WESTCLIFF Hardcourts have secured a place in the semi-finals of the Don Barton Cup.

Hard's original tie against Next Generation Gidea Park was called off due to concerns over the safety of the courts following heavy rain.

But there were no such concerns at the weekend as the mixed team from The Ridgeway club beat their Gidea Park hosts 2-1 in the Essex County LTA competition.

The winning team comprised Ian Pearson, John Handelaar, Fiona Stone, Sue Hookway, Simon Chesher and Karen Poole.

And there was success for Westcliff's ladies' second team of Dawn Handelaar, Claire Hammerman, Alex Vaarden and Sue Blackshaw who defeated Billericay 8-0.

Southend Lawn IV picked up six priceless points after defeating Kent Elms III in Men's Division Six of the Leigh & Westcliff LTA winter league.

The win moved them up to fourth place in the table but bottom of the table Rayleigh III have two games in hand over Lawn and trail them by six points.

David Smith and Peter Willis set the ball rolling with a 6-2 6-3 win over Elms' Gary Nicholls and Ken Clark.

And Guy Carter and Cliff Simpson wrapped the win up by beating George Barton and Paul Lemaire 6-2 6-4.

Hockley overtook Thorpe Bay II in Ladies' Division Two courtesy of a 3-2 win.

The Thorpe hosts won the first set 7-6 2-6 7-5 after Carole Boston and Heather Clark defeated Michelle Caldon and Hannah Bordill.

But Keely Herring and Maria Baker saw off Rebecca Clayton and Alison Randal 6-2 6-3 to secure victory for the Folly Lane club.

Leigh IV failed to make up ground on Mixed Division Six leaders Kent Elms V after they were held to a draw.

Second-placed Leigh remain six points adrift of Elms after both teams picked up two points.

Rebecca Attwood and Neil Attwood put Leigh ahead with a 7-5 7-6 win over Katy Cox and Gary Nicholls.

But Richards Crews and Hanna Stevens defeated Cathy Wilson and Joseph Rutter 6-2 6-2 to secure the stalemate.

MEN'S RESULTS Division 1: Thorpe Bay II v Kent Elms (6-4 4-6 1-6, 3-6 4-6) sets 1-4, 1-5; Westcliff Hard II v Southend Lawn (3-6 3-6, 3-6 6-3 6-4) 2-3, 2-4.

Division 4: Southend Lawn III v Thorpe Bay IV (4-6 2-6, 6-4 1-6 2-6) 1-4, 1-5.

Division 5: Hockley II v Crowstone (6-3 6-7 7-5, 4-6 6-1 6-2) 4-2, 4-2; Westcliff Hard IV v Hadleigh Park II (7-6 6-2, 6-3 6-4) 4-0, 6-0.

Division 6: Southend Lawn IV v Kent Elms III (6-2 6-3, 6-2 6-4) 4-0, 6-0.

Division 7: Rochford IV v Hadleigh III (1-6 0-6, 6-2 6-2) 2-2, 3-3; Hadleigh Park III v Thorpe Bay VI (6-3 7-6, 6-4 6-0) 4-0, 6-0.

LADIES' RESULTS Division 1: Westcliff Hard v Leigh (3-6 4-6, 6-0 4-6 4-6) 1-4, 1-5; Kent Elms v Southend Lawn (6-2 6-2, 6-4 3-6 6-2) 4-1, 5-1.

Division 2: Westcliff Hard II v Hadleigh Park (6-3 4-6 Westcliff retired third set, 6-3 6-2) 3-2, 4-2; Thorpe Bay II v Hockley (7-6 2-6 7-5, 2-6 3-6) 2-3, 2-4; Kent Elms II v Westcliff Lawn 6-7 3-6. 3-6 6-1 6-2) 2-3, 2-4.

Division 3: Rochford v Westcliff Hard III (6-2 4-6 5-7, 5-7 6-7) 1-4, 1-5; Leigh II v Thorpe Bay III (3-6 6-4 6-3, 2-6 3-6) 2-3, 2-4.

Division 5: Thorpe Bay V v Southend Lawn II (6-4 5-7 4-6, 4-6 5-7) 1-4, 1-5.

MIXED RESULTS Division 1: Thorpe Bay v Southend Lawn (6-0 6-4, 7-5 6-1) 4-0, 4-0.

Division 2: Rayleigh II v Wickford (2-6 1-6, 6-3 6-4) 2-2, 3-3; Thorpe Bay II v Westcliff Lawn (6-4 7-5, 6-3 6-7 6-3) 4-1, 5-1.

Division 3: Thorpe Bay III v Leigh II (6-0 6-3, 6-1 6-3) 4-0, 6-0; Hadleigh Park v Westcliff Hard II (6-3 6-4, 6-0 6-0 w/o) 4-0, 6-0; Kent Elms III v Rochford (6-3 6-4, 4-6 6-2 6-7) 3-2, 4-2.

Division 4: Westcliff Lawn II v Leigh III (2-6 3-6, 3-6 6-1 5-7) 1-4, 1-5; Westcliff Hard III b Rayleigh III (6-7 6-2 3-6, 7-5 7-5) 3-2, 4-2.

Division 5: Rochford II v Leigh Road Baptist (6-1 6-4, 6-2 6-4) 4-0, 6-0.

Division 6: Leigh V v Kent Elms V (7-5 7-6, 2-6 2-6) 2-2, 3-3.

Full tables in today's Echo