The second teams of relegation-threatened Eastwood and St Aidans-Leigh went head-to-head in the men's Premier Division of the Southend and District Badminton League.

Eastwood gave their survival hopes a timely boost with a 6-3 victory, which leaves Saints in trouble at the foot of the table with no wins from four outings.

Canvey, also with the threat of relegation hanging over them, hosted high-flying Fitzwimarc and surprisingly won 5-4 to earn their first points of the season.

At the top of the table, St Aidans-Leigh firsts edged Westcliff firsts 5-4 thanks to a maximum from the in form Conlon/Ostrowski pairing.

In Division Two, Belle Vue's second team are in firm control of pole-position after notching a fourth successive win.

Their latest triumph came away from home at Linden 7-2 and means Belle Vue have now defeated all their main rivals.

Belle Vue would seem to have the title all but wrapped up as their nearest challengers, second placed Phoenix, who battled out a 6-3 home win over Fitzwimarc thirds, are five points behind them.

In the Mixed Premier Division, Leighway are odds on to win the title following their 8-1 win at defending champions Eastwood.

However, troubled Canvey remained firmly rooted to the foot of the table after three consecutive heavy defeats.

Their first loss was at home to St Aidans-Leigh 7-2, followed by an 8-1 away defeat at Eastwood and finally at home by the same score to Westcliff firsts.

In Division One, St Aidans-Leigh thirds continue to struggle, losing their latest match 8-1 at home to Eastwood thirds.

However, Westcliff thirds upset one of the title favourites, St Aidans-Leigh seconds 9-0, thanks to three maximums.

The Second Division saw an easy 8-1 home win for Fitzwimarc's second team over Linden.

And in Division Three, the leaders Belle Vue seconds maintained their winning start to the season with a narrow 5-4 win at Great Wakering seconds, even though home pairing R.Neville/Pocock achieved an impressive maximum.

Second-placed Rayleigh Park were the next visitors to Wakering and they grabbing all three points with a 6-3 win.

In Division Four, clear leaders Westcliff fifth romped to a brace of triumphs, firstly away to Belle Vue thirds 6-3 and 8-1 at home to Hawkwell seconds.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.