Cuthbertson stars as Saints secure runners-up spot

With Thompson A already crowned Sunderland Table Tennis League Division 1 champions, St Chad’s sealed the runners-up slot after registering an 8-2 victory at St Gabriel’s A.

The away team were made to work hard for their points as James Scope got the better of George Gibson 11-8 in the fifth end.

Similarly, Barry Cuthbertson needed to recover from a two-game deficit before taking the decider against Norman Pescod 11-5.

Cuthbertson repeated the trick against Tom Bainbridge, 11-6, but Bainbridge enjoyed better fortune against Scope, winning 11-7 in the fourth end.

Keith Weatherby was undefeated for Chads, but Cuthbertson lost when Gibson saw him off in straight ends to grab a second consolation set for Gabriel’s.

In the battle against relegation, Sacriston Aces and Thompson B both scraped vital points in a close encounter.

Duncan Fraser (3), Dean Eadington (2), and Jonathan Mawson secured the win for Aces, while James Bradbury, Maurice Cheek, and Shirley Gelder replied.

Both teams have cause to be satisfied with a 6-4 scoreline, that leaves St Gabriel’s B with an uphill task to catch them.

Elsewhere, there was a similarly tight affair at Mount CA where the home team edged out Durham CA 6-4.

As the race for the second promotion place in Division 2 goes to the wire, Brandon Bullets put themselves in pole po- sition with an 8-2 home win over West CA B.

Relegated Silksworth IM B appear determined not to go down with a whimper, and they battled to a draw at Redby CAB.

Crucially, the three fiveenders went the way of Silksworth as John Foster pipped Howard Forster 11-8.

Jeffrey Mckenna needed a fifth end against Forster, but his closest tussle was against David Craddock.

McKenna emerged the victor, 11-9, to complete a hattrick. Nigel Tree chipped in with a set, while Firdaus Nazeri and Craddock scored two apiece for Redby.

The second remaining promotion slot in Division 3 was settled when West C secured the necessary points with a 10- 0 win over Brandon Energy.

Champions Brandon Crusaders recorded a 7-3 win at home to Redby C, but Alan Perry, Brian Childs, and Stephen Goldsmith all fell to the visitors’ Istvan Franko.

Brandon Devils secured a 6-4 win at St Gabriel’s E. Paul Lupton notched three wins, but was pushed to a five-ender by Viv Ford.

Ian Cumpson and Christopher Leishman added further sets for Devils, with Jonathan Haynes sealing two sets. Derek Buller completed the scoring for Gabriel’s by taking a deciding end against Leishman.

Elsewhere, Brandon Fire defeated Sacriston Eagles 8-2 and there was also an 8-2 win for Backspin B at Lanchester CC.