2007 Season	PLD	W	D	L	F	A	PTS	GD
Bristol	9	8	0	1	117	64	16	53
Lancaster	9	7	1	1	162	78	15	84
Cheltenham	9	7	1	1	142	85	15	57
Manchester	9	7	0	2	121	73	14	48
Rotherham	9	5	0	4	120	98	10	22
Welsh Wanderers	9	3	1	5	96	118	7	-22
Penguin	9	2	2	5	71	115	6	-44
Polytechnic	9	1	0	8	59	113	2	-54
Portobello	9	1	0	8	84	145	2	-61
Otter	9	1	1	7	81	164	-3	-83

Bristol succeeded where other sides consistently fail and curbed the goal-scoring threat of NWPL top marksman Scott Carpenter in a vital 13-8 victory over Lancaster at Millfield School.

Carpenter – very much back in business against Rotherham and Welsh Wanderers later in the weekend – managed just one.

The sides were level at 3-3 after the first period, but Bristol gradually pulled clear, with the experienced trio of Jon Hutchings, Craig Figes and Matt Thresher each claiming four goals.

Lancaster’s defeat was their first in the league for two years.

It means that Bristol head for their LEN Trophy matches in Barcelona in top spot. Lancaster, Cheltenham, Manchester and Rotherham were the other teams to finish phase one of the season in the first five – a repeat of the 2006 line-up.

Bristol beat Welsh Wanderers 15-7 in their other Millfield match – a comfortable victory after building a 6-1 first period lead.

Lancaster secured second place with a 15-11 defeat of Rotherham – seven goals for Carpenter, three for Tom Curwen – and a 28-8 defeat of Welsh Wanderers, a game in which Carpenter helped himself to no less than 12.

Cheltenham achieved what could well be a record Division One victory – 33-7 against Otter – to finish phase one in third place. Apart from the Legge brothers, every member of the Cheltenham squad featured on the score sheet. Mark Banwell grabbed seven – and four more in the 17-8 defeat of Polytechnic.

It was another good weekend for Manchester, who won their three matches – against Rotherham (13-9), Portobello (23-6) and Otter (15-10).  Coach Norman Leighton featured among the scorers against Manchester – and later in the weekend proved his versatility by playing in goal!

Fraser Rutherford’s six goals ensured Portobello’s first win of the season – 14-10 against Otter.

Dan Laxton scored five in Welsh Wanderers’ 14-9 defeat of Poly. Bruce Elder and new recruit Montford scored three apiece for Penguin in a 13-5 defeat of Portobello. Penguin also beat Poly 8-5, but will compete in the second phase of the season alongside Welsh Wanderers, Otter, Polytechnic and Portobello.

The next Division One weekend is at Loughborough on 27/28 October and features the first appearance this season of GB Juniors. Fixtures for the second phase will be confirmed shortly.