BRIGHTLINGSEA bounced back from their Essex Men's Superleague defeat against Southend by winning 7-5 at Rayleigh Rascals.

They found themselves behind after Rab Scott, who replaced Darren O’Neill, and Gavin Payne lost out to Essex county duo Lennie Holmes and Mick Peel.

Brightlingsea soon levelled with Joe Twinn and Sam Lepley beating Nick Benson and Gary Barber in 38 darts, with Lepley averaging an impressive 32.83.

Brightlingsea then went ahead, with the consistent pairing of Alan Collins and Kevin Edwards beating Stephen Kiamil and Aaron Searle.

The Rascals levelled up in the last pairs match as Ben Adams and Phil Daldry beat Tony Osborne and Bryan Margerison in 38 darts, hitting six ton plus scores.

In the singles, Brightlingsea got off to a flyer with Osborne winning 3-0 with a great average of 33.40 over Barber.

He won in 16, 14 and 15 darts, hitting a 180 and shooting out on 104 in the third leg - the joint highest average in the league so far.

The Rascals then levelled to 3-3, as Kiamil hit a man-of-the-match average in beating Scott 3-0 in 15, 18 and 18 darts, averaging 29.47.

Rayleigh went in front again in this tight battle, as Peel beat Lepley in four legs in a scrappy affair.

This time it was Brightlingsea’s turn to level, as Margerison played excellently in his 3-2 win over Benson, with winning legs of 17, 18 and 15.

Margerison hit ten ton plus scores and a 180, averaging 28.90.

Rascals restored the lead to 5-4 when youngster Lewis Gilson was very impressive as he beat Collins 3-1, with winning legs of 14, 27 and 19.

Gilson hit two 180s and averaged 25.44.

Brightlingsea then showed some class and won the last three sets to win the match.

The game of the night proceeded in the sixth set, with Twinn edging out Holmes in five legs.

Twinn won in 15, 18 and 14 darts, averaging 29.94.

Holmes averaged 27.21.

Twinn hit 12 ton plus scores and both players hit a maximum in a quality contest.

Edwards then beat Adams 3-0, shooting out on 109 in the first leg and averaging 26.84.

Last on for the Brightlingsea win was Payne, who made no mistake in bringing home the points, winning 3-1 over Daldry - despite the Rayleigh man hitting ten scores of 100.