EALING Saxon Fencing Club's senior foil team claimed third place in the London Team Trophy in Barnes on Saturday.

The Huscarles trio Paul Lowen, Fred Thomas and Edz Maldoom - one of four Saxon teams taking part - won their three qualifiers and then saw off fellow Saxon team Thegns to find themselves in a re-run of the 2007 semi-final against ULU.

However, in contrast to the previous encounter, captain Lowen and a jaded looking Thomas were unable to put in big performances to take the pressure off their younger teammate and were comfortably beaten.

A clear win in the play-off to take third place was some consolation at the end of an event impressively run by the University of London Union Fencing Club.

Saxon fielded one below-strength team in the epee with Grant Smith leading the less-experienced Chris Thackeray and Tim Blondiau.

Expectations were not high, but the Saxons won all three of their qualifying matches to win a quarterfinal place against Streatham A. But in spite of a couple of brave fightbacks from Smith, Streatham were too strong and Saxon went out in sixth place.

In the foil, the Fyrds - Saxon's development team of Oliver Robinson, Edward Bentley and Alex Seale - fought commendably but were outclassed and went out in 14th place after the qualifying round.

The Thegns team demonstrated the depth that Saxon foil fencing is starting to develop - Clyde Fare, Chris Brown and Wayil Eisa representing a very strong second team.

They won two of their three qualifiers before their quarter-final with Huscarles, where they asked some questions of the selectors by staying in touch until the end.