Welsh Wanderers revived their hopes of a top five place in men's Division 2 - leading to qualification for Championship 1 in the second half of the season - with a 9-7 victory over bottom club Croydon Amphibians at Swansea.

Croydon built a 6-3 lead in the third period before Wanderers turned the tables, grabbing an 8-6 advantage with goals by Chris Wyatt, James Farror, Hugh Spencer, Dan Jones and Steffan Williams. Csaba Rekasi's third goal of the match cut the margin to 8-7 with two minutes remaining. But almost immediately Wyatt made the game safe for Wanderers with his second strike. 

Exeter are also eyeing a top five place - a prospect much improved with a dramatic 8-8 draw against division leaders West London Penguin. Early on, Exeter led 4-1 but they trailed 8-5 until the last two and half minutes when goals by Nicholas Hoversten (2) and Kameron Powell stole a vital point. Lazzaro Vallarino (4) and Bence Kadar (3) were the chief Penguin marksmen.

Picture (Trevor Hyde): Penguin's Bence Kadar (white cap) in action today against Exeter.

BWPL has already received a number of inquiries from men's and women's teams interested in joining the League in the 2017/18 season.

A reminder that the closing date for applications (see Rules section on this website) is not far away - 31 December.

​Successful applicants will be invited to take part in a qualifying tournament at the end of the current season.

Eight-goal Hamish Crichton led Cambridge to a crucial 18-12 victory over Hucknall in a men's Division 3 promotion decider at Gloucester's GL1 Pool today.

Winner of the match was guaranteed one of five places in Championship 2 in the second half of the BWPL season. But once Cambridge had wiped out Hucknall's early 4-2 lead, they controlled the match.

Crichton proved unstoppable in the pit forward position, winning three penalties in addition to his personal tally of goals. Nick Ludford, who scored five, gave strong support while, remarkably, 19-year-old Chris Ray matched Crichton's eight-goal haul for Hucknall.

Watford, 18-7 winners against Manchester Hawks, and Southampton, who beat Birmingham 17-8, also made it to Championship 2 along with Birmingham. Ealing emerged as fifth qualifiers with a hard-fought 20-16 win over Castleford in the final match of the Division 3 campaign.

​Photo (Trevor Hyde): On the charge . . . Hamish Crichton (blue cap) leads the Cambridge attack, challenged by Hucknall's Adrian Taylor.

Leeds beat Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Dolphins 16-8 to claim the vital fifth place in men's Division 5 at Walsall today. They were always in control after building a 5-0 advantage in the opening period.

Mike Cousins and George Rix both finished with four goals for Leeds, who join Tyldesley, Rotherham Metro, Caledonia Storm and Warwick in Championship 4 in the second phase. The Dolphins, Watford Saxons and Spalding drop out, but will have a chance to maintain their league status in the end-of-season play-offs.

There will be everything to play for on the final day (Sunday) of men's Division 3 at Gloucester's GL1 Pool, with only Castleford of the eight teams having no chance of finishing in the top five, leading to qualification for Championship 2 in the second phase of the season.

Southampton and Watford are already secure but the form book disappeared out of the window on Saturday evening as Ealing revived their promotion prospects with a 19-12 defeat of Southampton, including five goals from Ivan Tsonev and four from Jurijus Galinok.

Manchester Hawks looked set for victory over Hucknall when a goal by David Teasdale extended their lead to 11-8 five minutes from the end. But Hucknall caught up to 11-10 with a minute left thanks to goals by Davide Bernardi and Sam Joyce - and it was Joyce who earned his side a dramatic point with an equaliser 11 seconds from the end.

In men's Division 5 at Walsall, undefeated Tyldesley, Rotherham Metro, Caledonia Storm and Warwick have already qualified for Championship 4, the fifth place depending on the outcome of today's clash between Yorkshire rivals Leeds and Sheffield Dolphins.

Ben Stephenson was again in sparkling form for the Dolphins, scoring five in a 13-8 defeat of Spalding. Rotherham's 21-12 victory over Caledonia Storm featured nine strikes by Richard Leighton.

Watford Saxons and Spalding - plus either Sheffield Dolphins or Leeds - will be the teams to drop out at the end of the Division 5 programme, but with a chance to re-enter the League next season via the play-offs.

The battle for top five places in men's Division 3 - and qualification for Championship 2 in the second phase of the British League season - hotted up at the Gloucester GL1 Centre today.

Southampton effectively made sure of going through when goals in the last two minutes by Goulielmos Logothetis and Charles Roberts earned a 9-9 draw with Hucknall. Watford are well placed too - they beat Cambridge 11-5, including four goals apiece for Nandor Cseh and Ciaran Walshe.

James Moffat scored four as Manchester Hawks won for the first time - 13-6 against Ealing. Birmingham's clash with Castleford was a marathon affair featuring 28 goals and 26 exclusion fouls - with Birmingham taking the points at 18-10.

Addison Brown was once again top marksman for Tyldesley as they retained a 100 per cent record from six games by defeating men's Division 5 opponents Leeds 16-8 at Walsall today.

Brown scored six - as did Ben Stephenson in a losing cause for Sheffield Dolphins. His team went down 12-8 by Warwick, for whom Ashley Keen and John Dyer both bagged four. Caledonia Storm won 14-10 against Spalding while experienced Richard Leighton was on target four times for Rotherham Metro, 19-5 winners against Watford Saxons.

Otter Lutra trailed for much of their women's Division 2 derby clash with West London Penguin at Plymouth Life Centre until a late rally secured an 8-7 win - and retained their 100 per cent record at the top of the table.

​Penguin looked on course for victory when a backhand goal from pit forward Fiona Geer improved their lead to 7-4 late in the third period. But Otter dominated the final quarter, scoring through Katie Cutler (2), Heather Keith and Emma Shkurka to take the points.

​Fleur Kennedy (7) and Lucy Shaw (5) were leading scorers for Liverpool Liver Birds, who outplayed home club Devonport Royal 20-5. Two of Welsh Wanderers' youngest players - Emma Gillie and Amy Potter - both score four as their team beat Tyldesley 14-5. And Manchester Comets cruised to a 15-4 win against Mid Sussex Marlins.

​In women's Division 3 at Walsall, Claire O'Sullivan scored the winner for Birmingham - 8-7 against Polytechnic. Leeds Hammerheads relaxed too soon against Southampton as their 10-6 lead was cut late on as their opponents scored through Amy Ennion, Sarah Rogers and Rachael Mell. But Leeds held out for a 10-9 win, which means that they and Liverpool Water Beatles - runaway 26-7 winners against Sheffield Stingrays - go into the final weekend of the first phase with perfect records from five games.

​Andrea Norris notched six for English Roses, who floored Sunderland 21-3.

​Photo (Trevor Hyde): They start them young at the Otter club! Here's a happy Otter bench at Plymouth Life Centre with little Lucy Williams, who will be four on 25 November. Mum Lindsey was busy helping her team to their narrow victory over Penguin when this picture was taken. The other bench members (L-R) are: Heather Keith, Isabel Keith, Sarah Connolly, Catherine Freeman and Nahn van Wyn.

The British League's first venture into the South-West - to Plymouth Life Centre - failed to inspire home club Devonport Royal, who went down 14-7 to Tyldesley in women's Division 2. Devonport struggled to contain Grace Morley, who scored four of Tyldesley's goals. The Devon club also came up against an excellent goalkeeper in 18-year-old  Hayley Price, who made several top saves.

Otter Lutra made it four wins out of four in the same division, beating top-of-the-table rivals Welsh Wanderers 13-8, including three goals each for Katy Cutler, Holly Campbell and Nahn van Wyk. Photo (Trevor Hyde): Wanderers' Dani Nice sandwiched by Sarah Connolly and Kaie Cutler.

Penguin Emperors came from 6-5 behind to beat Manchester Comets 8-7 with late goals by Emma Shaw (2) and Jemma Senczyszyn. Liverpool Liver Birds defeated Mid Sussex Marlins 11-5.

At Walsall, Liverpool Water Beatles and Leeds Hammerheads strengthened their position as joint leaders of women's Division 3. Liverpool beat English Roses 12-8 while Leeds Hammerheads won 12-5 against Sunderland.

The attention of BWPL clubs and officials is drawn to the following statement from the British League:

​The BWPL has recently become aware that betting on its matches has taken place. The League and the ASA do not currently have any rules, regulations and guidance specifically relating to betting in our sport but are reviewing the matter.

​Until such time as further guidance is offered, the League advises its officials and members to consider carefully before engaging in any betting activity and advises against being a party to any betting on a match where they have an involvement.