THERE was some excellent tennis played as Braintree Tennis Club held their 24th Open Men's Doubles tournament and there are a couple of familiar names on the trophy this year.

The tournament was won for the third time by Matt and Joe Doe from Castle Hedingham Tennis Club.

A total of 16 pairs from clubs including the Essex, Great Baddow, Bures, Marconi and Braintree competed in three groups in the robin-robin stages.

Unbeaten in their respective groups were Ash Baker and Ieuan Lister, Matt and Joe Doe and Dan Gilliver and Joe Shipton as they went through to the semi-finals together with Brad Doe and Dane Beagrie as the best runners-up.

Baker and Lister were drawn against Braintree Gilliver and Shipton, with the home pair pulling out all the stops to win 6-2 to earn their place in the final.

The second semi was a family affair with Brad Doe and his partner Beagrie taking on his brothers Matt and Joe Doe. Despite a valiant effort by Brad and Beagrie, though, they were unable to topple the more experienced pair, who won 6-2.

There was some outstanding tennis in the final with Gilliver and Shipton taking the first set 7-5, before the Does fought back to take the second 6-2.

It led to a championship tie break to decide the match.

Both pairs had chances to take the title, but in the end the Doe brothers triumphed 12-10.