Brandon fire the bullets to bring down Bombers in relegation scrap

A crucial fixture in Sunderland & District Table Tennis League Division One saw second-bottom Durham City Bombers host the team one place above, Brandon Bullets.

ForDurham,itrepresented a rare opportunity to close the gapandgivethemselvesaglimmer of hope in their struggle against relegation, while Brandon harboured hopes of increasing the gap to make their rivals’ recovery task appear insurmountable.

Two early Bullets found their mark as Stephen Pattinson defeated Daniel Hutchinson 11-9 in the fourth end, and Ian Richardson dismissed MarkWaltoninstraightgames.

Bombers’ Ian McPherson provided a tonic with a fifthendwinoverJamieCollins,and repeated the trick over Richardson.

Collins regrouped to defeat Hutchinson, but the home team claimed their third fiveender of the night in the doubles. However, Pattinson ground on relentlessly, completing his maximum, seeing off McPherson, 11-6 in the fourth.

Although Brandon could have all but snuffed out Durham’s lingering survival hopes, had they not lost all three of the sets that went to deciders, their 6-4 victory has further cemented the general position for both clubs.

St. Gabriel’s took on East Boldon Amigos and the tone wasexemplifiedbyGeorgeGibson’s fightback from 2-0 down to edge out Neil Wilkinson 11-9 in the deciding end.

David Byers was cutting a swathe for Amigos with sets over Dave Svenson (3-1), and John Williamson (3-0).

Having surrendered a significant lead earlier, a resilient Wilkinson now inflicted the same comeback agony on Svenson. After losing the first two games heavily, the East Boldon captain got a foothold when he snatched the third11-9,beforegoingontotriumph 11-8 in the fifth.

Byerscompletedanimpressivehat-trickashescalpedGibson 11-3 in the fourth to make the match score 4-4.

The outcome would come down to the final two sets of the contest. Trying to avoid drawing a blank, Svenson now endured losing two tight ends to Jordan Dove, 14-16, 10-12.

However,theGabriel’sman dugdeeptotakethecontest,119, 11-5. Overall, a draw was perhaps the fairest outcome, and Wilkinson ensured exactly that as he out-powered Williamson 11-7 in the fourth end.

In Division Two, LanchesterEagleswon6-4atWestCAC, while Brandon Crusaders and St Gabriel’s C drew 5-5.