France completed a hat trick when they retained the lead in the Generali European Open Teams Championship for the third successive day. In the top of the table clash they just got the better of the defending Champions Italy 16-14.

Bulgaria gets stronger each day and is now in second place. Italy has dropped to third and Norway and Poland follow them. Ireland and the Netherlands both scored 48 Victory Points and are closing in on the top five teams.

At the other end of the table Malta is making a valiant effort to avoid the wooden spoon and they have closed in on Cyprus.

Norway consolidated their position as leaders of the Generali European Ladies Teams Championship when they defeated Spain 23-7. The Netherlands moved into second place by virtue of defeating Sweden by an identical score.

France is third despite losing 14-16 to Great Britain. Fourth placed Austria had the bye whilst Denmark recovered some ground with a 22-8 win over Hungary. The British are sixth, followed by Turkey and the Czech Republic.

There is just the hint of a gap starting to appear between these eight teams and the rest of the field so any country hoping to make a move will have to do well in this important three match day.

Only one Victory Point separates the leading two teams in the Generali European Seniors Championship. France 1, who we must not forget were the winners in Montecatini in 1997, is making a strong defence of their title.

They are hotly pursued by PE/France who closed in on their fellow countrymen by virtue of the demolition job they performed on Italy 1 in front of the VuGraph audience.

Sweden 1 are third whilst France 2 are fourth. Germany, Poland 1 and Czech Republic are leading the chasing pack.