The battle for survival in the Premier Division of the Northumbria League  has gone to the wire after Newton lost 7 – 3 at Springwell and Newcastle  Communities drew with Cramlington Casuals. All now depends on the final match  when Newton entertain YMCA North Tyneside needing to win to stay in the top  flight and relegate the Communities. Anthony Ainley won all of his sets at  Springwell but Colin Hunt, Dave Pringle and Alex Smith won the rest for the home  team. Andrew Wilkinson got a hat-trick for the Casuals and Barry Richardson won  two but two sets from Clara Chau and one each by David Tang and Terry Kwong  forced a draw for the Chinese club, Chau and Tang also winning the  doubles.

In the second division Mortimer took the title when Dave  Bannon(3)    Dick Karczewski(2) Jamie Westwater(2) and the  doubles pairing of Bannon and Karczewski saw them to an 8 – 2 success away at  Birtley. Cramlington Cobras finish in second spot.

YMCA North Tyneside A team reached the final of the Handicap cup with a win  over Ouston A. Andy Dryden got them off on the right foot by overcoming Mark  Rodgers who had a 13 point start in three games and Nigel Rodgers then overcame  a six point start to beat Dan Dodds in three ends. Paul Baines defeated Mike  Lyons (+10),Nigel Rodgers beat  Mark Rodgers and Dryden got the better of  Lyons to put the YM through. In the other semi final Cramlington Cobras team of  Duncan Wraight, John Morton and Alan Hedley met some spirited resistance from  the Sacriston Comets fourth division side of Colin Pritchard, Nikki Irwin and  Debbie Irwin but were always in control and ran out winners.

The final is at Sporting Club, Cramlington on Thursday night.

Aubrey Drapkin