Ross Kneller beat Butterfield captain Laurence Graham 3-0. (Picture by Brian Green, 0541192)

DESPITE losing their final match against Pulp Friction 14-8, Butterfield Bank managed to hang onto their lead to win the second half of the Carey Olsen Team League and force a play-off next week with Carey Olsen.

Their nearest rivals, Bourse, also lost to allow them the four-point victory. The closest rubber was between the number four string players Max Trouteaud, of Pulp Friction, and Butterfield’s Lynn Goodall.

The rallies were short as neither wanted to play the game at a furious pace. Both players were using the same tactics of lobbing and dropping whenever the opportunity presented itself. The ball, which is usually red hot in most matches at this stage, was now like an ice cube.

In the end Trouteaud showed he had the greater skills on the day as he ran out 9-4 winner in the deciding game.