Sacriston Aces team of Duncan Fraser, Max Duffin, Ian McAllister and Jonathan Mawson are running away with Division Two of the Northumbria League having won all ten of their matches and being fifteen points ahead of their nearest rivals. Young Duffin has been beaten only once when he lost out to veteran Brian Bateman of Old England Crocks.

The Newton B team of Rob Lawson, David Lucas and Chas Robertson are in second place narrowly ahead of North East Chinese Association C  for whom Robin Francis has been in fine form with Old England Crocks not far behind.

Division Three leaders Ouston B team of Tom Fowle, Jeff McKenna and Peter Scott are unbeaten at the halfway stage although they were held to a draw by third placed Old England FATTS and are nine points ahead of Saints. The Saints squad of Vince Killen, Ray Joynson, Steve Dawson, Tom Marley and Ken Greatbatch could well make a quick return to division two.  However they could be overtaken by Old England FATTS, who still have to play a rearranged match with lowly Cramlington Spartans.

The Ouston club are also doing well in Division Four, boasting a 100% record with David Nichols their star performer to date having won twenty out of twentyone matches. He has been well backed up by Jamie Milroy, Shirley Robson and Iain Mumford.  Newton C team are in second spot with Julian Manuel their star  player having won all of his sets except the one against Nichols. 

Two of the young Cramlington teams are also in contention for promotion. The Lions side of Joe Hastings, the only player to stop Nichols, Sree Kanakala and Daniel McManus are only three points behind the top two  with the  Magpies team of Elliott Dorrington, Peter Anderson and Richard Anderson  close on their heels.

 

Aubrey Drapkin