Northumbria League Premier Division leaders Cramlington Casuals suffered their first defeat of the season when they were beaten at home by Saint Chads. Without Andrew Wilkinson they struggled against the visitors and although Barry and Ryan Richardson won two sets each they went down 6 - 4. Chris Blake and Jimmy Scope each got two singles  for the Saints and combined to win the doubles and Dave Bissett completed the scoring with victory over Dean Richardson. Cramlington's Tigers team of Dave Robson, Rob Reed and John Williamson were too good for Newton A and ran out 9 - 1 winners.

Byker TTC are the new leaders in the first division after an 8 - 2 victory over Cramlington Trojans with Phil Prady and Keith Patterson both achieving hat tricks. Riding Mill had a good week with their A team defeating a weakened Old England Jacks 7 - 3, Mark O'Connor being unbeaten and their B team winning 7 -3 away at Matfen. Maurice Cheek was the B teams star player.

Mortimer consolidated their lead at the top of division two thanks to hat tricks from Jamie Westwater and Dave Bannon as Ouston A were defeated 8 - 2. Birtley move into second place after three sets from Bob Dodds helped them to a 6 -4 win over Newton B and followed this up when their team of John Rowell, Mike Bradley and Billy Edwards crushed Corinthians 10 - 0.

In the third division relegation threatened NESLC Codgers came away from Ouston C with a valuable draw, Dave Swan and Russell Roper getting two each but both losing out to an unbeaten Tom Fowle. YMCA North Tyneside C are slowly climbing the table and they gained another five points when they held Spartans to a draw. Ray Pini was the man of the match with victories against Adam Shafiq and Kit Robinson and helping Ron Bain to success in the doubles. Mike Dunn and Robinson both won twice for  the Spartans.

Matfen C suffered a set back to their promotion hopes from division four when they entertained the Newton D team of Julian Manuel, David Neal and Tom Manuel and could only draw despite two sets each from Mark Perrin and Richard Rayfield.

 

Aubrey Drapkin