Rayleigh win hurts Thorpe’s title dream (From Echo)

Rayleigh win hurts Thorpe’s title dream

3:50pm Thursday 4th March 2010 in

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THORPE Bay’s attempts to claim the Mixed Division One title were dealt a blow when they suffered a 4-2 home defeat to third-placed Rayleigh.

The result means Thorpe trail leaders Kent Elms by five points going into the final round of matches.

But equally worrying for the Thorpe Bay Gardens club is the fact that Rayleigh’s win put them on level points with Thorpe.

Bay lead on sets difference but that is only by a single set.

The match against Rayleigh saw both rubbers go to three sets, with Ryan Wilson and Janice Forsyth defeating Thorpe’s Alan Rayner and Kris Newbery 7-6 4-6 6-0 in the first match.

Graham Ray and Heather Bell won the first set 7-5 against Rayleigh’s Mark Rose and Debbie Rose, before the bounced back to take the remaining sets 6-2 6-2.

Kent Elms regain top spot in mixed one. Southend Lawn off the bottom Rayleigh’s men’s march to the Division One crown continued wtih a 4-0 win over bottom club Leigh. Dave Barham and Steve Lloyd gave Rayleigh the perfect start with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Alan Steele and Jeremy Hills.

And Mark Rose and Ryan Wilson secured the six-point maximum with a 6-2 6-1 defeat of Neil Attwood and Julian Nicholls.

The Ladies’ Division One title will go down to the wire, with just a point separating leaders Thorpe Bay and second-placed Kent Elms.

MEN’S RESULTS Division 1: Rayleigh v Leigh (6-4 6-4, 6-2 6-1) sets 4-0, points 6-0. Division 2: Rayleigh II v Southend Lawn II (6-4 3-6 7-6, 6-4 6-1) 4-1, 5-1. Division 4: Hockley v David Lloyd (3-6 6-4 7-5, 1-6 2-6) 2-3, 2-4; Rochford v Hockley II (4-6 6-2 4-6, 0-6 4-6) 1-4, 1-5. Division 5: Hadleigh Park II v Southend Lawn III (7-6 7-6, 4-6 6-2 6-7) 3-2, 4-2. Division 7: Southend Lawn V v Deanes (0-6 0-6 w/o, 5-7 4-6) 0-4, 0-6.

MIXED RESULTS Division 1: Thorpe Bay v Rayleigh (6-7 6-4 0-6, 7-5 2-6 2-6) 2-4, 2-4. Division 3: Hadleigh Park v Thorpe Bay III (3-6 1-6, 1-6 6-2 6-2) 2-3, 2-4; Wickford v Rayleigh III (5-7 4-6, 4-6 3-6) 0-4, 0-6. Division 5: Leigh III v Westcliff Lawn II (6-1 6-3, 1-6 3-6) 2-2, 3-3. Division 6: Southend Lawn IV v Westcliff Hard IV (2-6 6-4 6-4, 5-7 1-6) 2-3, 2-4; Westcliff Hard IV v Invicta (6-3 2-6 0-6, 3-6 6-7) 1-4, 1-5; Deanes v Rochford II (6-4 4-6 5-7, 4-6 6-2 6-1) 3-3, 3-3.