Uckfield's Nigel Eckersley, the No 7 ranked veteran in England, just failed to reach the singles final at the Butterfly Western Open in Bath.

He played a gallant but losing role in the semi-finals when he was beaten 12-14, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 9-11 by Welshman Steve Hall.

Eckersley said: "I was leading in all five games. He won two medals at the European champions and he is a real fighter."

Both men use racquets with a controversial but legal covering which only has pimples on the defensive side. The result is more control in defence.

Hall is a technical experts on bats and has had seven years experience with this surface. Eckersley has been using it for the last three months.

Sussex had two medal winners at Bath. Jack Boult of Brighton University lifted the Band 2 trophy with a final round victory 3-1 against Andrew Laws from Surrey.

Worthing's 6ft 3in Gary Wilson came from behind in all four games to win the Band 4 final against Chris Doran from Northampton.