North East Chinese Association turned out a strong team for their visit to Cramlington Stingers in the Premier Division of the Northumbria League and soon took a two set lead with Clara Chau defeating David Graham and David Tang overcoming Iain Wood. But the Stingers were determined to make their mark on the match and came back strongly when Bonne Habekost beat Ben Huang and Wood got an excellent result by winning against Chau. Habekost and Wood then got the better of Chau and Tang in the doubles and went into a 4 – 2 lead with victory for Graham over Huang. But the next three sets went the way of the Chinese, Tang beating Habekost, Huang winning against Wood and Chau putting them ahead with success against Habekost. However the match ended in a draw when Graham beat Tang, winning 11 – 9 in the fifth end.

Newton A clinched promotion from the first division as Anthony Ainley and John Russell were unbeaten in a 9 – 1 win over Matfen A.   Second placed Seaburn Dene had to work hard to beat Riding Mill A for whom Rob Scott won all of his matches but with Chris Dixon and Rod Roberts winning two sets each, Ken Bowman getting one and Dixon and Bowman winning the doubles they scraped home 6 – 4 and are still favourites to go up along with Newton.

YMCA North Tyneside B and Ouston A are still fighting it out for promotion from Division two along with Springwell B after they shared the points in a drawn match. 

North East Chinese Association C have gone to the top of the third division after victories over Corinthians and Spartans and are six points ahead of Matfen B although the Tynedale side have a game in hand.

 

57 youngsters are taking part in the Northumberland Junior Tournament at Sporting Club  Cramlington on Friday night. Starting at 7 o’clock there are separate competitions for Juniors, Cadets(under 15s), Under 13s and Under 12s. Arran Kent and Robert Renton are the top seeds in the Juniors.

 

Aubrey Drapkin