Manager's Update #14
21-Jan-2008

1. 2008 has got off to a cracking start with an excellent joint London Progress-Barnet training camp being held at Southall with Jason Sugrue, Eli Baraty and Jaing Zhi Tao taking the lead. This was soon followed by top Progress girl, Charleigh Kirby, winning the Chesham 2 star under 16's event.
   
   Further success for Progress came when James Sprackling, Ashley Stokes and Rafi Marom gave the resurgent Vagabonds a good 7-2 thrashing in the Wembley and Harrow League and thereby knocking them off the top spot.
   
   All this action was soon forgotten as London Progress got ready to battle it out in the non-Prem British League third weekend. Five wins, three draws and two losses was a reasonable haul but our challenge in Div 1 South took a tumble as our former Prem star, Darren Blake showed what happens when you don't pick up a bat for 18 months. He battled hard, as everyone expects from the former international but this time to no avail. Darren dropped all four and the team lost both matches and is now four points behind a strong Brighton team itself comprising of two ex Progress players.
   
   It's not beyond hope but it looks doubtful even for the heroics we have come to expect from Sprackling's heroes.

2. In the third weekend of the NCL London Progress 1 consisting of James Han, Harpal Juttla and Indiveer Virk won all their four matches and are sitting just two points behind a strong West London Academy team in second place. With all the Progress top cadets ineligible to play in this event due to their Junior British League involvement, this is an excellent opportunity for our next generation of young stars to show their talents and they are certainly making a great show of it.

3. Finally, congratulations to Igor Morais for receiving his first England call-up. This is also a credit to Jason Sugrue who has coached him from a novice. Congratulations also to Hong Ming for his second win in the Batts Super League.

4. Next southall events are the NJL on Sunday 27th Jan followed by the West London LJTTS qualifying event on Sunday 3rd Feb (12-midday registration)

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