HARRY Randle and David Tubbs made home advantage count to win an Essex invitational doubles tournament at Thorpe Bay.

Playing on their home courts, Randle and Tubbs defeated Westcliff Hardcourts’ Richard Barham and David Wright (Woodford Wells) in the final of the Essex Tennis Leo-Lyle Trophy Men’s Doubles Invitation Tournament.

The match is used as the final preparation for the Essex men’s team ahead of LTA county week, which starts on Monday.

The two-day event pitches senior Essex players with up-and-coming juniors, with Westcliff Hard’s Darien Lamb and Thorpe Bay’s Edward Pudney among the youngsters.

“It was pleasing to see a mixture of established senior players blending in with our talented younger players, who responded competitively at the opportunity of playing against their experienced senior peers,” said Essex LTA selector Graham Ray.

“They were not overawed at the prospect of competing against their illustrious Senior opponents.”

The six doubles pairs were divided into two groups and played a round-robin competition on Saturday, with the semi-finals and finals taking place on Sunday.

The event was organised by Ray and Essex men’s captain Jamie Willson, and refereed by Steve Wynn.

Essex men will be contesting Group Two at Havant next week and will be up against Hampshire & Isle of Wight, South Wales, Yorkshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.

The Essex ladies’ team head to Cromer in Group Two and face Kent, Cheshire, Norfolk, Hampshire & Isle of Wight and Middlesex.