Cramlington Stingers side of David Graham, Iain Wood and Bonne Habekost  started the defence of their title in the Northumbria Summer League with a 10 – 0 home victory over Riding Mill but the result could easily have been closer  with the visitors’ Maurice Cheek only losing in five ends to Graham and Wood,  Mark O’Connor going down in five to Graham and Rob Scott and O’Connor losing 13 – 15 in the fifth in the doubles.

Andrew Wilkinson and Steve Penman were both unbeaten and with Phil Prady  getting two they came away from Seaburn Dene as 9 – 1 winners. Chris Dixon got  the lone set for the home team. Jimmy Scope was in form for Saint Chads, getting  a hat-trick as they beat Tyne Dock 6 – 4 and another player to win three was  Andy Dryden for YMCA North Tyneside who defeated Springwell A 7 – 3.

Sacriston Aces made a wining start in the second division, defeating  Springwell B 8 – 2. Waldemar Dzwonkowski won all of his sets and was backed up  by Duncan Fraser and Ian McAllister who both got two. Arran Kent and   Duncan Wraight both turned in unbeaten performances for Cramlington Cobras who  beat Mortimer 9 – 1 and Ken Lee was in form with three victories for N.E.C.A. to  give them a 6 – 4 win at Ouston. In the same division Old England edged out  North Fire 6 – 4

The Matfen teams in division three had mixed results with the A team going  down to Sacriston Bombers 7 – 3 for whom Ian McPherson won all of his sets, and  the strong B team of Dave Swan, Alex Holliday and John Henderson beating  Sacriston Comets 10 – 0. The Cramlington teams were involved in close matches  with the Corinthians having a 6 – 4 success against Lanchester whose David  McAllister was man of the match and the Knights playing a draw with Whitley  Chapel for whom Stefan Sobell was unbeaten.

Fourth Division N.E.S.L.C. were too good for Sacriston Desperadoes and ran  out 9 – 1 winners with both Russell Roper and James Ainsley claiming hat-tricks.  Newcomers Brandon and Byshottles TTC made a winning start thanks mainly to John  Leeman who was unbeaten as they defeated Cramlington Magpies 6 – 4, Ouston B won  6 – 4 away to Sacriston Chargers and N.E.C.A. B came away fron Cramlington  Jaguars with a 7 – 3 success.

Aubrey Drapkin