Division 1 this week saw teams at the top and bottom fighting for the summer league title and fighting for survival and leaving what promises to be a very interesting final week of the season. Mount A go back to the top of the table having won at home against Matfen Senators 9-1. The Mounts Dan Dodds and Anthony Barella winning all of their sets backed up by Jamie Dent who won two. Dodds and Barellacombining to take the doubles also. Matfens only success came when Neil Forsyth beat Jamie Dent over 5 hard fought games. This now means that the Mount have a 3 pointadvantage over St Chads with both teams only having one match remaining where they play each other to decide who are the Summer League Champions. In the only other Division 1 match this week Cramlington Casuals overcame Prudhoe 8-2 which leaves The Casuals safe and Prudhoe having to play Matfen Senators in what will be a relegation playoff for their last match of the season as there are only 4 points between them and 10 points at stake. 

In Division 2 despite having a bye this week Mount B cannotbe caught and have won the division with one match remaining as the Newcastle Chinese Association team in second place of David Byers, Kemming Li and Ken Lee could only manage a draw with Tyneside TTC A. Byers & Li won 2 each supported by Lee winning 1. Steve Dickinson won 2 supported by Mark Kimberley and Mark Patterson who won 1 each.

Division 3 leaders Cramlington Cobras kept up their fine form with a win away at Brandon Bullets and Cramlingtons Bernie McCardle taking the player of the match award by winning all 3 of his sets. Only a major catastrophe next week will stop them from winning this division where they need 1 point from their last match to secure the divisional title. 

I’m sorry to report we heard that Ken Clark (Old England TTC) passed away this week after battling illness. He played in our league for many years and was a true sportsman and gentleman. He will be sadly missed.