It was semi-finals night at the Mercedes Benz Dorch-ester Ratings Tournament.

First up were the two men's matches. Tom Adorian played Ed Francis, champion of nine previous matches, in the Section Three semi-final.

Both men seemed to feel the pressure of the event, making uncharacteristic mistakes, but it was Adorian who took the first set 6-4, and eventually the second 6-4, despite spirited efforts from his opponent.

Paul Scott had managed against the odds to secure himself a place in Men's Section Four semi-final.

His younger opponent Tim Mason served and played well and Scott found himself on the receiving end of a very fast-paced game.

Scott rallied well but it was Mason who proceeds to the final on Saturday.

There followed three very exciting Ladies' semi-finals.

On adjacent courts Section Two semis were played out between Rhose Lawes and Helen Austin, and between Caroline Cash and Joy Hennessy. Lawes ran away with the first set but then began to struggle with Austin's increasingly good shots.

Although Austin went a game up towards the end of the second set Lawes rose to the occasion and took the next two games and the match.

Cash from Bridport had a close game with her opponent Joy Hennessy from Weymouth. Although Cash took the first set 6-2, she was made to tussle for the next.

The deceptive shots from Hennessy particularly on the backhand thwarted her attempts to finish the match quickly but Cash did win the set and match in the end.

In a very long three set match Sally Davis and Sally Easterbrooke were playing for a place in the Ladies' Tableau Final. The two Sallys took a set apiece in the closely fought match.

In the third they played some stunning rallies that were enjoyed by the watching crowd. Both girls hardly made a mistake but eventually it was Sally Davis who won the last set 6-4.

RESULTS

Section Three (sponsored by Andy Whitty, Edwards and Keeping - Chartered Accountants and Greg Cameron Day):

Tom Adorian beat Ed Francis 6-4, 6-4.

Section Four (sponsored by Paul Scott Architect, PR Elford- Plumbing, Mike Clarke):

Tim Mason beat Paul Scott 6-2, 6-2.

Ladies Section Two (sponsored by Dorchester Beauty Therapy Clinic):

Caroline Cash beat Joy Hennessy 6-2, 6-4;

Rhose Lawes beat Helen Austin 6-1, 7-5.

Ladies Tableau (sponsored by Sherborne World of Antiques): Sally Davis beat Sally Easterbrooke 6-3, 2-6, 6-4