STOKE by Nayland came through a tight match at Frinton to reach the third round of the Essex Seniors Team Championship.

Richard Cross led the team out and, after a close match against Stuart Grimwade, recorded a 2&1 win.

Ian McKay followed, playing Peter Webster, and recorded a hard-fought half-point.

John Smith (5&4), Andy Higginson and Allen Smith (both 3&2) all lost, to Iain Quick, Ian Chamberlain and Dick Groves respectively.

Graham Vandervord (4&3), Tony Carman (3&2), Mike Moore (one up) and Reg Reid (3&1) all won to give Stoke 5½ points.

Paul Sandfield was unfortunate to come up against Simon Partridge, who only dropped one shot on his way to a 7&6 win.

The overall match result hinged on the last match – Steve Tree, for Stoke, against Vince McCauley. McCauley needed to win in order to force a play-off.

Tree had been three down but gamely fought back to be all-square after 16.

McAuley duly went one up on 17, so it was all down to the last hole – a par five.

After two shots, both players were fairly evenly placed either side of the fairway.

Two wayward shots - one from each player - then followed.

McAuley failed to get out of a greenside bunker and conceded the hole, giving Stoke had the half point they needed to get home.

Elsewhere, Stoke's ladies played a stableford competition on the Constable course.

Mandy Byham had an eagle on the tenth hole and won with 36 points.

Anne Hemmings was second, with 34, and Elaine Davidson third, on countback, with 33.

Another stableford competition took place on the Constable course.

Results: Silver division: 1st Catriona Chaplin 37 points, 2nd Corinne Jackson 34, 3rd Anne Hemmings 32.

Bronze division: 1st Roz Clements 34 points, 2nd Jane Golding 33, 3rd Hilary Cairns 31.

The past ladies' captains enjoyed a great away day at Colne Valley, organised by Betty Cox.

Catriona Chaplin produced a winning score of 34 points.

She received the salver from Barbara Rowe who, together with Rita Blewitt, presented it in memory of Chris Pickering.

The home fixture will take place at the beginning of August.

Other results: Friday night mixed: 1st Trish Jackson and Peter Garnett 24 points, 2nd Elaine Davidson and Barrie Hall 22, 3rd Barbara Rowe and Dave Wyllie 20, 4th Fran Chandler and Betty Cox 20.

Seniors' May stableford (Gainsborough) and captain’s prize: Division one: 1st Dave Wyllie 42 points, 2nd Michael Webley 42, 3rd Malcolm Jones 42.

Division two: 1st John King 44 points (captain’s prize), 2nd Ray Harris 36, 3rd Ian Bickers 35.

Essex competitions: Leslie Wood - round two: Colne Valley 9 Stoke by Nayland 6.

Foursomes: Colne Valley 3 Stoke by Nayland 2.

Singles: Colne Valley 6 Stoke by Nayland 4.

Stoke cemented their position at the top of their league in the Jubilee Cup, after beating Ballards Gore.

A fourth straight win has put the club in a good position for a place in the knockout stages and a home draw.

Wins for Dean Brace, Mark Chaplin, Byron Long and Gary Thompson and a half point for club captain Don Wiggins gave Stoke a 4½-1½ lead.

The afternoon of paired matches carried on in the same vein with good wins for John Sandford, playing with Guy Holland, and Luke Bennett, with Liam Worsdell.

Although the final match was lost, Stoke had done enough to secure an impressive 6½-2½ win.

Stoke by Nayland have one more league match to play against Wanstead.