Report by Graham Frankel

THANKS to a superb performance by our top team, BATTS has secured its place in the premier division of the Senior British League next season.

In the final match, played at home against our old rivals Fusion on 19th May, the tension was electric. Having lost to Cardiff 5 – 3 a week earlier,

BATTS needed to secure just one singles win from the Fusion match to ensure survival.

As expected, Fusion arrived with a strong team. The first four singles all went to our visitors. Niall Cameron, the Scottish international playing at number two for Fusion, rescued four match points to beat Jack Bennett. Peter Cleminson lost a very tight five setter to the talented defender Joseph Hee. Steve Beerling took the first set against Lorestas Trumpauskas, but the experienced veteran then stepped up a gear to win the next three comfortably. When Ethan Walsh lost to James Smith, the possibility of relegation loomed.

The next pair of matches also started badly. Ethan was up against Niall Cameron while Jack played Lorestas Trumpauskas. The outlook was grim. Trumpauskas had recently become the national O40 champion, while Cameron was buoyant after his win against Jack. Things went from bad to worse when both the BATTS players went 2 – 1 down. But then, in a remarkable reversal, Jack and Ethan showed fantastic courage to counter the attacks of their opponents to win in five sets. In the final round of matches, Peter overcame James Smith in three straight, but very close, games, while Steve Beerling lost in four to Joseph Hee.

Despite losing the match BATTS achieved what was needed, and great credit must go to Neil who masterminded the squad and looked after the teams during another season that included organising a vast amount of planning and travel.