In the third round of the Norwich Union Table Tennis Championships in Brighton, England, on Thursday (8 January) English players showed top from by winning both their men's doubles match against France and men's singles against Yugoslavia.

In the doubles Desmond Douglas -- currently rated as England's number one player -- and Denis Neale, the number four seed in the Championships, beat C. Martin and J. Constant of France in two straight sets 21-10, 21-12.

In the singles match, number one seed Anton Stipancic of Yugoslavia was beaten by the English player Nicky Jarvis. Jarvis lost the first set 10-21, but then went on to outgun Stipancic 21-15, 22-20.

In another third round men's singles match, number three seed and former World Champion Stellan Bengtsson of Sweden beat the Czechoslovakian player M. Schenk in two straight sets, 21-14, 21-11.

The Norwich Union International Championships are recognised as a testing tournament, and provide an opportunity for national squads to assess their development for the World Championships, which are to be held next year in Birmingham, England.

SYNOPSIS: The Dome pavilion in Brighton, England, the location for one of the most testing tournaments of the international table tennis circuit ... where the best of Europe's players gathered on Thursday for the Norwich Union International Championships. One of the most exciting matches was this, the third round men's doubles confrontation between England and France. Jamaican-born Desmond Douglas is England's current number one player and his partner, Denis Neale is the number four seed. They had an easy win over Martin and Constant of France.

Another highlight of Thursday's play was the men's singles match between former World Champion and number three seed Stellan Bengtsson of Sweden and M. Schenk of Czechoslovakia. Although Schenk put up a fight, he was no match for the Swede who has reached top form again this season. He won in two sets.

But undoubtedly the surprise of the day came with this match between number one seed Anton Stipancic of Yugoslavia and Nicky Jarvis of England, seeded number six. From the start it looked as if the touch and craftsmanship of Stipancic's play was going to carry him through and he took the first set, twenty-one - ten.

But Jarvis found some amazing form and this, coupled with his already legendary determination and well-developed style, took him into a commanding position. The second set was Jarvis's at twenty-one - fifteen.

As the play progressed Stipancic, who is currently ranked number two in Europe, put up a stiff fight and the third set was very closely contested ... but Jarvis eventually won by a hairs breadth at twenty-two - twenty.