A FLIP of the coin decided the first set of Thorpe Bay’s match with Kent Elms after the players were plunged into darkness.

Thorpe pair Sue Sergant and Kris Newbery were in a tie break with Elms’ Jo Hancock and Steph Haddrell with the third set standing at 6-6 in their leigh & Westcliff ladies’ division one match.

But the floodlights at Thorpe Bay went out at 10pm leaving the players with no choice but to toss a coin to decide the winners, with Sergant and Newbery winning to give them a 6-7 6-0 7-6 victory.

The other rubber saw Elms’ Mandy Waite and Emma Mellish beating Heather Clark and Fiona Coull 6-1 6-2.

FULL TENNIS ROUND UP IN THURSDAY'S ECHO