Double delight sees St Gabriel’s stand firm

The latest batch of fixtures in the Sunderland & District Table Tennis League Division One saw St Gabriel’s A push themselves up the table and send out a message that there will be no need for a repeat of last season’s last-day heroics to retain top-flight status.

Two crushing victories over Durham City Bombers and Backspin B delivered the double-whammy of not only stabilising their own position but also ensuring that their two opponents are firmly mired in the drop zone.

Bombers’ Kevin Richardson made the home trio work for their sets, extending George Gibson and Rod Roberts to four ends, and losing out to Tom Bainbridge in a tight five-end affair.

Daniel Hutchinson did grab two consolation points over Gibson and Bainbridge, but was soundly dispatched in straight games by Roberts as Gabriel’s racked up an 8-2 score.

Next up were Back spin, and the same home trio achieved a 9-1 victory. Again, some sets were evenly contested, as Gibson an dB a in bridge boththe threat posed by David McAllister in deciding ends ,117 and 11-8 respectively.

In Division Two, at East Boldon Bandits, the C team were indebted to David Rev ell’ s treble to salvage a draw.

Sophie RichardsonYoung 3-0, before emerging victorious against Steve Young (11-9).

Ryan Campbell notched a brace, and Will McCallum contributed a four-end win over Geoff Young.

Richardson and Rev ell met, and the Gabriel’s man came through a stiff test, 11-4 in the fifth end.

Elsewhere, a solid pair of wins from each of West CA B line-up of Frank Booth, Malcolm Deneven, and Amanda Paxton steered them to a 7-3 win at Gabriel’s.

Division Three title contenders West D maintained their challenge with victory over Brandon Energy.

Jason Gargett hit three, but Mick Redfearn struggled as he went down to Neil Richards and Bill Maclennan.

After losing 3-2 against Maclennan, Alan Whitwham bounced back to win his next five-ender,11-7 over Peter Gregory.

Redfearn eventually broke his duck with a four-end win over Gregory, and West posted a final 7-3 winning margin.