RAYLEIGH’S first team are in pole position to win promotion to the ladies’ top flight in the Leigh & Westcliff LTA winter leagues.

A 4-0 win over already relegated Invicta gave them a six-point maximum to go four points clear in Division Two.

Lucia Bigden and Lauren Duffield saw off Invicta’s Maddie Maxwell and Chris Tancock 6-1 6-1, while Dot Monte and Debbie Rose had a walkover.

Victory over second-placed Southend Lawn on Sunday will be enough to secure the title and promotion.

But Southend will be keen for maximum points to stave off the challenge of Thorpe Bay II, who are a point behind in third and conclude their season tonight at Westcliff Hard II.

The battle for promotion and relegation from Men’s Division Four will go down to the wire this weekend.

At the bottom Rayleigh II and Leigh Road Baptist are in the relegation places and lock horns desperate for maximum points to try and overhaul third-from-bottom Westcliff Hard III and avoid the drop.

Hard travel to leaders Southend Lawn II, who will be keen for a healthy win to ensure the title and promotion.

David Lloyd II are a point behind the top dogs and host third-placed Thorpe Bay, who know only a six-point maximum will do to secure elevation to Division Three.

Lloyd pulled off a 4-0 win over Westcliff Hard III thanks to Ken Bateman, Neil Sales, Richard Bonney and Tony Howard to set up their title challenge.

Southend Lawn II head into their final match with Hockley knowing the winning team could win promotion alongside leaders Westcliff Lawn II.

Southend drew 3-3 with the runaway leaders thanks to the efforts of Viv Scanlon, Keith Brown, Sandy Bysouth and Graham Evans to leave them level on 26 points with Hockley.

Fourth-placed Kent Elms II are a point behind the pair and still in with a shout of promotion if they beat bottom-of-the-table Thorpe Bay II by a good margin and results go their way.

Men’s results, Division 2: Hadleigh Park II v Hockley (7-6 6-3, 6-4 2-6 4-6) sets 3-2, points 4-2. Division 4: David Lloyd II v Westcliff Hard III (7-6 7-6, 6-1 6-1) 4-0, 6-0. Division 5: Kent Elms III v Thorpe Bay V (6-1 4-6 6-4, 5-7 1-6) 2-3, 3-4. Division 6: Hockley II v David Lloyd III (4-6 5-7, 1-6 0-6) 0-4, 0-6. Division 7: Wickford III v Invicta II (6-3 6-0, 6-0 6-0 w/o) 4-0, 6-0.

Ladies’ results, Division 1: Hockley v Westcliff Hard (6-3 6-2, 5-7 0-6) 2-2, 3-3. Division 2: Thorpe Bay II v Westcliff Lawn II (6-2 7-5, 6-3 7-6) 4-0, 6-0; Rayleigh v Invicta (6-1 6-1, 6-0 6-0 w/o) 4-0, 6-0. Division 4: Thorpe Bay IV v Southend Lawn II (5-7 3-6, 6-1 6-3) 2-2, 3-3; Westcliff Hard III v Wickford (3-6 2-6, 6-0 6-0 w/o) 2-2, 3-3. Division 5: Hadleigh Park v Hockley (1-6 2-6, 6-2 6-2) 2-2, 3-3.

Mixed results: Division 2: Thorpe Bay II v Rayleigh II (6-2 6-2, 6-3 4-6 6-3) 4-1, 5-1; David Lloyd v Invicta (6-2 6-1, 6-2 6-3) 4-0, 6-0. Division 3: Southend Lawn v Westcliff Lawn II (6-0 6-7 6-4, 6-4 4-6 2-6) 3-3, 3-3; Kent Elms II v Hockley (2-6 7-6 3-6, 6-3 6-3) 3-2, 4-2. Division 4: Rayleigh III v Rochford (4-6 1-6, 7-6 4-6 3-6) 1-4, 1-5; David Lloyd III v Thorpe Bay IV (6-4 6-0, 3-6 5-7) 2-2, 3-3. Division 5: Westcliff Lawn III v Hadleigh Park II (2-6 0-6, 4-6 2-6) 0-4, 0-6; Kent Elms III v Westcliff Hard III (6-2 6-1, 6-4 1-6 7-5) 4-1, 5-1. Division 7: Deanes v Westcliff Hard V.