the final for the second year running.

"All in all the club has enjoyed another successful week."

Frinton lost out in the 1998 final to David Lloyd's Bushey (Hertfordshire) team.

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