N.E.S.L.C.Eagles included both of their County players Andrew Wilkinson and Eddie Smith for the visit of Saint Chads in the Premier Division of the Northumbria League and with both of them unbeaten and Richard Wilson winning two sets they ran out 9 - 1 winners to edge ahead of The Mount at the top of the table. The Mount found Bailey Pye a handful when they played their C team and had to settle for an 8 - 2 victory, Pye beating both Anthony Ainley and Phil Prady. 

Newton beat Matfen Senators 8 - 2 and moved to within two points of them at the top of the first division. Their sets were won by  Graeme Bell who got a hat trick, John Russell and Dave Lucas two each and the doubles by Russell and Bell.

In the second division Tyneside TTC B missed a chance to go above Mitford and Ouston B, whose match was postponed, when they lost 7 - 3 away to Mount E for whom John Rowell was undefeated and Mike Bradley and Bill Edwards picked up two sets each.

Ouston C won the top of the table battle against Matfen Whitley Chapel  with Duncan Hindmarsh unbeaten. Cramlington Spartans are now only three points adrift of the leading two after beating their Cobras side 8 - 2 when both Sam Nair and Sree Kanakala got maximums.

James Moore was undefeated for Tyneside TTC in their 6 - 4 win over Cramlington Dynamos in Division Four to leave them only two points adrift and a game in hand of the leaders Ouston D who were held to a draw by Matfen Consuls for whom Jamie Parker got a hat trick.

The Northumberland County Junior and Senior Closed Tournaments take place on 15th and 16th February respectively and  entries have to be in by the end of this week.

They can be downloaded at tabletennis365.com/Northumbria

Aubrey Drapkin