Trio have to fight back to reach cup’s last eight

THREE of the teams to reach the quarter-finals of the Northumbria League Handicap Cup had to come from behind to get there.

Two sets from Nigel Tree and one each from Keith Hodges and Dave Swan put Matfen Tribunes 4-2 ahead against Cramlington Cobras before the visitors hit back when Alan Hedley beat Swan.

Joe Hastings levelled things up with a victory over Hodges and Steve Ralph won the match for the Cobras by beating Tree.

The Cramlington Trojans side which was 3-1 behind at Ouston B pulled back to three all before David Byers completed his hat-trick to put Ouston back in front.

However, Alistair and Jack Cairns won the final two sets for the Trojans.

Cramlington Jaguars lost their first two matches to Newton B team’s John Henderson and Tom Manuel but two sets each by Abdel Warayet and Gavin Wilson and one by Mick Sursham gave them victory.

Mark Kimberley and Rob Lawson both won two for Tyneside TTC A team and with Steve Dickinson getting one they defeated Saints, for whom Ray Joynson won two by five sets to three.

Dan Dodds and Bailey Pye claimed two sets each and, with one from Alan Livingstone, The Mount B team defeated Brandon Anacondas 5-3.

Brandon’s Bravehearts side also went out when Mark O’Connor and Andrew Firth claimed two each and Tom Firth one to give Prudhoe and District United Services Club a 5-3 victory.