Saints prove no match for the leaders

TABLE TENNIS

IT was a hectic week in the Premier Division of the Northumberland Winter League with four games played - three of which were close encounters and one a whitewash.

Leaders NECA, spearheaded by top player Chun Yin Yu, hosted a St Chads team which fielded neither Josh or Keith Weatherby.

That led to a 10-0 success for NECA in which only a single set was won by the away team Jimmy Scope taking an end off third player Adam Webster.

Richard Wilson managed to beat one of the league’s best players Graeme Barella as NESLC Eagles scraped a 6-4 victory at home to Mount A.

As well as defeating Barella, Wilson took the Player of the Match honours as he saw off Phil Prady and Anthony Ainley to complete his hat-trick.

Barella (pictured right) beat Jim Stamas and Paul Baines, despite being 2-1 and having match point against him, but team-mates Prady and Ainley could only grab one win between them as Ainley beat Stamas.

Baines also won two as he defeated Prady and Ainley, and this was enough to take the victory despite Stamas and Wilson losing the doubles to Ainley and Barella.

Youngster Callum McRae, with his retrieving/control style of play, helped Cramlington Stingers to one of only four wins so far this season as they beat Prudhoe and District United Services Club A 6-4.

McRae picked up his hat-trick by beating experienced Premier player John Williamson plus Maurice Cheek and Shirley Gelder.

Iain Wood beat Cheek and Gelder, Rob Reed also chipping in with a victory over Gelder.

Mount B put up a strong performance at home to Cramlington Tigers, clawing themselves clear of the relegation battle in the process.

Jamie Dent won Player of the Match by beating the Tigers’ Rob Reed, Gareth Pearson and James Bradbury.

Rod Roberts did well to account for Pearson and Reed and Dave Cutler chipped in with a win against Gareth Pearson.