Baptist C had seized the early initiative through Jacek Koltuniuk (Scr) with Smith adding a second against Mark Pearson (+5). Mike Brocklebank (+2) pulled one back against Chris Marshall (+4) and then helped
Thompson to take the first doubles.

Koltuniuk and Marshall restored the Baptist lead before Brocklebank got the better of Smith and shared the second doubles with Pearson.

Marshall stood firm to account for Pearson 12-10 in the fifth. But Rovers ace Brocklebank was inspired as he completed his win 11-9 after five tight ends. Then came Thompson.

The GRP Trophy was first played for in 1993 – eight years before the 'best of five, up to 11' scoring system was introduced on a worldwide level.

The first four winners were the F, K, M and A sides of Kettering Town. But Graham Robinson, managing director of GRP Designs, has never got his hands on the trophy.

It was a close call this time with two wins from Keith Parrott (-4) and a doubles in tandem with Graham Robinson (Scr), plus singles for the Robinson brothers, putting Town in sight of victory.

Imps' unbeaten Aiden Smith (+6) was equal to the task, however, by
coming from two games to one down to seal a 15-8 final-end success.

Graham Robinson was left to play the decider against Jamie Burgess and after a hard-fought encounter the latter settled the tie 19-17, 11-6, 16-18, 11-9, 11-8 and his side advanced to the second round.

Westfield A led three times against Town A but couldn't apply the finishing touch after two wins from Matt Carter (+2), one from Jack Coleman (+3) and a Carter/Coleman doubles had given the Wellingborough side a 4-2 lead.

John Fuller had to be close to his best to get the better of Joel Carter (+1) but found things easier against Coleman.

Fuller (Scr) partnered Mike Hawes (+3) to take the second doubles while
Carter put Westfield ahead when he beat Hawes 12-10 in the fifth.

However, Ken Philipson (+2) squared the match with a close finish against Coleman. And in the decider the more experienced Fuller (Scr) scraped through 11-9 in the fifth against Carter to give Town a chance of retaining the trophy.

At one stage Corby C looked certain to progress at the expense of Rothborough A when leading 4-0 with Keith McLaren (+6) 11-3, 11-7, 10-3 up on Jordan Dainty (Scr).

Dainty, though, dug deep to engineer a spectacular comeback while saving eight match points in the process.

So inspired were his colleagues, Helen Watts (+3) and David Small (+1), that they beat Stewart Abraham (+6) and Peter Hill (+6) respectively while Dainty and Watts levelled the scores with a straight-game doubles.

Dainty beat Abraham in four only for McLaren to restore parity at 5-5. The decider was short and sweet with Watts winning in straight games to give her side the chance of going further than last season's semi-final.

Corby B's Stephen Broughton (+4) made all the difference when he beat Baptist B's Nash Hooda (+4) followed by even better results against Asif Manji (Scr) and Andy Cheesewright (+2).

However, Baptist B had strength in depth with their trio establishing a 5-2 lead. The second doubles was won by Corby while Broughton and Rob
Warrander (+3) brought Corby level at 5-5.

Henry Arthur then failed to give Hooda a four-point start and Baptist B were through to the next stage after a match lasting three hours.

With Ian Donaldson (Scr) incapacitated, Eagles faced Cheetahs with two players. The previous week in Division One, Jon Taylor-Burt (+3) beat Adrian Ellmer (Scr) while Paul Watts had accounted for Chris Warliker on level terms.

Now with a three-point starting advantage neither Cheetahs player could repeat the feat. Eagles started three down but then won five in a row.

Within sight of victory, Eagles were halted – first by Taylor-Burt's win against Warliker (Scr) and then by a Burt/Watts doubles.

Finally skipper Ellmer came to the rescue by completing his hat-trick
with a fourth-end win against Tony Gaziano (5) and the two-man team had triumphed.

Athletic were another side to field just two players with a maximum from Kevin Shield (+5) the highlight of the evening.

Barry Thompson won twice but lost 11-8 in the fifth to Richard Elliott (Scr). The doubles proved the key and despite close finishes Higham Band won them both with Mark Nannery (+2) and Andy Harrison (+3) making vital contributions.

Rothborough D were always ahead of the game against Hornets – leading 4-0 before taking the verdict 6-1.

Luke Saywood (+2) was the hat-trick man after taking the first of the evening 11-9 in the fifth against Ron Palfrey (+1) and the last in identical fashion against Rhys Lewis (+3).

Anthony Yeomans (+2) and Kelvin Linnett (Scr) both won twice as did Hornets' Ron Palfrey.

Baptist F tried to emulate Eagles and win with two players. But they were always in trouble against club colleagues Baptist D.

Four rubbers went the full distance and all were won by the higher-rated side. Phil Dixon (+2) was the only unbeaten player while John Loasby (Scr) and Mark Hodgson (+1) lost only to James Young (+3).

Player of the week: Aaron Mooore. Team of the week: Thrapston Eagles.