Hai Qing(Clara) Chau, the Durham University student playing for Newcastle Communities, who recently won the British Universities Womens Singles title, is certainly showing how good she is playing in the Premier Division of the Northumbria League. In their latest match she defeated Dave Robson, Geoff Salter and Rob Reed but with her fellow student David Tang unable to play in the singles because of injury her team lost out 7 – 3 to Cramlington Tigers. Cramlington Reivers and Springwell A were involved in a close match with the Reivers just gettinghome 6 – 4. Dale Aitkenhead and Gary Sangster won twice for them with Colin Hunt getting two for the losing side.
Old England Jacks had Tony Gelder back in their team for their visit to Springwell B and he won all of his matches and combined with Lynne Herrington to win the doubles. With Herrington claiming two singles and Jake Helm getting one the Great Lumley team won 7 – 3 to draw level with Tyne Dock in second spot in the first division, leaving Springwell only just above the relegation places.
An unbeaten performance from Dave Cutler backed up by two sets from Dave Bannon and one from Dick Karczewski saw second division leaders Mortimer home 6 – 4 over third placed YMCA North Tyneside B for whom Jim Robertson won two singles and helped Ronnie Scott to take the doubles set. Second placed Cramlington Cobras had a similar scoreline against Ouston A thanks mainly to a hat-trick by Duncan Wraight.
Barry Matthews and Ben D’Arcy were in fine form for Old England FATTS who opened up a seven point lead at the top of the third division by beating YMCA N.Tyneside C 9 -1 and pushing the YM into the relegation zone as NESLC Codgers won 8 – 2 away at
Cramlington Ravens.
Fourth Division Newcastle Communities B took over at the top of the table from Sacriston Comets with an 8 – 2 success at home to Newton D, Chen Ji and Yi Zhou both unbeaten and Matfen C kept in touch with the top two when three sets each by Mark Perrin and Richard Rayfield helped them to beat Cramlington Jaguars 8- 2.
