Today saw the third round of matches in the Senior British League at DHS London Progress. The Afternoon round of this one day weekend comprised several critical matches

BATTS Team Peniel had started the weekend as 6th v 7th but with BATTS Team Peniel winning in the morning and Ellenborough losing BATTS had the advantage as the match between the two started.

Only Lorestas Trumpauskas had an answer to the BATTS players beating John Holland in 3 games and Wang Zheng in 4 games, Jimmy Walsh for Ellenborough had no answer to Wang Zeng or Ritchie Venner losing to both in 3 straight games. Zac Zilesnick for BATTS also won both his games 3 straight beating both Alex Green and Mindaugas Sinkus who also lost their other games, Mindaugus to Richie Venner and Alex to John Holland. 6-2 to BATTS probably makes them safe from any chance of relegation.

Leaders Drumchapel Glasgow had little difficulty brushing aside the resistance of Derwent, the team propping up the Premier Division Table, without dropping an individual match - score 8-0, For Derwent, Stephen Horsfield took Drumchapel No 4 Craig Hardie to 5 sets and took an end off Craig Howeson but that was as close as they got.

The other matches were much closer 2nd place Westfield against 3rd place DHS Greenhouse Progress was a tremendous tussle. Westfield started well as Damien Nicholls was on top all the way against Jason Sugrue winning in three straight games, The Progress Chinese contingent and Daniel Basterfield showed their class in the next three, first Chen Po Huang beat Niall Cameron in five sets, Daniel Basterfield won a marathon against Shaun Marples, 9-9 in the fifth and Shaun to serve, what were the odds on Daniel taking it 11-9, well he did. Richard Andrews was no match for Tong Da Qing losing in three sets. The fifth match was also comfortable for Chen Po Huang as he dispatched Damien Nicholls in three straight sets and then Jason Sugrue closed the win for Progress with a straight sets victory over Shaun Marples. That gave the Match to Progress. The final two individual matches went to Westfield as Niall Cameron won another superb contest against Tong Da Qing in five sets. Richard Andrews finished proceedings with a good three straight set win over Daniel Basterfield. Result 5-3 to DHS Greenhouse Progress and with it second place in the Division moving into the final weekend of the season.

Another very competitive match in the afternoon saw Sycamore and Ormesby clash.

Ormesby started the better with wins for Michael Marsden over Kevin Dolder in three straight games and David Meads over Sam Perry in 4 games but Sycamore hit back Daniel Lowe beat Karina Le Fevre in 4 games and Sean Cullen was to strong for Patrick Thomas winning 3 straight, honours even then at the half way point.

Once again Ormesby started the better in the second half of the Match, David Meads was the winner over Kevin Dolder in a titanic match. Meads took it in the fifth game 11-9. This was followed by a second win for Michael Marsden this time beating Daniel Lowe but as earlier Sycamore came back. Sam Perry beat Patrick Thomas in the fifth and Sean Cullen defeated Karina Le Fevre. It was honours even in the only draw of the day.

The winners on the day,  Drumchapel Glasgow who now take a 6 point cushion into the final round of matches, DHS Greenhouse progress who wrested 2nd position by one point from Westfield and BATTS Team Peniel whose two wins almost certainly will keep them in the Premier Division next year.

Of those who didn't do so well, Derwent look doomed and Ellenborough will have to pull out all the stops if they are to avoid joining them in the move downwards.