Drumchapel Glasgow, favourites to retain their Premier Division crown have made a very strong start to the season and on this showing it will be a major surprise if they don‘t win this division as well. In Liu Kuan they have the best player in this division and one who would surely relish playing in the Premier Division. Kuan was only tested twice, both times in the match against Barrow Fast Bats (which they won 6-2). The hard-hitting Jonathan Crawford pushed him all the way before succumbing 7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10, 5-11 and Bradley Evans also went down fighting. Brad missed out 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 7-11, 7-11. The big surprise here was the very impressive display by Drumchapel no. two Craig Hardie and he produced a truly faultless performance as he beat England no. 37 Evans decisively 11-5, 11-8, 11-3. Hardie faced something of a reality check in his second singles, but, he again came up trumps, with an altogether different 13-15, 11-9, 12-10, 11-5 win over a battling Tristran Swan.

Drumchapel had it all their own way as they beat a more than reasonable Grantham side 8-0 with Liu Kuan, Craig Hardie, Terry McLernon and Richard Main all playing well. Richard Main made his presence felt, getting the better of Andrew Leighton 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 and most impressively Eddie Roofe 11-7, 11-6, 11-6. Terry McLernon Junior came up trumps in the closest game of the match, seeing off former Premier Division player Andy Wignall 10-12, 11-5, 13-11, 3-11, 12-10.

Drumchapel’s win over Halton I, saw the Scots tested for the only time of the weekend. England no. eight Veteran Richard Lightowler scored an excellent 13-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-13, 13-11 win over Craig Hardie but he was made to pay for it in his second singles. Liu Kuan took no prisoners as he blasted his way past Lightowler 11-6, 11-3, 11-4. Chris Ford did well to beat Terry McLernon Junior 11-9, 5-11, 2-11, 11-6, 16-14 and Michael Moir did even better as he made the scoreline 3-4 by getting the better of Craig Hardie 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6. However, it didn’t lead to them picking up a point. Richard Main won his second singles by getting the better of Mark Ramsbottom over four ends.

Ormesby II impressed, taking seven points out of eight. They beat Northfield 6-2 in a well contested local Derby in which five games were decided in a fifth end, and they won four of them. It was a case of three of the four Ormesby players excelling in the same match. Patrick Thomas beat both Danny Welsh (3-2) and Bryn Drinkhall (3-0), whilst Andrew Wilson scored superb wins over Drinkhall (3-2) and Mark Simon (3-2) and Karen Shepherd excelled by getting the better of Mark Simon (3-1) and Tony Wilson (3-2). Ormesby’s dropped point came against Grantham in round four, further proof if any is needed of just how strong Drumchapel Glasgow II are. Patrick Thomas (eight wins out of eight for the weekend) was blameless and he powered his way past Andy Wignall (11-7, 11-8, 11-4) as well as Dave Harvey (11-3, 11-2, 7-11, 11-6) but, Grantham hit back well elsewhere. Andrew Leighton and Eddie Roofe were both 3-0 winners against Karen Shepherd and Dave Harvey secured a vital 11-9, 2-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 opening game victory over Andy Wilson. Wignall played his part with an all guns-blazing 11-3, 11-3, 11-8 victory against Steven Brunskill.

Patrick Thomas produced another top-draw performance in Ormesby II’s 5-3 victory over Barrow I. He beat both Jonathan Crawford (11-8, 11-8, 11-9) and Bradley Evans (11-8, 11-8, 11-7). England no. 74 Andy Wilson who looks to have added a new level to his game over the summer months also excelled. He showed tenacity to stop Bradley Evans 12-10, 11-4, 16-14 as well as grit and determination as he just saw off Tristran Swan 6-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 12-10.

Barrow vs. Sycamore

Barrow, who were without their top player – Scottish international Gavin Rumgay did well to hold runaway Division One South & Midlands Champions Sycamore to a draw. Sycamore’s Sam Perry played his part by beating Jonathan Crawford (11-5, 11-9, 11-6) as well as Bradley Evans (11-5, 11-7, 13-11) whilst the old Warrior himself – Denis Neale showed all the experience you would expect from a former England number one. He beat both Sean Cullen (13-11, 7-11, 8- 11, 11-9, 11-9) and Adam Frost (3-11, 11-5, 11-7,13-11).

Barrow vs. Derwent I

Derwent, having previously beaten Brighton decisively 7-1, continued on their winning ways by getting the better of Barrow 5-3. Barrow led 3-2 after Bradley Evans had recorded his second win, a hard-fought 11-9,11-6, 4-11, 5-11, 11-9 success against Mark Simpson but Derwent weren’t finished. Simon Noutch came through in five ends against Denis Neale whilst a battling Stephen Horsfield came up trumps in the fifth game against Jonathan Crawford. Richard Smith eventually sealed his side’s victory after a marathon match 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9 against Scott Crawford.

Barrow vs. Brighton I

Round three produced some of the best play of the weekend and Brighton started well against Barrow, taking a 2-0 lead. Jack Boult scored an outstanding 13-11, 9-11, 13-11, 4-11, 11-9 win over Bradley Evans and Dov Katz did well to get the better of Jonathan Crawford 8-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-5, 11-8.
However, the fast-improving Scott Crawford (certainly one of the most improved players over the course of the season) won twice to lead the Barrow fight-back. He showed real determination to beat Reece Tan 7-11, 12-10, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9 and he sealed his side’s victory by getting the better of Jon Clarke 11-8, 12- 14, 11-7, 11-8.

Barrow vs. Urban Progress I

Urban Progress I overcome Barrow 6-2 in a match which was marred by one controversial incident. Denis Neale and Zoltan Hosszu were locked in a spell-binding encounter at one game all and at 10-10 in the second game Denis was faulted for a foul service. He was understandably very annoyed at the decision (you have to question if it had to be made at such an important stage of the game – and there was a lot of sympathy for Denis with this). The all-action William Maybanks gave another demonstration that he was the outstanding player of the weekend beating Bradley Evans 11-6, 11-5, 13-11.

Barrow vs. Elgre Nottingham I

The match between Barrow and Elgre Nottingham ended in a draw. Bradley Evans won twice for Barrow whilst Scott Crawford beat Emma Vickers over five ends and Jonathan Crawford got the better of Stewart Mudie 11-5, 12-10, 11-9.

Barrow vs Sycamore

Barrow vs Derwent I

Brighton I vs Barrow

Barrow vs Urban Progress I

Elgre Nottingham I vs Barrow

Click here to see the British League Play-Off tables and averages.

Six teams will battle it out at the Draycott & Long Eaton Table Tennis Centre in Derbyshire over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 23rd and 24th May, for two places in next year’s British League Premier Division.

If the competition is as fiercely fought as it was last year, then the matches should be very exciting indeed. The three teams who were crowned Champions in their respective Divisions were: Derwent in Division One North, Urban Progress in Division One South and Sycamore in Division One South and Midlands. These will undoubtedly be amongst the teams to watch out for, but don’t write off the three other sides either.

Division One South runners-up Brighton cannot be discounted. They have real depth in their team with the fast-improving Cadets Zak Zilesnick and Reece Tan in the numbers three and four positions. Similarly, you can’t discount Elgre Nottingham either. They may have finished a massive ten points behind an outstanding Sycamore side of Kevin Dolder, Sam Perry, Adam Frost, Jason Ramage, Sean Cullen and Danny Lowe but their team has a nice blend of experience and youthful promise. The Elgre squad of Chris Rogers, Lee Neil, Stewart Mudie, Mark Green, David Arrowsmith and Emma Vickers will relish the prospect of going into this weekend as under-dogs.

Barrow’s fortunes will depend to a great extent whether Scottish number one Gavin Rumgay is available. However, this looks extremely doubtful because of the clash with the Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow. However, the hard-hitting and improving brothers Jonathan and Scott Crawford will still be a force to be reckoned with and with former English number one Denis Neale in their squad, as well as England no. 36 Bradley Evans no one will take them too lightly.

Likely squads are as follows:
Derwent: Simon Noutch, Mark Simpson, Stephen Horsfield, Richard Smith, Trevor Williams, Richard Moss.
Barrow: Gavin Rumgay, Bradley Evans, Jonathan Crawford, Scott Crawford, Denis Neale, Tristran Swan, Steve Dixon.
Urban Progress: Tibor Kadar, William Maybanks, Costas Papantoniou, Laszlo Varga, Zoltan Hosszu.
Brighton: Alexander Ioannou, Dov Katz, Jack Boult, Zak Zilesnick, Reece Tan.
Sycamore: Kevin Dolder, Sam Perry, Adam Frost, Jason Ramage, Sean Cullen, Danny Lowe.
Elgre Nottingham: Chris Rogers, Lee Neil, Stewart Mudie, Mark Green, David Arrowsmith, Emma Vickers.

Click here to see the British League Play-Off results.