Saints go marching in to kick off their league campaign in style

TABLE TENNIS

THE newly-formed Saint Columba’s club made the best possible start to its Northumbria League Premier Division campaign.

Its team of Duncan Wraight, Dale Aitkenhead and Paul Baines overwhelmed Mount C 10-0.

The Mount A side of Graeme Barella, Phil Prady and Dave Pringle also made a great start by defeating Cramlington Stingers by the same score.

An unbeaten performance by Tony Gelder enabled their B side to triumph 7-3 when they entertained Cramlington Casuals.

The match between Tyneside TTC and Mount D in Division One swung one way and then the other.

Mount looked likely winners when Mohinder Rawat completed his hat-trick to give them a 5-3 lead - but victories by Mark Patterson and Mark Kimberley ensured the match was drawn.

Lee Tinkler was another player to celebrate a hat-trick in this division when playing for Saint Columba’s B but it proved in vain as Prudhoe and District United Service Club overcame them 6-4.

Both Steve Dickinson and Charlie Robertson were in fine form for Tyneside B.

Along with Don Catley, they came away from Matfen with a 7-3 victory against the Tribunes in Division Two.

Barry Matthews and Nigel Coe were unbeaten in the singles as Old England FATTS beat Cramlington Reivers 8-2.

The closest-fought match in Division Three was the Cramlington derby between the young Falcons side of Alfie Stokes, Oliver Ho and Matthew Mastaglio and the Spartans - the Falcons winning the last two sets to prevail 6-4.