Northumberland Veterans narrowly missed out on promotion from the third  division of the County Championships when they were held to a draw by Durham.  Dave Robson and Jim Stamas were both narrowly beaten by Darren McVitie and John  Williamson respectively as Durham got off to a good start before Eddie Smith  got  Northumberland on the scoresheet by beating Marc Cotton. The mixed  doubles pairing of McVitie and Lynne Herrington restored Durham’s two set lead  but the tables then turned with Robson defeating Williamson, Karen Henry coming  out on top against Herrington and Smith and Robson taking the Mens Doubles to  give their side the lead. Cotton then levelled things again with a win over  Stamas before Smith got North in front again by beating McVitie. All then  depended on the final mixed doubles set which Durham took when Williamson and  Herrington beat Stamas and Henry. The Draw gave Durham the third division title  but left Northumberland to play in the third tier again next season.

Cramlington Casuals were without the Richardson boys for their visit to  Springwell  but with Andrew Wilkinson again winning all of his sets they  won 7 –3 with Gary Sangster getting two, their father Barry one and Wilkinson  and Sangster taking the doubles. NESLC Eagles had Eddie Smith in form when they  visited Saint Chads with three victories and with Jim Stamas and Richard Wilson  getting one each and Smith and Stamas winning the doubles they came away with a  6 – 4 victory. The Casuals are now one point ahead of the Eagles with a game in  hand and the two sides clash this week in what should decide the title.

In the first division Riding Mill A are now well placed to gain promotion  along with Byker after their 9 –1 victory over Springwell B which condemned  Springwell to relegation with Matfen winning again at Old England Jacks. The  Mill now only need to draw their last match against North Fire B to ensure that  they go up at the expense of Tyne Dock.

The promotion battle in the second division is also going to the final set  of matches. YMCA N.Tyneside defeated a depleted Newton B team to complete their  fixtures  but Cramlington Cobras demolished Birtley 10 – 0 and only need  two points from the match with Old England Crocks to make sure that they go up.  With Mortimer still having two matches to play and only needing five points it  looks likely that the YMCA will miss out.

Aubrey Drapkin