WESSEX Rocare ladies notched up a rare win against Malory Eagles as the Dorset club celebrated a hat-trick of successes at the weekend.

The ladies’ 3-1 victory was the first time they had beaten their London-based rivals in the past three years of competition.

Despite trailing in both the opening sets, Wessex managed to edge into a 2-0 lead winning 25-23, 26-24 before losing the third.

Strong serving from the hosts, however, saw them close out the match with an emphatic 25-12 win in the fourth set.

A weakened Wessex LeAF BU men’s first team also recorded a victory over Malory Eagles with a narrow 3-2 success in the Super 8 League.

Wessex were without skipper Dan Hunter, who dislocated a finger while leading Bournemouth University to the National Student Cup a week earlier.

Great Britain international Ben Pipes’s serving paved the way for a 25-19 win for Wessex in the opening set.

The Eagles levelled by winning the second 25-18 before 16-year-old Nathan Fullerton played a leading role in Wessex’s 25-17 win in the third.

Wessex were once again pegged back 26-24 in the fourth set. It was the first time the Poole outfit had been taken to a tie-break set this season.

Fullerton continued his fine serving, while Carl Butcher was restored into the line-up as Wessex won 15-11.

Wessex travel to league leaders Team Northumbria this weekend before hosting Malory in the National Cup final on March 1.

Completing the weekend treble for Wessex were the men’s second team who ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Guildford International.

The team’s bid for promotion could be decided on March 9 when they lock horns with title rivals Horndean.