The Northumbria Table Tennis league has a growing number of promising junior players. Over last weekend a Northumbria representative team of Arran Kent, Blair Carmichael and Simon Knopf played at Ormesby TTC in day one of the regional round of the National Junior League. Ten teams are competing from as far afield as Gainsborough. After 3 matches in day one Northumbria have 15 points out of a possible 27 currently ensuring a top 5 placing. Kent won 7 out of his 9 matches.

Kent also featured for Cramlington Tigers in their away Premier division match against Riding Mill ‘A’ where he was narrowly beaten by Maurice Cheek in an excellent game to watch. Tigers’ Gareth Pearson beat Shirley Gelder. Duncan Wraight won his 3 games and, with Pearson, took the doubles to guide the Tigers to a 5-5 draw. Cheek and Mark O’Connor each won 2 of their games for the Mill with Gelder contributing one win towards the draw.

In division one North Fire ‘A’ suffered a 1-9 defeat at the hand of North Fire ‘B’ who were only able to field 2 players. For the B team Barry Hill and Karen Henry each won their 2 singles plus the doubles. A further win by Bob Atwell plus 3 forfeited points made up the 9 matches won. Clive Dewison got the A team’s single point when he defeated Atwell.

Other results were –

§  Premier Division: Cram Casuals 7 Cram Reivers 3; Byker ‘A’ 9 Springwell ‘A’ 1; NECA ‘A’ 1 St Chads 9.

§  Div 1: Mortimer 7 Newton ‘A’ 3; Old England Jacks 9 Cram Cobras 1; NECA ‘B’ 3 Seaburn Dene 7

§  Div 2: Ouston ‘A’ 7 Old England FATTS 3; Old England Crocks 7 Cram Trojans 3

§  Div 3: Sacriston Comets 3 NECA ‘B’; Cram Dragons 2 Ouston B 8; Cram Corinthians 3 Whitley Chapel 7; Cram Spartans 3 Matfen ‘C’ 7

§  Div 4: Ouston ‘C’ 0 Brandon & Byshottles 10; YMCA North Tyneside ‘C’ 10 Cram Ravens 0; Newton ‘C’ 1 Matfen ‘D’ 9; Cram Jaguars 5 Cram Magpies 5.