Rochford & Wickford fire warning

Rochford & Wickford fired a warning to the rest of their division five rivals in the opening week of the Leigh & Westcliff winter mixed tennis season. Neither club wasted time on home soil as they breezed past Southend Lawn 4 and Rayleigh 3 respectfully, dropping only five games each!

Rochford’s Toby Hill & Theresa Dickerson strolled to a comprehensive 6-1 6-1 opening win over Southend’s Alan Worsdale & Judith Randall. The second pair of Aaron Mayhead & Sarah Jolley guaranteed a winning start for the Church Walk club as they swiftly beat Chris Booth & Sandra Collins 6-2 6-1.

Wickford began their season with resounding 6-0 win over Rayleigh 3. The first pair of David Allen & Michaela Allen used home advantage to perfect effect as they dispatched Bill Todman & Mary Tanqueray 6-2 6-0. The points were secured for the SS11 club by Michael Allen & Jo Riffat who cruised past Mike Chambers & Jacqui Clarke.

With both clubs aiming for promotion, this was a perfect start  – Rochford wanting an immediate return to division four after a disappointing campaign last winter and Wickford hoping to build on last years third place finish.

In the men’s division two, Kent Elms demolished Hadleigh Park 6-0 in their own back garden. Phil Stevens & Martin Needs got the away club off to a flyer as they comfortably beat Brenden Pettit & Steven Cox 6-0 6-4. Will Morley & Gary Nicholls barely broke a sweat as they overcame Simon Hall & Billy Baker 6-0 6-1.

Leigh Road Baptist claimed maximum points in their men’s division five opener against Rayleigh 3. Simon Joyce & Joshua Milner beat Louis Rawley & Mark Hughes 6-3 6-3 and Nigel Milner & Neil Dunlop prevailed 6-0 6-3 over Gary Clark & Mark Stock.

Ladies division one summer champions Thorpe Bay got their winter championship bid off the mark with an emphatic 6-0 win over Westcliff Lawn. Mother & daughter duo of Lynn & Lizzie May earnt a hard fought 6-4 7-5 win over Gillian Sanderson & Julie Milner. Bay’s second pairing had an easier evening as they brushed past Debra Saund & Debbie Goldhawk 6-1 6-1.

Westcliff Hard’s first ladies team also got their winter campaign off to an impressive start as they overpowered David Lloyd 6-0. Sue Hookway & Julie Pullen got the ball rolling with a 6-3 6-1 win over Kelly Thomas & Julie Rackham and Linda Vaughan & Drusilla Redman beat Sarah Jacobs & Ann Lane 6-2 6-3.