Berkhamsted 1 have taken a huge step towards claiming the Division 1 title, starting 2012 with two more wins to make it 8 out of 8 and a clear lead at the top of the table. First to fall were the Old Westminsters 1 who travelled to Berkhamsted last Sunday. The OWs put up a strong performance, especially Laurie Brock and Ed Rose at first pair, who scame away with an impressive straight games win over Doug Foster and Ryan Perrie. The strength in depth of the Berkhamsted team was too much for the OW second and third pairs, however, as Ant Theodossi and Jeremy O'Neill won at second and Andrew Joyce and George Campbell - despite nursing an injury - won at third.

Their most likely challengers, the Old Harrovians, also returned from the Christmas break with a convincing win over the Westminsters. The match followed a similar pattern to the Berkhamsted game for the OWs, with second and third pairs falling to Richard Tyler and Ross Bryan and Jamie Fleming and James Hammond of the OHs. Once again it was left to Brock and Rose to fight the OW corner and they managed to take Tom Dunbar and Rob Beenstock to a fifth game before time ran out and a draw was declared.

Everything was nicely set up for the crucial midweek battle between Berkhamsted and the Harrovians at Berkhamsted. The first blow was struck before a ball had been hit as the Harrovians were forced to concede third pair. On court the match was fiercely contested but Campbell and O'Neill had too much for Nick Shaw and Ross Bryan at second pair. Dunbar and Fleming were able to clinch a consolation point for the Harrovians with a three game first pair win over Foster and Theodossi, but the 2-1 win for Berkhamsted leaves them in an almost impregnable position at the top of the table.