BATTS have a home fixture to enjoy after producing a stunning performance to comeback from 3-0 down against Fusion last time out. Ralph Pattison, rightly awarded player of the match for his outstanding double, helped his side to a victory that just a few hours earlier seemed incredibly unlikely.

Club stalwart Chris Doran also played a key role throughout. He was the backbone of the team that managed a third-place finish last season, playing 17 matches across the campaign. If the Harlow-based club are to challenge for the title this time around, he will undoubtedly play a huge part over the coming months. 

Ormesby made a comfortable start to their campaign as they look to go one better than last year’s second-place finish. Whilst their introduction to this season was a little easier they will certainly not take a BATTS side high in confidence lightly.

Jose Enio Mendes, Sam Mabey, Benjamin Piggott were made to work early in their opening tie and they will expect no less from BATTS on Saturday. The north-east outfit will be strengthened by the return of David McBeath who will slot into the trio as their number one alongside Enio Mendes and Piggott. McBeath missed the opening round as he was playing for US side Texas Smash in the Major League Table Tennis, a competition in which he made a memorable roller shot which lit up social media.

Brighton answered any early questions as to whether they could defend their title emphatically in the opening round. Dropping just three ends on the way to a 7-0 victory against North Ayrshire they showed exactly why they will be feared by teams in the league. New signing Shoma Nishihara, a regular in the Swedish League, has made their squad feel even more formidable.

Just a month after picking up a his seventh Paralympic medal, Will Bayley was back in action as he played his part in the straightforward home victory. Despite admitting he felt he didn’t play his best, his admission that he “won ugly” and the importance of that, will be something other teams will be wary of throughout the campaign.

Their opponents on Saturday, Drumchapel Glasgow, will look to Scotland’s number five Danny Bajwa if they are to produce an upset and overturn the reigning champions. It’ll be an extremely tough ask for the side that joined the Premier Division last season, but they have shown real fight and in the top SBCL league no results are a foregone conclusion.

North Ayrshire’s tie against Fusion has been postponed to a later date. With Chris Main and Martin Johnson both on international duty for Scotland at the European Singles Championships, NATTC will rearrange the match for a future weekend.

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Fixtures:

Saturday 19th October

BATTS v Ormesby 14:00

Drumchapel Glasgow v Brighton TTC 15:00